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:

• 

  Eh.... - 2014 Toyota Sequoia
  By asmithmt - November 26 - 2:17 pm

  Ok - I started with a much longer review, but ran out of space. If you are looking for a car that will take you out of "mini-van world" and make you feel slightly cool and powerful, you found the right, over-priced vehicle for the masses. If, however, you are like me, and actually care about aesthetics, performance and amenities, you will be disappointed.

• 

  04 Camrys quality is poor - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By hyyz - November 24 - 10:46 am

  My 04 Camry has many problems. Here is a list of problems I have: 1. It pulls to left. Dealer repaired 5 times without result. 2. Tires wear too fast. At only 15000 miles, many treads were already gone. I rotated tires regularly. 3. Windshield bottom rattles. Dealer replaced the cowl with only temporary results. 4. Rattles from door panels. 5. I heard rattle from engine or under vehicle every time I started the car and hit on gas to drive. Dealer said it is the intake manifold. After replaced, the rattle is still there. 7. Strong rotten egg smell at 8000 miles. Replaced converter and reprogramed ECM. The car started to feel heavy(hard acceleration, hard steering, and hard brake).

• 

  GOOD CAR POOR WORKMANSHIP - 1994 Toyota Camry
  By mds - November 21 - 10:00 am

  I bought the car new in 1994 and while it was under warranty three power windows broke and oxidation on the side mirrors (paint) were replaced.I also replaced all four GOODYEAR tires before 30000 miles due to cracks in tires that could not be fixed.Also had two handles that broke off on the inside. After the warranty was up two more windows dropped at a cost of 313.00 each.

• 

  owner - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By tan - November 21 - 10:00 am

  replaced seat frame rear strut under warranty.body too thin

• 

  Poor Design - 2010 Toyota Camry
  By Jim - November 16 - 4:40 pm

  Ive driven many Toyotas and this one is rather dull and disappointing. Pickup and handling is fine. The low end version of the car isnt very comfortable, but maybe the high end version is. The car doors dont close without extra force. They are probably too light and it is easy to think they are closed until you start driving. Finally the back seat has gaps near the seat belt. We actually lost things in these gaps, and you cannot get to them unless you go to the dealer and remove the seats! Not a family car.

• 

  Why didnt I trade in earlier - 2003 Toyota Tacoma
  By rivka - November 15 - 2:00 am

  I had my tacoma for about eight months and let me tell you, it was nothing but trouble. I was at the dealer at least once a month to fix stuff. mostly the power window kept falling off the track and wouldnt go up. also other annoying stuff-the brakes and rotors needed changing after 11000 miles, the transmission shifted roughly, and the worst part was that the dealer didnt seem to know what they were doing. I finally gave up and traded it in for a dodge 1500. so far so good.

• 

  Disappointing compared to our 2008 - 2017 Toyota Sienna
  By John Yates - November 14 - 1:00 pm

  We drove a brand new 2017 (only 27 miles when we drove off the lot) as a loaner while our 2008 Sienna was serviced and I was curious to see what I would think of it given our current van is getting a bit long in the tooth. On the whole it was very disappointing. The engine felt really weak- my wife compared it the 1988 Corolla she drove in college- versus our surprisingly quick 2008 Sienna. Fuel economy was worse as well at less than 19mpg compared to about 21mpg with our current Sienna. The interior felt like a major downgrade with thin, cheap plastic surfaces. We also missed a lot of nooks and crannies- like covered storage in the door armrests. The seats were considerably less supportive and comfortable than what we are used to. On the whole I think we will stay with our 2008 Sienna for a few more years.

• 

  4 cylinder, 4x4 Tacoma with 4 speed automatic - 2011 Toyota Tacoma
  By nedreck - November 12 - 11:42 am

  Overall the truck has been pretty good. The acceleration of the 4 cylinder in this model with the 4 wheel drive and 4 speed automatic transmission is poor, and fourth gear is way too high for this engines modest power and torque level and the shift points are all wrong, in my opinion. It always starts and runs well for me, but the blower fan has been replaced twice under warranty.

• 

  Shocks & Struts need replacing - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By redwards - November 12 - 2:00 am

  It is a value-priced auto.

• 

  Liked my 03 better in some way - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By New Camry owner - November 10 - 5:46 am

  Just picked up a new 07 Camry LE automatic with the base 4 cylinder. Traded an 03 of the same model in for it. New model is a tad quieter but still doesnt handle really well. The styling is ok in some areas and weird in others. The front end treatment looks like it has a buck tooth and the rear looks droopy. I like the style of my 03 better. The interior is nicer though. I would wish for more than 158 hp and a transmission that didnt react with a clunk when you take your foot off the accelerator to take a turn. Also why is every new Toyota being made without the door strips to protect from so many unforgiving motorists from door jams? Trunk is smaller than my 03 also.