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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  Bad Investment - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Malissa - September 20 - 2:33 pm

  Initially, I thought that I was making a good investment as I was the owner of a 1994 Camry in the past. My 1994 Camry was worth every penny I paid for it. My 2007 Camry is NOT worth the money Ive invested in it. I paid for quality & all Ive gotten thus far is NOT quality . The paint job is terrible. Ive gotten too many chippings and scratches. You cant even touch the car unless it will get scratched. I just recently had an accident & now after reading the reviews, It appears the skidding was due to the tires. Tires dont go bad in less than 2 years. I dont feel safe in this car at all. Toyota is saving a lot of money on our expense. I used to believe in the Toyota but NO MORE!

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  Cant tell a book by its cover - 2001 Toyota Celica
  By James Wolf - September 20 - 2:53 am

  I fell in love with this model from the first day I saw it. With Toyotas reputation for reliability I bought it but have ended up deeply disappointed. My last vehicle, a Nissan, went 225,000 miles with no repairs. In 4 months the a/c quit, the new front tires had to be replaced & realigned and the oil leaks in the engine cost $650.00 to correct. You cannot see anything out back with the spoiler & small windows. Getting in and out is always a struggle with the steering wheel jammed in its lowest position and the Toyota dealer says he cant fix it. You cannot read the speedometer either with the steering wheel so low. The car has not been in an accident... it is an accident!

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  Big Dissappointment - 2008 Toyota Tundra
  By Mr. Toyota - September 18 - 7:13 am

  I got this truck because of Toyotas reputation for quality and a bit of over excitement. I should have done my homework. There are numerous areas for major improvement with this truck. The thing is just not solid. The bed and especially the tailgate is cheaply manufactured. The thing that annoys me most is that since I got the factory installed trailering package they changed the axle ratio so now I get no where near the EPA estimated miles per gallon, which is dismal anyway.

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  Toyota- oh what a dissapointment! - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By Kevman - September 12 - 12:03 pm

  The new generation Camry has disappointed me 3 months after purchase. The ride is good and somewhat quiet and the base 2.4 4 cylinder is peppy enough around town. The exterior is plain and sort of ugly in the front end treatment. The sides are plain and easily dinged due to Toyotas cheapness in not including bodyside moldings. Visibility to the rear is sometimes compromised and its not always easy to judge the hood when parking. The base engine wheezes on long grades out on the open road or when there are more than 2 people on board and the 5 speed automatic can sometimes hesitate when downshifting. Stability/traction control should be std along with fog lamps if your advertising safety.

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  Worst Car Ever - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By marv - September 6 - 2:00 am

  Nothing but trouble! Six check engine lights due to emissions failures. Transmission replaced at 2000 miles.Interior and exterior pieces falling off this is a lemon Very disappointing considering Toyotas reliability in the past on this vehicle big disappointment considering the high standards one normally expects from a Toyota!!!!

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  Great commuter car with issues. - 2015 Toyota Corolla
  By elliska7 - September 3 - 7:09 pm

  Pros: - great gas mileage (Im getting 35MPG with mostly highway miles) - entertainment console is easy to use even while in motion - small, sporty family car Cons: - way too small for anyone 6 or taller (I fit but commonly have to bend my legs and constantly be moving or my legs go numb, and a hard time getting in/out of the car) - also way too small for a family size larger than 2 (with my infant in her rear facing carseat behind the passenger seat my wife cannot fit due to height, she still has to sit behind the drivers seat to have any room) - this cars steering/handling is worst of any car I have ever owned (driving at highway speeds the car floats, it drives in a straight line but the body/suspension/frame are constantly pulling to the left or right. This motion causes me to constantly have to pull the car one way or the other. I have had to deal with 3-4 service appointments where I was told that "this was the issue" or "that was the issue". First time they told me the front tires had too much of a toe so they completed a four wheel alignment. Didnt fix the issue. Brought it in again and they replaced the rear axle beam. No fix. This last time, they told me nothing was wrong and that is "just how the Corolla handles.") - during snow, rain, or wind you might as well leave the car in the garage and walk to work (with any sort of wind, at all, the car is pushed around as if I was driving a skateboard, snow or rain is dangerous in this car) Overall: Im looking for a new car, ASAP. I may even try to lemon this thing.

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  Too Many Problems! - 2006 Toyota Sienna
  By swimmingturtle - August 27 - 6:46 am

  I have owned the sienna for 3 years now and absolutely hate it. I have never gotten better than 20 mpg highway. There have been numerous electrical problems. The stereo stops working randomly and kicks out cds. The rear a/c-heat controls do not funtion all the time. Only one of the power outlets works. The front floor vents were not functioning, found out they were blocked. The leather on the seats shows severe rubbing from the seat belt. The paint is poor quality. When I accelerate the van jerks. Dealer said this is normal. The seats are extremely uncomfortable for rides over 30 miles. The tires had to be replaced at 15,000 miles, not run flats. Did I get a lemon or are others just awed by the options?

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  Very Disappointed - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By GPT - August 26 - 7:36 am

  Dont buy this car. The transmission is terrible. The car now has 1200 miles on it. The dealer says the transmission is operating normally. The car herks and jerks its way up to speed after every stop. This is probably personal but I also find the interior design uncomfortable. The seat is too "high" and the steering wheel is too close to the dashboard. Any body want to buy this car?

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  Is motor flying apart - 2013 Toyota Tacoma
  By elkhorn4x4 - August 21 - 1:56 am

  the v6 is the noise king of all vehicles. engine thrashes like a 100 year old combine. real low quality front brakes. this truck is junk. had a 93 model & was 3 times a better truck. all the 4.0 engines are like this. Probably worst vehicle I ever bought. Knocking noise is on left side of engine . Not normal or it would be on both sides .

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  Corolla LE plus Power Windows dont work in cold weather - 2013 Toyota Corolla
  By elliot732 - August 19 - 6:17 am

  I have had the 2014 Corolla LE plus for less than two weeks. During that time, anytime the temperature drops below 20 degrees F, the front windows wont come down (open) I took it in for service, but everyone in the dealership I spoke with swore up and down that the same happens in cold weather to their front windows, too. I lodged a complaint with Toyota corporate, but they say they cant do anything about it now.