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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  Sluggish 4 cylinder - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By manny - July 28 - 2:03 pm

  I love the car but the 4 cylinder is very bad when it comes to getting out of the way of something or needing a quick response. The engine lags when you accelerate after slowing down. I have had a few close calls from not getting the engine to respond when you need it (it hesitates badly).

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  matrix xrs - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By nw - July 27 - 10:00 am

  Love my car. Smooth ride for a small car. Fun to drive.

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  Great Car! - 2004 Toyota Sequoia
  By Monica Castillo - July 27 - 10:00 am

  This car is great and fun to drive! The only problem I have expereinced since purchasing this car is the poor quality in its brakes. I had to replace the first pair of brake pads at only 11,000 miles (less then a year of owning this car). The brake pads were also on a two week back order when my car needed the brakes replaced. Which means to me that Toyota needs to work a little bit harder on resolving their brakes issue. Obviously if there is such a huge demand on their brake pads, something is wrong????

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  be care of the oil consumption - 2001 Toyota Camry
  By leon_lz - July 27 - 10:00 am

  the camrys from 97-2002 had a design flaw, which you have to change oil more frequent than the manual said. the manual recommends you to change oil between 5k-7.5k, no way you can wait for that long. because the camry was running at higher temp to reach good fuel economy, therefore, the oil can loose its lubrication ability faster, so i would say, change it at 2.5k, or you will have a problem called oil gelling. search google.com by toyota oil gelling as key word, you will know what is going on. Overall, it is a good vehecle. but not the model between 97-02. you have to change oil more often.

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  Love my Priuss - 2007 Toyota Prius
  By rubber2road - July 26 - 3:58 pm

  At age 56 I have come to appreciate the practical things in life much more. No more do I require a vehicle that does 0-60 mph in less than 6 seconds. I much more appreciate value for my $1. My 2007 Prius was my first purchase of a Toyota and I had to convince my wife of the new purchase as she didnt like the looks of the car. But after driving it and seeing all the features it had, she suddenly changed her thinking and hopped on board. That was 8 years, 174,00 miles ago. Though we bought a new 2014 Prius in July 2014, we are finding it hard to part with our 07. It runs great, has the original battery and will chirp the tires during hard acceleration from a stop, something the 14 wont do.

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  8 1/2 Years and Goin Strong - 2002 Toyota Tacoma
  By TruckLuvr - July 25 - 7:16 pm

  I had lusted a red Toyota 4x4 Xtracab since I was in college, and my wife and I could finally afford to buy this one new TRD off the lot. Weve taken into the most inhospitable places in the Colorado high country, moved out of two houses with it, landscaped innumerable lots with it, and added kids to the mix in between all the rest. Its been flawless overall, and we still love it dearly after 8 1/2 years. Given, the interior is small for a child seat and two 510 and over adults. Yes, there are a few rattles, it gets < 20 mpg, and rides like a buckboard wagon. But, its a go-anywhere truck that always works. Weve never regretted buying it, even once.

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  Great Vehicule - 2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By Marco - July 25 - 10:00 am

  Very reliable truck. Great off road. Fun to drive and unique design. Awesome truck in winter. Good power.

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  Wheel Bearings - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By michele - July 25 - 10:00 am

  My brother talked me into buying a Toyota and I do love it. However, I had to replace the drivers side wheel bearing in July of last year, no problem - I expect to have to pay for this type of maintenance. I had about 110,000 miles on it. A year later and 25,000 miles later - the same wheel bearing goes. I explain to the dealer that it doesnt make sense that I have to replace it yet again. The other one has never been replaced. They simply said its normal wear and tear because of the amount of miles I have put on it. We even called Toyota directly and we are waiting for some answers. Hopefully they will make it right. I was sold on Toyota, but may not be now. Will depend on how they respond.

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  Great Toyota reliability - 2008 Toyota Sienna
  By So. Calif. Toyota - July 25 - 10:00 am

  I am 6 feet tall and the only major issue is the legroom. The Toyota Sienna center console is very wide and my right knee hits the console and is very crowded for a 6 foot tall person. Except for the comfort issue, this has been a great minivan. The Toyota has about 20,000 miles with no repairs. The Toyota is smooth and fast on the road. I also own a 1999 Honda Odyssey which has more legroom for a taller person. The Honda Odyssey center console is 3 inches narrower than Toyota. I prefer the Honda Odyssey for seating comfort and the Toyota Sienna for a fast, smooth ride. I am currently planning to buy a Toyota Highlander which has more legroom for taller people.

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  Better than competition - 2010 Toyota Tundra
  By Mat Leopard - July 25 - 10:00 am

  I upgraded from a Toyota Tacoma 4.0 V6 to the Tundra 4.6 V8. I got the 4.6 Liter because it was closer to the V6 as far as gas mileage and I wouldnt be sacrificing a lot. The 4.6 L is rated for 15 mpg around town and I am averaging 17 mpg around town. I had to retrain myself how to accelerate and be aware of how Im driving, but it has made all the difference! Value for dollar, I would pass on the Tacoma any day and go for the Tundra.