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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  Ol Reliable - 1997 Toyota Tacoma
  By ThirdGear - January 23 - 10:03 am

  Awesome vehicle! After 128k miles, no problems. Engine and cruise control work perfectly. Interior components have started to rattle a bit, but that is to be expected on a truck with so many miles. Good gas mileage, good power in V6 model. Speakers arent great. Back seats dont have enough room for passengers (but space is good for cargo). Front seats also a little uncomfortable, especially if youre tall.

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  Reliable little truck - 1996 Toyota Tacoma
  By IAGuy - January 22 - 2:20 pm

  I am the original owner of this truck with 100k. The only non maint. item was the starter. 30mpg, tight turning radius. Downside: bland looks, cramped interior, terrible seats. Also has high wind/road noise and is easily blown about by high winds.

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  Pretty Nice Vehicle - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By Mark - January 20 - 11:20 pm

  Had A 02 Nissan truck which rattled and the dealer couldnt find the problem so sold it and bought a Highlander. Nice ride and pretty comfortable. Had my Highlander for a year now. The Transmission gets twitchy once and a while. Had a few rattles but the dealer has been great helping me resolve them. The factory Toyo tires wore out quick. Put Michilen on, they ride nicer and quieter for $500. Overall though a pretty nice vehicle.

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  Issues with the car. - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By pinkldy56 - January 20 - 6:08 pm

  At 17,603 miles the water pump needed replacement which entailed removing the engine to get to the pump due to poor design. Fortunately the repair was under warranty. At 28,748 miles the car needs a new steering shaft which is not covered under the warranty because the car is already six years old; total cost at dealership service was $236.52 for the part and labor will be determined when I get he repair done.

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  Great Truck - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By andy - January 20 - 5:50 am

  I have the 4wd 2.7L 4 cyl std trans. The truck is economical (22-26 mpg), comfortable and dependable. The interior is comfortable and utilitarian. Mine is a work truck and hauls my tools, firewood and bike with ease. It is comfortable on long trips, has a great stereo with disc player. My only gripe is that the speedometer reads high (about 8- 10%) with stock tires. Although it isnt that important to me I also like the styling.

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  Corolla Sport 2009 - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By Corolla Sport - January 20 - 12:40 am

  No serious issues other than some rattles and squeaks. Gas mileage is not as good as the old corolla, but it is bigger than the old corolla , comfortable drive. Would have been perfect if there were no rattles. Dealer fixed most of the rattles, but still some there.

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  XLS Nice Ride - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By donb - January 19 - 6:10 pm

  I have about 500 miles on my new XLS. I have found it to be a very nice car. the ride is smooth and the fit and finish are excellent. I am still discovering new things on the car. This is my 3rd Avalon and I like this much better than my previous 2. Lots of power and gadgets. I am not impressed with the display on the XM radio. In addition the Nav cannot be adjusted or changed when the car is in motion. Overall it is a great, well made car. It should serve me well on the trips across PA to see the Grandkids

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  Perfect for a college student! - 2002 Toyota Corolla
  By joejoezz - January 19 - 3:36 am

  We bought a a Corolla with 120,000 miles on it and now have it up to 136,000. So far, we have only done routine maintenance, although I recommend watching the brakes closely. It burns a little oil but nothing major. Combined gas mileage is around 28 in the winter and 35 in the summer. The cars size is its best feature for living in the city: it drives well for such a tiny car and it is easy to parallel park into tiny spots. You just have to watch out because sometimes big SUVs dont see it.

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  2008 Avalon Limited not perfect - 2008 Toyota Avalon
  By patrick59 - January 18 - 3:30 pm

  I purchased an 08 Avalon Limited with 28,000 miles on it four months ago. So far, Im only somewhat satisfied. Unfortunately, the dashboard rattled and squeaked as if it had 180,000 miles, although I didnt notice that when I test drove it. I had to jam coins down the sides of the dash where it meets the windshield columns in order to tighten it up. The workmanship of the assembly is poor. Also, the front seats would not heat or cool, but the dealer fixed that problem before I took posession. I like the bluetooth connectivity, but the sound of the phone only comes out of one speaker and it distorts pretty badly if you turn it up enough to hear the other person at highway speeds.

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  $2000 to fix the head lights? - 2007 Toyota Camry Solara
  By kathleen - January 16 - 4:16 pm

  The problems that are popping up are rather disappointing. We have a 2007 Toyota Solara convertible with HID head lights. The head lights work when you first turn them on but one goes out after 10 seconds and the other goes out after about 20 minutes. I was floored when they stated the bulbs were $368.00 each, and they did not stock them. I went to an auto parts store and purchased a bulb for $89.00 but it did not fix the problem. I took it to the dealer to repair the lights when they informed us that it would cost $2000 to repair the system and it was not covered as our car has 40,000 miles on it and I voided because I put in an after market bulb. The problem has not been fixed yet.