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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  Solid as a rock after 60k miles - 2001 Toyota 4Runner
  By vinceG - December 21 - 12:13 pm

  Ive put on over 60K miles and it runs as good today as it did the day I bought it. Paint still looks brand new, too. For a SUV, good milage of 18 city and maybe 22 highway. Only had one problem - replace windshield wiper motor recently. No one rattle compared to Chevy Blazers Ive been in that sound like a bucket of bolts with way less miles. The front seats are very uncomfortable, though, which is the only issue with the vehicle.

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  A Perfect Car - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Jeffrey Augustine - December 21 - 9:04 am

  I have owned my 2006 Toyota Avalon for nine years and never had any problems. I service it regularly and it still drives exceptionally well with 97,000 miles on it. Most of my driving is on California freeways or on long road trips between 300-500 miles one way. This is the perfect road car with plenty of acceleration, comfort, excellent heater and a/c, and a great stereo. Visibility is excellent. I put on expensive Good Year Eagle Sport tires (W speed rating) at 30,000 ,miles and this made the ride noticeably smoother and the cornering sharper than the original OEM tire. Despite Good Years claims, these tires only really last ~20,000 miles, but the tradeoff is worth it. I put on slotted racing discs on the brakes and ceramic pads. This is a big car that drives like a midsize sports sedan. I push the car and it likes it. 85mph cruising speed @ 2500 rpm for miles across the American Southwest all day long in any season. My last big road drive was in 112 F weather Arizona and the a/c worked great and the car had no problems with the temperature. I headed up the mountain to Prescott and got caught in a monsoon, a torrential thunderstorm going uphill at 4,000 feet. There was no place to pull over on the steep mountain road so I used the Avalons very practical and well-engineered Manumatic transmission to hand shift through the deluge going up the steep and winding grade. No problem with traction, power, or anything else in this big thunderstorm with near zero visibility. I have always felt safe in this car because it is reliable. My 2006 Avalon is an old friend. I could buy a new car but why? I like my Avalon and it likes me. When I do decide to buy my next car it will be an Avalon. Of course, I might upgrade to a Lexus ES350 now that I am officially a senior citizen -- and besides all the writers for automotive magazines except us oldsters to drive a Lexus. I sure as hell wont get a Buick. And as much as I admire Matthew McConaughey as one of Americas finest actors, I wont be getting a Lincoln either. But I am glad to see Mr. McConaughey happy with his Lincoln. I really liked the commercials he made. Classic Americana.

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  Love the RAV4 - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By primal_v - December 21 - 7:12 am

  I purchased a 2009 RAV4 4 2.5 litre 4 cylinder, base model, for my wife. Let me tell you this...if I were to get in it blind-folded, not knowing which vehicle I was in, I would have never guessed that it was a RAV4. The ride comfort is amazing! The independent suspension decreases body roll over uneven pavement. Road noise for a vehicle of this size is more than acceptable. Braking is smooth & quiet. It absorbs bumps in the road like they were nothing. Wind noise is average but better than most. Acceleration is excellent. I barely have to apply pressure to the throttle to get it to move. Without even having to stomp down on the pedal & the 4 cylinder turns into a monster & easily pulls away

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  My Best Buy - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Jose E. Felix - December 21 - 5:43 am

  This is my fourth Toyota car, after my Runner 95, Tercel 98, Corolla 03. Driving it is a lot of fun! Its smooth on the road, the engine is quite silent and powerful when needed. Because of its size, its really easy to park, even in the smallest of places. You can go anywhere comfortably and the seats give lots of options. Its roomy and modern.

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  First Avalon - 2008 Toyota Avalon
  By rgwilsek - December 21 - 1:16 am

  Owned minivans for the last 15 years and decided to go with a sedan. The Toyota Avalon is a true luxury roomy sedan with a reasonable price tag. Looked at Buick, Cadillac and Chrysler but found the Avalon to be superior quality, comfort and with great technology features. Got the fully loaded limited and its a pleasure to drive with good mileage rating.

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  Stinky Camry - 2014 Toyota Camry
  By hogheadjoe - December 20 - 7:11 pm

  I leased a 2014 Toyota Camry in August of 2014. Two months later I had to take it in because of a moldy/mildew smell coming from the air conditioner. I was told at the time that "Camrys are known for that issue". The unit was cleaned but I was told it was just a temporary fix. When I turned the air on this spring, the smell was back even worse than before. When I called Freeman Toyota they said that there was nothing they could do to fix the issue. I called Toyota and was told their stance was that it was an "environmental issue". They should stand behind their customer satisfaction claim and either fix the problem or replace the car. My wife cant even drive the car because of allergies.

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  Truck - 2007 Toyota Tundra
  By KT - December 20 - 1:16 am

  This truck replaced a F150 Lariat 5.4L 4x4, and there is no comparison. The Tundra has power to spare whether towing or just driving. It rides well, but not as smooth as the F150. Plenty of room inside for passengers, thermos bottles, and glove compartment type objects, but there is no place to store jumper cables or even basic tools. Little to no road noise and features are luxury. The traction control system is awesome for highway driving in 2WD on slick or wet roads. Mileage is better than expected: over 19 on the highway, 13 while towing, and 14.5 in the city.

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  Toyota does it again - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Isaac - December 19 - 10:16 pm

  What a wonderful car! I bought a 99 SLE with 60K and in 2 years i have had no problems, it now has 140K and the only thing i have done is change the oil every 3k and the brakes once. I didnt even bother with the timing belt. No problems!!! The check engine light is on and its because of the back oxygen sensor heater, there are like 6 banks and one is bad, but the thing is i probably get better gas mileage because of it. Any how its a wonderful car! Toyota ROCKS!

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  My favorite car - 1994 Toyota 4Runner
  By AJ - December 19 - 7:23 pm

  I love(d) my toyota 4-runner. I just wrecked her and I am devastated. She is the most reliable car. I love her and will miss driving her dearly. Im looking to buy another one- thats how much I love this car. If you are interested in buying a 4-runner make sure you look at the Consumer Report (you can get a hold of them at your local library) because I know there were a couple years that had problems - I believe the 1997 model was one of them.

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  Super Reliable - 1998 Toyota Camry
  By J. Heller - December 19 - 7:23 pm

  This is my fourth Toyota. Have never owned anything but Toyotas. While its not my favorite (options, luxury), it has been my most reliable. Bought it with 41,000 Has 192,000 on it now. This one has needed the least amount of repairs compared to my others. Still going strong, still gets excellent gas mileage (its a manual, which helps)! Other than a few rattles, this one has lots of miles left in it!