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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  Good gas mileage but over rated. - 2008 Toyota Matrix
  By GMB - August 23 - 3:46 pm

  This is my wifes car. She bought it for the gas mileage which is good. As far as driving and comfort it does not have it. For a teenager this would be a great first car but Im 62 and long legged. Trying to back up is hard cause you cant see out the back. If you dont know how to use mirrors to back up your in trouble.

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  Camry SE 2016 purchase is a disaster - 2016 Toyota Camry
  By Jo - July 21 - 7:16 pm

  The Vehicle moves even before you start the engine (Try rev shift and you will loose control of the vehicle in the slightest slope area .Turn the Ignition key after the dash board lights go off and before you actually start the engine). The ground brakes freezes and Steering Freezes. The Shift from Parking to Reverse is too hard . You feel like ripping the interiors of the shift box. The vehicle accelerates when you attempt to apply the brakes . The entertainment system is the worst. Doesnt Navigate through folders. Doesnt even play songs in the same folder when using USB drive(download mp3 songs from various sources and try yourself). You have to do all of them manually. The rear windows give a grumbling noise while rolling down as if you are rolling them on stones. Vehicle is barely 3 months old and you know what, Toyota takes pride in declaring all of them as designed to the needs and nothing is a defect and so they dont care. And Toyota declined to give me copy of the dealers reports nor any access to the Case i raised, neither in an email nor on the Toyota website. They already performed 1 recall in month of May on my vehicle and i see 2 more new recalls on this site. This new defect piece is no match to my old used Honda Accord. They are just washing off the hands saying some customers may not like the features(wondering can there ever be any customer wanting to have the above defects?) and trying to pass on the time till the warranty is over.

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  This Van Needs Work - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By carguy2005 - July 18 - 12:30 pm

  I really want to love this minivan, but its making it hard. The build quality is just not up to Toyota standards. I just got home from a 220 mile day trip, and the rattling sound is driving me crazy. Its either behind the dash or in the drivers door, but of course, has been undiagnosable by the dealer. This is only one of several quality problems weve had with this Toyota. Im going out shopping for a different van on Monday and will buy whichever seems to have good build quality. Very disappointed in my first ever Toyota.

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  RUSTING FRAME! - 2010 Toyota 4Runner
  By RUSTY TOYOTA - June 18 - 7:54 am

  Bought this vehicle because it rated high, even though it cost more money than competitor models. Reliability is worth it to me. HOWEVER, the frame started having significant rust after just a few years and was causing some expensive repairs. Fire shield rusted off and was removed. Now the massive skid plate bracket rusted off. Toyota service just removed the entire unrepairable skid plate due to the level of rust. There is nothing left to attach to. The mechanics said they were afraid to scrape or chip any more rust because they were afraid that other stuff would fall of and make the vehicle even more unsafe to drive. They indicated that this is absolutely excessive rust on the frame that should not happen. Their official Toyota Repair Estimate to fix the rusting, failing frame and make it safe again is $17,783.71 which is half the value of a brand new vehicle!!!!! Toyota Corporate said, sorry, we have recalled many other rusting frames on our other models because they should not have rusted they way that have, but unfortunately for you, we will not stand behind your 4Runner that you paid $34,000 for. I am told that it is the same frame as some of the other recalled models. The Toyota Corporation tried to comfort me by ensuring me that they logged my case will contact me via First Class mail if they ever do decide to stand behind their product and make good on my $18,000 pile of useless rust.

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  My Prius still surges even after fix - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By Betsyr - May 1 - 11:50 am

  I bought my Prius with high hopes, but soon the surges started. After the fix I was sure the surges would go away. They have not and I am having them more now. I understand that Toyota maintains that it is normal to have that feeling of loss of brakes, but its unacceptable. I take my foot off the gas way before an intersection and drive roads where I know the bumps. It works for the most part, but what will happen when I am on a 45 mph road and am cut off by someone on uneven surface! A wreck! A check on NHTSA shows that we are not the only people still having this problem! We want to trade-in but will lose 12k if we do. Lose money or possibly have a wreck - neither option is good.

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  Good Luck - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By Vernon Butr - April 29 - 3:59 pm

  I kept it 6 weeks. It was all I could stand. The poorest design I have ever seen. You could not give me another one.

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  2007 Toyota Camry LE 4 dr Sedan - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By annec - April 27 - 5:03 am

  I purchased the Camry on reputation and recommendation. I am not a car geek and do not have the knowledge or time to deal with car problems. Well, I am becoming a auto expert by necessity. My problems are: hesitating then surge between shifts, windshield wipers that move with power that rocks the car to the point that it feels like it will roll over, plastic parts falling off, cruise control is so unreliable I dont use it, bad mileage, and, last but not least, half the windshild blacks out when driving at night through areas without street lights. The dealers answer, "It meets Toyota specifications." Any suggestions will help. Do I qualify for the lemon law?

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  Almost got killed in my hybrid - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By myraferr - April 3 - 10:00 am

  These hybrid are in the baby stages, there are a lot of serious problems with the hybrid system components, these vehicles are death traps, they can stall on you and shut down without any warning doing 70 mph, no power, no steering, no brakes almost got killed by a semi on the freeway. Im talking to a lawyer, its happening to others in other states, they are very expensive to fix, 14,000 dollars thats what my dealer wants to fix, they are nuts a four year old car, needing such expensive repairs, my last hybrid, or Toyota, and yes they say they are warrantied, but a warranty is only good if they will fix it and Toyota wont.

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  Toyota has a lot of nerve classifying this as a 4WD - 2011 Toyota RAV4
  By susandreak - April 1 - 4:40 pm

  Love the dealer. Hate this "SUV". I live in the northeast; Ive always owned a 4WD to insure mobility in the winter months. This vehicle does not fit that bill, in the least. If you need a vehicle that needs to be functional and not just cute, find something else.

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  Tacoaide, ordered Redbullll, got Lemonaide - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By Dantanna - February 25 - 9:37 pm

  Should have told insurance company that it is garaged at the dealership. 35+ days in the shop after 90 days of ownership. Slipping of transmission, over temp oil light, alignment issues, broken driveshaft, seized brakes, ABS failure, seatbelts dont extend on any slope, obscene tire wear, preproduction components, cracked frame welds, used spare tires, and missing/poor paint are "acceptable" according to Toyotas field service tech. Toyota doesnt want to address the California Lemon Law regarding 30 days put of service Quality has placed well below profits and gimmicky electronic systems. After selling Toyotas I feel guilty for misleading customers and lying about the product being the best in the industry.