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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  This is gonna be fun to own. - 2007 Toyota Tacoma
  By Dick Hertz - September 26 - 5:53 pm

  Picked up my new Tacoma this week and its quite a truck. Loads of standard equipment. Love the extra doors on the access cab. Terrific factory stereo. Smooooth transmission. Plenty of power for my needs. Sold my old Tacoma SR-5 with 170K trouble free miles to get the new one. It took all of 3 hrs. from the time I placed the ad until the cash was in hand. If this new truck works out as well as the old one, Ill be a happy camper. Dont know why youd consider any other small truck.

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  Great van with a little room for improvement - 2013 Toyota Sienna
  By milans - September 26 - 12:33 pm

  I have to admit that I had my eye on the latest generation Sienna from the day it came out. My 2004 Sienna LE that I still own had been quite a workhorse for me, but it has140k/miles. I liked the tight turning radius and 20-21MPG of the 04. Also the foldable center divider is handy for moving long objects. One of the reasons that I got the Limited was the lack of that ugly piece of plastic that is in the middle of the second row seats for seating 8 people. I like the 2013 very much but wish it got better MPG (I get 18-19 with mixed driving), and had a little tighter turning radius (like 04). The ride is effortless and smooth, seats are first class, and all the warning systems are great!

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  I Love It - 2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Jonesy17 - September 26 - 8:03 am

  Quiet, Comfortable, Roomy, Fun to drive. First hybrid car Ive owned and I love it. I got 550 miles first tank of gas with 39.5 MPG. Drive about 80 miles per day for work 80% highway going between 70-75 MPH and 20% city streets. I stay in electric mode mostly going between 35-40 MPH when on city streets using the old pulse and glide just coasting between signals. Car is fully loaded and I love every feature on it.

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  No start problem - 2012 Toyota RAV4
  By piko584189 - September 25 - 1:43 pm

  We paid close to 35,000 with all of the upgrades. Since the first week we owned this car it had an intermitent no start problem. Has been back to dealer 3or4 times. Today we were told it had something to do with steering lock--and we need to just live with it--now that we know what the problem is we know it will eventually start.. They sent a tech bulletin to toyota and maybe someday they will do something about it. This is an uncomfortable riding vehicle--will never buy a Toyota again.

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  Very happy - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Mike - September 25 - 12:46 pm

  I live in Minnesota and have had my Camry Hybrid during both a warm summer and a very cold snowy winter. I averaged 39-42 MPG during the summer and 28-34 MPG during the winter. One review from ORLY said he was only getting 26-28 MPG caused me to write this review. I cant even imagine how a person could get such low MPG numbers. I have the leather heated seats, they are very comfortable on a long drive. My only complaint is I get a faint noise through my drivers window when fully closed. The stereo with the bluetooth is fantastic both in sound and function. What ever gas prices are at the time the way I look at it I have cut the price of gas in half. This car has more room than my VolvoS80.

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  Cracked manifolds - 2000 Toyota Tundra
  By blaine - September 25 - 11:43 am

  I bought this truck new and started having problems after the first year. Wiring harness under spare tire burned off,the frond drive housing was not properly tightened and stripped the threads causing the 4wd to be replaced. the dealership said it was fixed and it happened again,so i took it to a back yard mechanic and he fixed it again replacing the frond drive AGAIN. Then cracked manifolds. check your rear bumper it is also probably rusted off. MY LAST TOYOTA.

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  2001 Highlander - 2001 Toyota Highlander
  By Bud - September 25 - 11:20 am

  Very solid vehicle. Good fuel economy. Pulls a trailer well. Comfortable front seats and very roomy back seats - great for family trips. Adequate power. Center console design is not very good. Overall a well built family SUV. Oxygen sensor replacement is the only unscheduled maintenance I have had to do.

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  Great Ride with Toyota Reliability - 1995 Toyota Camry
  By Drew - September 25 - 4:50 am

  This is a great car... I use it to get to work everyday and it gets great gas mileage even for being a pretty big sedan in urban environment (24-26 mpg). The two door coupe is great for me because one big door lets me get in and out of the car easily (Im 63" tall). I also enjoy just enjoy taking it out for a cruise because the styling is pretty good for a ten year old car. My car has the sunroof/moonroof 3-disc CD changer and cruise control... perfect for long rides. The ride is very smooth especially at highway speeds. I just had a simple tune up on the car and it rides even better now... it will drive at 70mph at only 2200- 2500 rpms. This is a great, comfortable, affordable car

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  Unstoppable, Well-Engineered Car - 2000 Toyota Echo
  By sgtofmarines75 - September 25 - 4:48 am

  Bought this car brand new in 2000. 13 years and 220,000 miles later, I have no plans to let it go anytime soon. Replaced the catalytic converter at about 150,000 miles, but no other repairs ever needed - routine maintenance only. It does leak some oil now, but thats to be expected at this age. 34-36 MPG avg. combined, city and hwy. Incredibly roomy interior and trunk, given the cars tiny exterior. Interior features are simple and "plastic-y" but are rugged. Engine has plenty of power and pep, but handling leaves a bit to be desired, especially when taking curves at high speed, or in stiff winds. Hard to beat for simple, reliable, and comfortable transportation

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  Love it!! - 2016 Toyota Camry
  By Jenny - September 25 - 3:04 am

  I dont know what everyone else is complaining about this vehicle. Ive owned my 2016 Camry for almost a year, just under 10k miles. This car is amazing!! We just took it on a 10-hour one-way trip to Northern California over the weekend of the 4th. The trip is 780+ miles one way!! Driving on the highway and making 44mpg was amazing. Darn thing only drank about a tank and a half. The front seats are comfortable (I have the cloth upholstery), as well as the back seats. Plenty of storage room throughout the vehicle, the stock sound system is excellent (for being stock), and Ive had absolutely NO noise issues. The car rides quiet, no dash snaps or door snaps. Nothing!! I highly recommend this car to all of my friends and family.