Overview & Reviews

Toyota is a Japanese brand whose refined, well-designed vehicles have earned it a great deal of popularity. Toyotas also have a superb record for reliability and durability, which goes a long way toward justifying their typically high purchase prices. For buyers who plan on owning their new vehicles for a long time, the Toyota marque is a very compelling choice.

The automaker's name is a variation of the surname of its founder, Kiichiro Toyoda. After years of research, Toyoda unveiled his first prototype, the A1, in 1935, marking the birth of the Toyota Motor Corporation. The '40s witnessed the launch of additional passenger cars and even a pickup. By the end of the decade, the automaker had produced more than 100,000 vehicles.

Toyota grew bigger in the '50s and expanded its roster with a slew of new small cars. The company also unveiled the utilitarian BJ truck; this vehicle was the precursor to the Land Cruiser. By the end of the decade, Toyota had commenced exports to the U.S. with the establishment of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc. The first Toyota to be sold on American shores was the Crown; it held the distinction of being the first Japanese car to be sold Stateside.

The '60s witnessed even more growth for the emerging juggernaut. Toyota introduced the Corolla, an immensely popular model that is still in production today. Vehicles like the home-market Publica, the 2000GT, Hiace and Miniace were also launched. The decade closed with Toyota reporting annual domestic sales of 1 million units; cumulative exports also reached 1 million.

Japanese-market cars like the Carina, Light Ace and Publica Starlet were launched during the 1970s. In the States, the Corolla grew in popularity and the Corona and Mk II models debuted as well. The successful Celica sports coupe was also rolled out and would remain in production for more than 30 years. Toyota's shadow had spread far beyond Japan by this point. The decade's oil crisis had made the manufacturer's compact, fuel-efficient models more popular than ever in the United States. By the time the '70s drew to a close, the automaker had exported more than 10 million vehicles.

Toyota expanded its presence in the U.S. market during the '80s, with the introduction of popular models like the 4Runner SUV and the MR2 sports car. The true high point of these years, though, was the birth of the Toyota Camry sedan. Originally known as the Celica Camry in Japan, the car went on to be a hit of phenomenal proportions, earning kudos as America's best-selling car of the year time and time again.

During the '90s, Toyota rolled out the Avalon full-size sedan and expanded its selection of SUVs with the compact RAV4. By the end of the decade, more than 100 million Toyota vehicles had been produced in Japan. The company also proved itself on the cutting edge of new technology with the rollout of the Prius, the world's first mass-produced hybrid. The car debuted in Japan in 1997; by 2001, the fuel-sipping sedan had made its way to American highways. Despite the presence of a growing number of competitors in its segment, the Prius continues to boast class-leading sales.

Toyota's current lineup is relatively extensive, including minivans, cars, trucks and SUVs. The brand remains extremely popular among savvy consumers who place a high value on quality and dependability.

User Reviews:

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  best hybrid on the market - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By nic-in-WI - March 1 - 2:26 pm

  Overall, we love this car. Weve had it for almost a year and a half. Handles reasonably well in WI winters and also performed very well in the mountains. Averaged 60mpg through Yellowstone National Park while being fully loaded with gear. Plenty of leg room for my 61 husband. Would definitely purchase another.

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  Boring, but reliable - 1998 Toyota Camry
  By EAJ - March 1 - 1:36 pm

  Bought used with 30,000 miles and now have 125,000 on it. Only had to replace tires, brakes (once), battery, timing belt (per service interval), oil pressure sensor (5 minute job) and fluids. It could use new struts and an EGR valve, but other than that, the car has been wonderfully trouble-free. My only complaints would be that the engine rattles a bit, the radio buttons are falling off, and with the 4 banger and auto, the acceleration is uninspiring. It does handle very well and gets good mileage. Stock hubcaps made car look pathetic, but I replaced 14" wheels/hubcaps with 16" Avalon alloys and 55 series tires and the car has taken on a completly different look and feel. Good car.

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  RAV4 I$ A LEMON!! - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By RAV4 I$ A LEMON!! - March 1 - 9:13 am

  I commute from the SF Bay Area to Sacramento,70 miles each way. The stretch of freeway is rough & you feel every bump in the road. The seats are stiff and not enough thigh support. I had to get the brakes replaced at 40k with almost all freeway driving, not stop & go. The car sometimes doesnt start immediately (since purchase) and what I hate most is you cant get the key out of the ignition without moving the gear shift in park back & forth. The dealer says NOTHING WRONG... It had a major oil leak (covered w/power train) air noise from windshield, and rear door. rattles if not on a completely smooth surface. Needs torque & power to rear wheels in turns, & quick acceleration r feels unstable

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  Nightmare - 2007 Toyota Avalon
  By Jacks review - February 28 - 10:06 pm

  Rated it very low. Handles badly (follows ruts in highway and drifts around on highway). Headliner not attached in rear. Paint so soft the wind scratches, it seems. Electrical switches work sporadically. There is an undiagnosed rattle on the passenger side in the front. Makes you wonder if you take a trip, if you will get there or not. Reliability is scary.

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  Great car but have the right expectations - 2014 Toyota Corolla
  By wvanepps - February 28 - 8:39 pm

  I needed a commuter car to drive almost 100 miles a day back and forth to work. I also own a 2014 Corvette Stingray and a 2013 BMW M3 Coupe and wanted to keep the miles off them. I have driven the Corolla about 1,500 miles and really like it. The rear leg room is great and I have been averaging 34 MPG. I really like the exterior styling of the car and the interior looks like it belongs in a much more expensive car. I opted for the S Plus as it adds a lot of features for very little money. This is a great commuter car but do not expect great performance or an exciting ride. If you want something that is comfortable, looks nice, drives nice and gets great MPG then this is the car for you.

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  Another review - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By E-roc69 - February 28 - 6:46 pm

  I now have 20,600 miles on the car. Mostly wife driving as I still wont drive this. I got into it last week and discovered a springing noise from the rear susp. Most likely a bushing issue. I bring it in for the rear end spring noise and the still rattling dashboard. They wont fix it, service mgr and I road test car and we cant hear the rattles. It was raining all night so it most likely made the dash more pliant. They say I need to leave it over night next week when its cold so they can test it in the morning. They refused to apply 2 TSBs even though its under warranty. I cant wait till I get rid of this car.

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  42mpg with style and a big backseat - 2016 Toyota Corolla
  By tomK - February 28 - 6:35 pm

  After 50,000 miles I still love mine. I got an S Plus with all options except heated seats. For the price paid (21.5k) its hard to fault this car. Cruising at 70mph will return 42mpg in a car with a huge backseat and a very comfortable and well-designed cockpit. The front seats are very comfortable and weve taken two 3,000+ mile road trips without complaint. The gauges, steering wheel and control set are tasteful and have a quality feel. I love downshifting with the flappy panels and overall really like the CVT transmission. Whats not to like? The doors have kind of a cheap feel, both in hard plastic trim and a cheap tin sound when you close the door. Also, immediate pull out power is a bit lacking with the 1.8 motor/CVT combo. Under hard acceleration, the car will often lag for a moment, and you in time get used to what it can do reliably and will change your driving style to suit. Thats it, but I accept both given the price and economy of the car. Weve had no unscheduled maintenance, other than a failed fog lamp that was quickly replaced on warranty by our excellent Toyota dealer. After 2 years I still love the style. No regrets. Recommended without hesitation.

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  Disappointed - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By Taco - February 28 - 6:16 pm

  The transmission has a shift problem. The dealer was able to somewhat correct the problem but it by far the worst shifting automatic transmission I have ever driven. It is very hard to park this truck. I am trading the truck in on a 2005 Toyota Tundra next week. I hope I have better luck.

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  A Symphony of Creaks and Rattles - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By LF - February 28 - 2:30 pm

  The only real complaint we have is the many creaks and rattles in the car which make for a very unpleasant environment. We have had to buy self adhesive padding to try to stop glove box rattles, armrest rattles. We have yet to discover cause the rattles that emanate from the rear of the vehicle. Clearly a good eal of the annoyance is due to an overabundance of plastic used in the interior design.

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  Our Dream Car/SUV - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By neilsal - February 28 - 4:33 am

  I researched every suv out there for along time. I test drove the honda pilot, to big behind the wheel. The highlander drove and felt the best. I purchased the 4cly 4X4 and let me tell you it can move! I was worried about power with the 4cly but not no more. Wow and the gas mileage has been great. My wife whom was a bit nervous at the thought of an suv couldnt believe the ride. It handles like a car. She is in LOVE with it! The toyota dealer was the best. He has called us a few times after the purchase to see how its going. My kids love it, the room in the back. The star safety system works great. Traction and braking are unbelivable. Thanks Toyota!