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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  Dumb water pump location - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By brettgjacobs - November 22 - 12:20 am

  I bought my Rav4 used about a year and a half ago. No, problems up until recently. My Rav turned 90,000 miles and I took it in for an oil change and the mechanic told me that the water pump was failing. Normally, this is a pretty simple repair on most cars but for the V6 specific Rav4 the water pump is buried behind the engine and requires the mechanic to lift or drop the engine to get to the water pump. So, its about a 700-1000 issue to fix and most all V6 Ravs will need this nearing 100,000. Just a heads up! Otherwise, I love my Rav4!

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  226,000 miles salvaged still going - 1996 Toyota Camry
  By 96camryman - November 21 - 5:51 pm

  i am pretty bored of this car recieved it as a graduation gift pretty good though considering it gets beat every day i go 95 on the thruway and it holds up just starting to get problems but i dont care i put some 12 inch ma audio subs in it and a kenwood head unit everyone refers to it as my hoopdee its salvaged and crazy fun on the thruway but the pickup sucks unless you floor it but it gets great gas mileage filled up took a trip to auburn from buffalo and then got back 232 miles only used 1/4 of a tank of gas awesome love it will be using it for a backup when i find another one trying to get it to 1 million miles that would be crazy good

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  1st time Tacoma owner - 2010 Toyota Tacoma
  By Taclover - November 21 - 9:56 am

  I really love this truck. I was looking for a truck that would last me at least 10 yrs and get good mileage. I love the box and suicide doors. The SR5 package is worth the money.

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  Loved It Until Doors Malfunctioned - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By DadOf4 - November 20 - 7:20 am

  We loved this van until the sliding power doors started giving trouble. The driver side door cable became frayed (at 65K miles) and is on the verge of breaking. After getting a quote of about $1200+ to fix it, we just stopped using the door. Now the passenger side is making popping sounds and it might go soon. We will eventually just use the doors in manual mode. This seems to be a design flaw that troubles a lot of owners. We have always been a Toyota family, but may now consider other brands.

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  Overall a very good car - 2016 Toyota Highlander
  By Sam Ng - November 20 - 4:50 am

  Everything is good with some rooms for improvement: 1. Dash design is nice but lack of flat area to mount other items such as phone holder or dash camera. Windshield seems is the only place to mount , which reduces the visibility. 2. Mpg is not as good as rated. I have 70% local 30% hwy and I get 18 mpg.

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  Like the van... kind of - 2007 Toyota Sienna
  By Raylan - November 20 - 3:10 am

  Nearing one year with 2007 Sienna, 18k miles. Great room for kids and all that comes with them. Drives nice, with lots of power. Handling not so great, breaking a bit scary at times due to the soft break pedal. Interior quality is not so Toyota-like; needs refinement with attention to materials and finish. A/C needs more power to the back seats. I would like to say the gas mileage is better then I thought. Were getting around 22-23 MPG combined and the added power is nice to have during traffic in/outs.

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  Nice little car! - 2007 Toyota Corolla
  By adoer2001 - November 19 - 9:30 pm

  I have had the car for a month, Within 24 hours of my purchase, the computer had to be replaced. Since then, I havent had any problems. Its comfortable and has a little pep! The drivers head rest when up creates a large blind spot. The trunk with the back seat down is huge. I got the 6 cd changer with 6 speakers and that thing is loud and clear, I love it!

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  Tundra - 2004 Toyota Tundra
  By cw9066 - November 19 - 1:00 pm

  Ive had my truck about four months. The ride is excellent. Layout is very convenient. The mileage is about 15 mpg in mixed driving. Handling is pretty good for a truck, but my BMW drives better! Overall, Im happy with my purchase and pleased with the quality.

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  Small - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By Dave - November 19 - 11:26 am

  My wife loved the Rav4 but I found it too small,the drivers seat would not go back far enough for my long legs. I am 63". Also the door panel and parking brake were in my way and the center console is too low. Interior needs a redesign. With only 4000 miles on it the dealers offered $10,000 less than I paid for it, o much for Toyota holding there value better than other makes. Traded for a Chevy Traverse and lost only $3500.

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  Cheap and Reliable town commuting - 2001 Toyota Echo
  By lostfido - November 19 - 10:00 am

  I have had this vehicle for two years now. Its not a bad little car overall. Im a chronically single computer geek, so the embarrassment in front of potential in-laws clause doesnt apply to me. :) I like my life. I dont have issues with the styling, so Im not going to comment on it. When I bought this car, my objectives were to get the cheapest possible car vs. potential durability. I like to think I achieved that by getting the cheapest model from a very reputable car maker. The basic model was sufficient for me: no cd player, no side-beam air bags, and etc. Besides its great for a fat person on a budget (like me!).