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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  06 Sienna - 2006 Toyota Sienna
  By Breslau - March 21 - 12:33 pm

  Overall I have been pretty satisfied with our new Sienna. The ride is fairly smooth and the engine seems more than adequate. If I can trust the onboard computer, the gas mileage has been what I expected. We were actually averaging above the stated MPG on the sticker on a recent trip to the NC Outer Banks. For those who complain that the Sienna leans more in the curves than a similar Honda... well, one shouldnt expect a vehicle of this size to handle like a sedan. After all, its a van!

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  2009 Corolla S 4Dr Automatic - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By Bakka - March 21 - 12:33 am

  This vehicle is providing on average above 37 mpg under normal driving conditions and 39+ on the highway currently. This is without the AC running. Two features I do not like are the lack of being able to manually control the headlights, and the vehicle came standard without intermittent windshield wiper capability. (Hard to believe on the wiper issue.) I also have some very strange noises coming from the left side of the engine compartment area that sounds as if something wants to come apart. So far, they have not been able to be identified. This makes the car feel unsecure at times. Overall though, the car is doing well at the nearly 10,000 mile mark.

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  Outside temp - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By Bob - March 20 - 11:33 pm

  We have had Camrys for many years and have found them to enjoyable and reliable. Traded our 05 XLE 4 banger for an 09 XLE 4 banger. Thought our 05 drove and rode better, but could be wrong. We enjoy our 09, but have found one minor glitch. The outside temp does not show all temps. For example, have never seen 62, 65, 69, and a bunch others. when these numbers are written down a pattern shows up. A tech. from Chicago has compared our 09 with another 09 and found them both to have the same "design" trouble, although he did not nor would not admit this was a problem. He did agree to send info on to be looked at by higher authorities.

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  Love this Car Despite Shortcomings - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By Dave - March 20 - 7:46 pm

  I love this car, despite obvious shortcomings. Bought it nearly new with only 12000 miles on the odometer to replace a rock solid 98 Accord on which I put over 200,000 mi. Camrys biggest shortcoming is the build quality of the interior. There are minor squeaks in the drivers seat, and the back seat makes a popping sound. Rear view mirror is a little loose already. The drive is silky smooth, however. The 4 Cyl has surprising pickup and shifts are much smoother than the 09 Accords I test drove. Handling of the SE is almost on par with the Accord and the ride is firm. Highway noise is quite. Despite the cheap looking seats, they are comfortable. All this makes driving a pleasure.

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  Uncomfortable Seats - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By DJ - March 20 - 3:40 pm

  The driver seat and the front passenger seat are very uncomfortable. Probably the worst I experienced in a car. The car performs great but I hate to drive it because of the seat.

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  17 Tundra Limited - 2017 Toyota Tundra
  By thomas galloway - March 20 - 12:02 pm

  Great looking truck, Rides like a Cadillac compared to my 1500 Dodge 4x4. Very spacious and comfortable ( Im 6 1 265 ) in the cabin although not a lot of storage space. If your looking for something with good gas mileage , this is not the truck for you. Im hoping that gets better. It does have a 38 gallon gas tank because it needs it. After having Dodges most of my life, Ive decided to switch to Toyota. Better quality and better resale value.

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  Original Owner - 1997 Toyota Avalon
  By carfooey - March 20 - 7:16 am

  Few mechanical problems until recently. Within last year replaced rear wheel bearings, engine gasket, & alternator. Marginal paint job as it started peeling from around rear view mirrors at <80K miles. Strut noise has been there from day 1 off the lot (dealer made excuses too). Doors sagged quite early on, but work okay. Door remotes still work (!) although the buttons are about shot.

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  Love this Truck - 2010 Toyota Tundra
  By jmcycle - March 20 - 5:23 am

  When shopping for a new full size truck, I looked at everything accept GM (wont buy GM due to bailout and subsequent UAW lawsuits). I settled on the Tundra for three main reasons: 1) 381 hp and 401 lb/ft of torque. The only truck that came close to this was the Ram. 2) The double cab rear doors open as regular doors instead of suicide doors. Aside from being more convenient, I also think it is safer for the rear seat passengers. 3) Toyota offered a lease. I rated the gas mileage as a 10 b/c it is comparable to its competition but still offers superior performance. This truck also handled better than and was more comfortable than the other trucks I test drove.

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  Good Choice - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By Csejtey - March 20 - 5:13 am

  I compared the RAV4 to the CR-V and Volvo XC70 and the RAV was the right choice for me. The other two cars were too slow and didnt handle as well. Also the Volvo got terrible MPG. Great deals right now on Toyota Leasing too. Drives like a sports sedan buy has a lot of cargo capacity.

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  Navigation sucks!!! - 2015 Toyota Camry
  By Mrs. D - March 20 - 3:26 am

  Before you buy this vehicle, be sure that your cell phone is compatible with the Camry XLE 2015 . My husband purchased this vehicle for me is a birthday gift in June 2015, right off the showroom floor with only 10 miles on it. Before I even got 8K miles on it, I noticed the navigational system kept rebooting, going back to the Toyota welcome screen while I was driving the car. Toyota has had my car 3 times since we purchased it, so they finally figured out that my cell phone is not compatible ( Samsung Galaxy Note 5) with the car. We told Toyota corporation that should have been disclosed by their sales person before we made the purchase, so they said they will be doing an update to the entune app in March, but I think theres a defect in my navigation system. I will never ever purchase another Toyota vehicle, also the car has no get up in it, and the gas mileage is horrible. So before you buy a Camry XLE, be sure to do your homework first. Very disappointed Toyota Customer