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 Car - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
  By dylancasb - November 8 - 4:17 pm

  I bought my 01 18 months ago with 58,000 miles on it. Since then I have put 30,000 miles on it. I have had no trouble with the vehicle at all. However, when I first bought it I had to put one quart of oil in whenever it reached 2K miles since an oil change. I began changing the oil every 2K miles and now it doesnt use any oil even if I go past 3K between oil changes (sludge can be a problem with this model engine and frequent oil changes are a good idea). The 4cyl is a little underpowered but it gets good mileage. The interior fit is sound throughout the car. The hood finish is rough and seems to be a common problem with solaras in these years.

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  Sequoia Rocks - 2006 Toyota Sequoia
  By joshsabrina - November 8 - 1:36 am

  Excellent SUV all the way around except fuel economy. If you dont mind paying more at the pump though, this vehicle will make you think you are driving on a cloud. This SUV has the best resale value for the 2005 model for SUVs. Now you cant beat that.

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  Great mid size SUV - 2007 Toyota 4Runner
  By bretski75 - November 8 - 12:00 am

  If your needs are for mid size utility, not just an all wheel drive sedan with a hatchback, this is an excellent vehicle. It has the same motor as my Tundra did and tows almost as well. Handles the parking lots great and fit and finish are all Toyota

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  What a Joke - 1999 Toyota Camry
  By NoCamFan - November 7 - 8:10 pm

  Sure seemed like an excellent used car at the time I bought it for my mom, exactly one year ago. At only 63K miles it smokes when cold (valve stem seals), clunks on small bumps (strut mounts), all the painted plastic has faded (bumpers, mirrors, door handles), exterior door handle falling off (cheap plastic). I should have spent thousands less and bought American. Extremely disappointed in this smoking rattle-trap. There are TSBs on the problems we have, so these are not maintenance issues - I regret ever buying this car - cant sell it without doing a valve job at ONLY 63K MILES! NOT a solid car.

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  love it - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By steve D - November 7 - 6:46 pm

  When I first bought this SUV I didnt think that I would like it because of the size, but after a few days I realize that it is like driving a car. Toyota has thought of everything when they built this fullsize SUV. I test drove the Yukon and the Tahoe and they could not compete with the comfort and handling and performance of a Sequoia.

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  Great Car - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By Luv my 3 js - November 7 - 5:07 pm

  Purchased my car earlier this month and I absolutely love it. It drives very smooth and is very comfortable. However, I drove my car to Palm Springs this week and the seats were so hot, I couldnt sit on them until I put a towel in them. Overall, Im very pleased with this car

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  Enjoying my *new* car - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By katie - November 7 - 12:56 pm

  We just bought this car and are so far very pleased. I have been dismayed by the few negative consumer reviews on this site, but most seem generally good and consistent with our experience. The interior plastic features are a little kitsch-y, but are neat looking. And, the clutch is... interesting... all things I can certainly live with if the car continues to run well and be fun to drive!

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  2004 Toyota Prius - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Jim Bowen - November 7 - 10:40 am

  Great car! Fuel consumption varies with driver. 16 year old driver gets 40 MPG city, 54 yr.old gets 52 MPG . Steering on highway a little wayward, requiring more corrections than our Volvo wagen. Front driver seat does not go far back enough for 6+ drivers. Brakes take a little getting used to. Visibility excellent. Plenty of power for a mid- sized auto. Super quiet with very little road noise. Tons of rear seat room. Drivetrain feels the same as any other.

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  Toyota Camry weld problems! - 2010 Toyota Camry
  By toyotalemon - November 7 - 7:50 am

  My son bought a new Camry from Dave Edwards Toyota, Spartanburg, SC -its been in the shop all but 5 days in 1 month, and is still there. Toyota is sending an Engineer to assess the faulty welds in the chassis. The car is making strange noises when when accelerate" and stop. The dealership tells him they are out of the picture - its between him and Toyota. Although he took it back within 3 days after he purchased it- bad weld on the chassis. It is now in the shop awaiting a Toyota Engineer who will advise how to weld without interfering with electrical parts - the noise is also coming from the rear and that is a separate issue. DO NOT BUY A TOYOTA! I feel so sorry for him!

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  Clunky - 2015 Toyota Sequoia
  By SlickEagle - November 6 - 7:02 pm

  The extra foot -bumper to bumper, compared to the 4-runner was too much for me. The interior was largely a step down from previous years. The v-8 had a lot of power and delivered acceleration. Road noise was high.