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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  Strong - 2016 Toyota Tundra
  By Craig - May 16 - 3:03 pm

  I drove a F350 7.3 for 12 years and traded for a Tundra limited 5.7 4x4. I am very impressed so far. Very nice very strong, poor gas mileage @14, but it can run on 85 or 87 fuel. So far I could not be happier.

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  Wipers and power points - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By jtjtruth - May 16 - 9:53 am

  For the most part the Prius is a good vehicle. The most annoying thing is the Wiper control and placement. It is to easy to hit and start a real circus of front and rear wipers. Secondly with a vehicle that is one big battery, Why was it designed to kill the power to the power charge points when the vehicle is off. This is completely illogical and quite annoying in todays use of so many required electronics.

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  Best truck I have owned - 2002 Toyota Tundra
  By david gallatin - May 16 - 9:36 am

  I have owned a total of 5 trucks from Ford, Chevy and Dodge. This is my first Toyota. Absolutely no comparison, The Tundra is the best so far by a long shot. I tow a 5600lb trailer with this vehicle, It performs far better than the 99 ford F150 that I had previously , Even though the Ford had a bigger engine and supposedly more horsepower.

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  Tough to get excited - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By Something is missing - May 16 - 8:23 am

  When going up small hills the transmission will not shift up and jerks when it does shift. When the engine is under some pressure it sounds very strained. Acceleration is margional. I came from a Murano. The Murano had more power and was more fun to drive. The navigation is pretty good. Not unhappy with the purchase but can not get excited about getting in the truck everyday.

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  12,000 Mile Update - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By bh_okedoke - May 16 - 8:13 am

  Bought 01/06, car holding up well, AVG MPG now running @ 45 MPG 50/50 mix highway/backroad. Ive noted that the MPG computer reading overstates the actual MPG by about 2-3%. Run Tire pressure at 36 PSI. Car is still very tight, no squeeks, rattles, tracks well. Running Mobile 1 Full Syn oil. Looking forward to 2008 model with plug in feature and Turbo. Very happy with this auto.

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  I purposely find places to drive to - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By WilbursDad - May 16 - 6:34 am

  [1] Ride quality - its not a crossover, dont compare the ride quality to one. My wife drives the MDX, and there is a significant difference in the ride quality when we swap vehicles. Its a little rough around the edges, but then I expected that from the truck. However, it is a very solid ride. [2] Power - its sufficient. Its not fast nor is it meant to be a road racer. [3] Noise - this is where the truck suffers a bit. I havent driven the previous generation Tacomas, but from what Ive read Toyota has made significant improvements to dampen the cabin. However, it is not good enough to use the bluetooth to talk on the phone while driving. Also, the engine noise is a bit annoying, but nothing that drives me crazy. [4] Rear passenger space - my family members arent very tall. Were actually quite short, so having 4 adults in the truck is not a problem. However, I can see taller adults having a bit of a difficult time finding a comfortable spot in the rear seats. Its not ideal for long road trips, especially in the back seats. [5] Gas - I am averaging 19 - 20 mpg in mixed driving. [6] Infotainment - The system is reliable and responsive and I have no complaints. [6] Tires - I have the TRD Off-Road trim and the OEM tires are ok, but I will not be replacing them with the same tires when these wear out. [Summary] The ratings that I gave for this truck was based on its comparison to other mid-sized trucks. I think it would be unfair to compare the ride to a SUV as I wouldnt compare the ride of a Camry to a luxury sedan. Update 3/2/17: Having owned the vehicle for about half a year and using it as my daily driver, I still really enjoy driving the truck. The transmission issue that so many people complain about has been an issue for me, but the updates that Toyota are coming out with are helping. The truck starts off in overdrive mode and constantly wants to upshift, so you can either get in the habit of using ECT power or just give it a little more gas. The seats that many complain about isnt too much of an issue for me. However, for long distance trips (3+ hours), I definitely feel more fatigue. I listen to Pandora almost exclusively and while the Entune system is just fine when it works, sometimes it just has an issue establishing a connection with the vehicle. I dont know if its my phone, the vehicle, or just the app itself, but it is a nuisance as I will experience this a few times a week.

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  Toyota fan - 2001 Toyota Camry
  By Nick - May 16 - 4:13 am

  My wife and I bought this car new and have put over 60,000 miles on it with absolutely no mechanical problems. Only scheduled maintenace performed. I get over 30 mpg on the 4 cyl and I am very happy with the gas mileage since fuel costs are out the roof. This car is not for enthusiasts who love the driving experience, but for a family or as a commuter, it cant be beat.

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  06 4Runner - 2006 Toyota 4Runner
  By Tom Grimshaw - May 16 - 2:56 am

  This rig has lived up to the Toyota tradition, but there are a couple of niggling annoyances. At 20K miles when I make a turn there is a creak that comes from the back. My friends call this car the squawkwagon due to the fact that the rear assist warning siren comes on and stays on whenever the car is in reverse. Im used to it but it really gets on passengers nerves. The dealership cant fix it either. Also I added a Westin Sportmaster grille guard and it looks sharp!

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  Big blue suv for countryside driving - 2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By Jim could - May 15 - 8:36 pm

  Excellent for my driving needs

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  Super Solara SLE Convertible - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By jayare - May 15 - 5:13 pm

  Great: interior appointments, ease of top operation, air conditioning, styling is awesome, sat radio, riding comfort, acceleration, quietness, rear seat space/comfort, trunk space, running lights, steering wheel audio controls, brakes, price, Toyota reliability and quality control, half the price of a Lexus coupe yet looks a lot like one, VSC a great safety add Good: fuel economy, cup storage Not so good: rear visibility through small window and large rear pillars make for obscure parking (suggest a back-up camera as original equipment); cant use an automated car wash; no side panel protection - easy to pick up dings Overall: outstandingly fun to drive and own