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:

• 

  Sleeper - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Mike - August 2 - 6:16 pm

  Hard to beat for the price. Awesome power for a V6 with great highway mileage. Handles very well on snow & ice (equipped w/traction control).

• 

  Help! - 2009 Toyota Avalon
  By george hooper - August 2 - 8:33 am

  I paid $36,000 for my 2009 Avalon. I will not drive it. It has 3000 miles on it. On 8 occasions the car has lurched forward after brakes were applied. One accident occurred costing me $500 deduct. I was in the bank line when the brakes failed. Car started moving forward. Brakes would not stop the car. Toyota dealers say they cannot find a problem. Both my husband and brother have experienced same problem driving this vehicle. Dealers say no other person has reported anything similar. The car is just too dangerous to drive. I am lucky I have not been injured or have injured someone else.

• 

  Truly a Pocket Rocket - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Pocket Rocket - August 2 - 6:46 am

  I actually received this vehicle as a gift. So far, it has been one of the best cars that Ive owned. It is a little sluggish on initial acceleration but what can I expect when Im averaging 40 mpg! Ride is great, sticks to the road, handles very well. Fabulous sound system. Would like to see a higher center console for arm rest and cup holder is great... if youre left handed!

• 

  The best small truck - 2001 Toyota Tacoma
  By jm - August 2 - 3:46 am

  Its not a big truck, but its good for hauling furniture, lumber, mulch, and still have some comfort inside. So far, nothing other than regular service has been needed, other than tires. Theres room behind the seat for a fair bit of stuff, too. Theres even a locking ring for a car seat in the Xtra cab, but I dont know - it looks like that might be a tight fit.

• 

  2002 Toyota Camry MAINTENANCE - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By 02camrymaint - August 1 - 10:47 pm

  I will write mostly about Maintenance 1) My O2 Sensor was on at 76k miles, had to replace Catalatic Converter- fixed it with Company waranty, which is normally 80k miles for Catalatic Convertors- 2000$ TOYOTA Bill 2) At 80k & 135k- Front Brakes shoes and Disc-250$ 3) at 139k- Starter- 300$ 4) at 90k- collant tank leak- 200$ 5) All four tires at 70k and 125k -600$ 6) Front and Back STRUTS are leaking, needs to replace at 105k- estimates around 1600$ TOYOTA Estimate 7) Engine Oil is leaking at 100k miles 8) Replaced Battery at 80k and 125k

• 

  Love my Prius - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By schatziq - August 1 - 9:30 pm

  This car is more powerful than you might think. I got two speeding tickets my first couple of months owning this car because you can be going 90 miles an hour and it is as quiet and stable as when you are going 35. Great visibility in it- no blind spots and the interior is very functional. Love my Prius!!

• 

  Great Car - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By Scott F. - August 1 - 5:10 pm

  I have owned for a little over two weeks. 51.079 MPG on first tank, we live on a large hill and that drastically reduces performance. Center console rattles a little when closed. Love the hands free. Lots of power in PWR mode. EV mode only available once car is warmed up, then only up to 9 mph at first then up to 25 mph for short distances. Rear view is limited.

• 

  Transmission lag - 2008 Toyota Camry
  By Ted - August 1 - 12:43 pm

  The "fly by wire" feature has caused an annoying lag when reaching certain speeds. Its almost as if the car cant make up its mind what gear it should be in. It constantly downshift and hesitates. Sometimes the car stalls when I press the accelerator to pass another car. Im scheduled for Arbitration with Toyota about this problem. Stay tuned.

• 

  rav4 at 85,000 miles - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Corey - August 1 - 8:43 am

  I have had my Rav4 since 2006 and did not have to many issues at the time. At about 75,000 miles the alternator went out and is the biggest pain to get fixed due to the connector being a special piece from the rest. Since I got the car in 2006 it had a knocking noise in the engine that no one can seem to figure out. The gas has a severe hesitation and should probably be on a recall. It takes about 2-3 seconds from the time you step on the gas till the car preforms. Once it kicks in, it jerks very badly. Very easy to drive, almost like a go kart.

• 

  Assembly Problems - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Ellen - August 1 - 8:26 am

  I absolutely love this car however I have experienced several problems to include the window control panel came out of the door the first time I rolled the window down. The speaker vibrated/cracked when I turned the stereo on. Took it to the dealer and after repair I now have an unbearable wind noise in the cabin that is proving hard for them to find/fix. Ergonomically I think the interior is a masterpiece. I am hoping the dealer can fix my problems so I can enjoy this car even more.