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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  good but not great - 2012 Toyota Camry
  By kat12510 - May 10 - 12:30 pm

  Had 2003 Camry XLE V6 before this. Leased the new 2012 XLE 4cyl to save gas, now have 6k on it.. The mileage is NOT what toyota stated! I get 25 average and I drive all highway! My 2003 was much quieter, more solid feeling and got 30mpg with a V6! The styling is fine, hate the low body style they have now, I live in MN where snow is plentiful and the car gets stuck easy cause of this! Bluetooth stopped working, dealer cant find problem. Leather seats are nice and soft but stains easier to remove than previous camry leather. Jeans turned my seats blue. Miss my 2003!! I cant decide if Ill buy this one out or not. Its a lot smaller too, bf is 6 and hits his head on headliner.

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  Love this truck - 2003 Toyota Tacoma
  By pixieplc - May 9 - 3:16 pm

  I bought this truck because I was moving out west and wanted something to get me through any kind of conditions. Driven cross country several times with no problems at all. Very reliable and stylish, I get compliments on it all the time. I was worried the cost was too high but I havent regretted it for a minute since my purchase. I will drive this truck til the wheels fall off!

• 

  Not all I expected - 1997 Toyota Camry
  By filosnard - May 9 - 2:00 am

  Bought mine used with 33,000 miles on it, now have over 85,000. The V6 provides great power and better than average low-end torque. However, this car has never had the ride or handling I expected from this kind of vehicle. The handling is sloppy with lots of lean in the turns - even after replacing all 4 struts. The ride is quality is also much worse than I would expect for a car in this class. Ive also had an undiagnosed thumping sound coming from the right, front wheel well ever since Ive had the car. It sounds like shocks, but didnt go away when I replaced them.

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  I waited for this truck and Im glad. - 2004 Toyota Tundra
  By hulksmashtree - May 9 - 2:00 am

  The engine produces solid performance. The towing ability is adequate. The bigger V8s offered by other trucks boast better towing, but most guys like me wont ever come close. Im sure my Tundra will pull a camper with much more ease than any V6, and thats good enough. The many cool features impress me. I do have to say though that thus far the mileage has been very poor. All in all, my decision was based on getting the most reliable 4-door full size pickup out there, that could fit in a normal garage, and having good toys and performance. Acceleration is solid, but it would be fun to have a little more power. To conclude, Im glad I waited.

• 

  Great Car! - 2002 Toyota Corolla
  By Megan - May 8 - 4:43 pm

  I didnt have this car very long. I got in an accident and totaled it. When I crashed I was well protected. I didnt get a scratch. Its a great commuter to and from school. It always turns on even when its freezing outside. The seats are very comfortable and I only had to fill the gas tank every 2 weeks which saved me a lot of money. It did burn oil though which I really didnt like because it got expensive to keep having to replace the oil. It drives pretty well on snow and water. I liked the overall shape of the car, but the paint on the hood was peeling off. Overall, I really liked it.

• 

  156K Still Kickin - 1993 Toyota Camry
  By deboy - May 8 - 5:16 am

  Bought new in 93. Still rides as smooth as Day 1. Very reliable. Great A/C and Heat. Just starting to see some breakdowns: Both front power window motors replaced at 150K. Oil seal leaks. Coolant concerns. Radio lights went dark. Havent had any MAJOR expenses yet. Keep up with transmission service!

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  The cross country vehicle - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By poorfarm44 - May 7 - 5:46 pm

  This car appears to be very well built. It replaced a Volvo V70 that did not hold up on a lot of potholed roads and washboard gravel roads. The Highlander combines adequate performance & driving comfort on freeways with the a good quiet road on rough roads. The fuel mileage is okay with a range from 19 to 23 mpg. The only maintenance cost is the first 13,000 are two oil changes.

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  The Camry of Minivans - 1999 Toyota Sienna
  By MtnRoad - May 7 - 12:18 pm

  I have a 1999 Toyota Sienna CE with 3.0L V6 with 80,000 miles, sliding doors on both sides, grey cloth interior, light green paint on exterior. This is a fantastic car. When friends ride in it they immediately comment on how smooth the ride is. The engine is the same V6 they put in the Camry and acceleration is great. Functionality of the van is awesome. When you want to load groceries or other items in tight parking spaces the sliding side doors and huge lift back make everything so easy. I think having sliding doors on both sides was an option so not all Siennas have that but one will still work out great in those tight parking spaces. I bought the car used from an older couple who had the 3rd row seating removed and a hydraulic lift installed for a motorized wheel chair. I had the lift removed and sold it, and I most likely wont hunt down some replacement 3rd row seats. I own rental properties and the Sienna is perfect for hauling all the stuff I need for work and keeping tools safe in parking lots. I dont like showing up at my rental properties in fancy new cars and the Sienna is perfect for maintaining the look I want in front of people who pay me rent. There is a lot of room in these vans to go camping, or haul stuff and people comfortably. I recently took my Sienna on a huge road-trip with a girlfriend to follow the Seattle Seahawks on some road games and the vehicle performed flawlessly. I set it up to sleep in the back of the van if I wanted, and when I did it was roomy. I dont have much to complain about but if I did it would be the power window control on both the driver and front passenger side short out every now and then and I have to pry them up and fidgit with them a bit to get them working again. The car is a 1999 so no big deal it comes with the age. The replacement part is cheap at the dealership but Im holding out. The paint is pretty badly oxidized. I live in Arizona and the car is older so its expected but looks kind of bad. The model I have is the CE edition and it came with steel wheels that had hubcaps and I regularly lost hubcaps (mostly because used ones have broken clips and they dont secure well). In fact there probably isnt a used Sienna hubcap within a 50 mile radius of my house because I have gone through them all. I finally just bought some late 1990s Toyota Camry alloy wheels off eBay for $200 and although they are scuffed a bit they match the age and condition of my car and maintain the original look of the vehicle. Door handles seem loose and ready to break and apparently its normal for Toyotas of this age but it still is something to look for if buying used because replacement cost and labor can run $75-100 for each handle. The only other thing I guess I would mention is the 3.0L V6 for this model uses a timing belt instead of a chain. My car has low mileage but due to the age of it I had the timing belt and water pump changed at the Toyota dealership with a coupon I found on their website. It cost $1500 to have that done along with a complete tune up with spark plugs, wires, etc. Sure, you can find some shade tree mechanic shop to do it for $150-200 less but I got genuine Toyota parts / service / and warranty. I recommend this model to anyone who wants reliability, a good looking vehicle, smooth ride, and lots of room. Sometimes people try to race around me on the freeway on-ramp but they get a nice little reality check when I throw that V6 into action. LOL eat my dust!!!

• 

  Nice car overall. - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By wazu - May 7 - 10:00 am

  Great car except that I can never get fully comfortable in the drivers seat (even though it has electronic adjustments) and am always adjusting it. Also the V6 engine is not as smooth as I expected. Sometimes I can actually see the tachometer drop slightly and then come back up a gain without altering the pressure on the gas peddle. I also had one problem out of the showroom. A heard a "rattle" from under the hood at highway speeds. After bringing to the dealer twice (and a little pushing) they found that a bolt holding the power steering motor was "not torqued to specification" and tightened it up. The rattle is now gone.

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  Very nice but.... - 2008 Toyota Avalon
  By Captainalan - May 6 - 10:13 pm

  My Toyota 2008 Avalon limited is an excellent car with a few exceptions. The front seat is tight for a larger driver and the center console makes it impossible to spread you right leg which is so important on long drives. The navigation system is poor at best. It is difficult to use and not as friendly as $300 add ons. The laser cruise control is wasted money as it is far too conservative for normal highway driving. I normally over ride it. My last concern is the low ground clearance. Already I had to reattach the front underbody protection from being ripped lose several times on parking "stops." I believe the clearance is only 5.3 inches which is really pretty low.