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:

• 

  Very Good, With Some Reservations - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By Jim Walters - July 14 - 2:00 am

  Summary: Great economy, solid but unexceptional performance, comfortable, streamlining forced some compromises in rear headroom and visibility, annoying problem with fuel gauge. Overall recommendation is BUY. Ive had it for about 4 weeks now. I get about 45 mpg in mostly highway driving. Thats great for a mid-size, but well below EPA estimates. Accelleration and handling are good, but its no BMW. Smooth ride and very quiet, except under hard accelleration. Cargo space seems good, but I havent had to use it yet. The hood slopes so steeply that you cant see the front end. You just have to know the car stops 3 feet past the windshield.

• 

  Good Rig - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By tommasini - July 14 - 2:00 am

  Good looks...Excellent handling...Below average performance

• 

  2004 Highlander - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By chrisnolga - July 14 - 2:00 am

  As a first time Toyota buyer, I was very impressed with the Highlander. It replaced a 02 Santa Fe and cost about 60% more, but was worth it. The car is still very new, but after taking it on a cross-country cruise, I am impressed by the comfortable seats and secure ride. The Highlander handles the freeway as well as windy back country roads. Didnt take it off road yet. The only real issue I have is that the moon roof control takes too much concentration to get the glass closed properly. Otherwise, it is a fantastic vehicle, with plenty of power and secure handling. Gas mileage is poor- only 20 MPG freeway.

• 

  Solid but Boring - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By RuggerBugger - July 14 - 2:00 am

  Ive had the car for 4 months now and have driven a little over 10,000 miles. There is a good solid feel to the car and the gas mileage is excellent. However, the car has a few shortcomings - primarily the tippy, over-high feeling on the road, the lack of performance with an automatic, and the lack of front seat leg room. Also, when adjusting the drivers seat to the rearmost position, the steering wheel is far away, necessitating an "arms out" position.

• 

  Great SUV - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By wkk - July 13 - 12:40 pm

  The RAV4 Ltd. 4wd V6 beats the last two Honda CRVs I have owned, except for the uncomfortable front seats. My wife and I both find them very difficult to sit in when taking any trip over 1 hour. They really need to improve these seats since the car is otherwise so great.

• 

  Poor Rear Bumper Design - needs a recall - 2012 Toyota 4Runner
  By dmagruder - July 13 - 9:01 am

  Nice car, but the body panels (specifically the rear bumper) need to be redesigned. (see below). I am already having to replace it before Ive even made my first payment, and Toyota is out of the part because it is in high demand because is a common problem with their current design.

• 

  the rattler - 2002 Toyota Sienna
  By Bill Liu - July 12 - 10:00 am

  We bought our Sienna during its first year of introduction and have driven 36,000 miles in 36 months. After 6,000 miles, the mini-van started to rattle at various parts. One of the door screw fell off. After balancing the tires, all the rattles went away except for the sliding door at 30mph. The firestone tires are definitely the cause. Emmision test mechanic told me that other owners also have the same complaint. The second seat arm rest is too weak. When passenger exit the van, they tend to use the arm rest as a rail to avoid falling. this tends to losen the arm rest. I suspect a heavy person can lean on the arm rest and break it.

• 

  Great car but too pricey!!! - 2002 Toyota Avalon
  By sltucker - July 12 - 10:00 am

  I traded a 2001 Chrysler 300M on my 2002 Avalon XLS. It was like going from a nightmare to a great dream. This vehicle drives good, is comfortable, and is a much better made vehicle than the Chryslers...

• 

  My Toyota - 1998 Toyota Tacoma
  By AJ47 - July 12 - 10:00 am

  My 1998 Tacoma is a great fun vehicle to drive. The only drawback is that it rides rough. You need to be careful when going over bumps as the rear-end wants to fishtail. I have the 4 cylinder and I strongly urge the 6 as the vehicle drags when floored to get up to highway speeds when on a highway on-ramp. The truck is excellent for off-road adventures. It tackles soft sand and with 33" ATV tires, will move along where others get bogged down. Also, it can hold a tremendous amount of weight. I had all the materials for a 10 foot by 10 foot square wooden pressure treated deck in the truck and I made it home! Great work and play truck.

• 

  135000 miles and still going strong - 1999 Toyota Camry
  By Lillann - July 11 - 5:26 am

  This has been one of the most reliable cars we have ever known. We have had Toyotas since 1976 and have found them extremely reliable! Will not buy another brand. This one has been so reliable with only a water pump going out a couple of years ago. Everything keeps working well and the engine seems to be as reliable as when we drove it off the lot new. We are still getting between 28 and 30 mpg on highway which is what we started with. Will drive it until it gives out.