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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  Handles well, underpowered - 2013 Toyota Camry
  By sendme - March 9 - 11:48 pm

  6 months of use. Changed from Honda coupe (V6, manual 6) to 4dr, 4cyl Auto. Firm ride but power steering too strong for good tracking and feedback. City stop/go driving gets 35-30 mpg, interstate driving 33-36 mpg. 2 trips (1 hour, 4 hours) with more go than stopping and less than 65 mph gave over 40 mpg. With cruise control turned on and going uphill, the computer downshifts from 6th gear to 4th gear AND then figures out it only needs to be in 5th gear. Transmission logic needs adjustment. 4 cylinder is slightly underpowered but manual shifting helps.

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  Good Car, Doors Are Terrible - 1999 Toyota Sienna
  By michaelia - March 7 - 10:41 pm

  Its reliable most of the time. We had to rebuild the alternator twice. Mechanically, it seems to do great, but its the little things that drive me crazy. In the 4 years weve owned the vehicle, weve had to fix the doors 3 times (3 outside door handles, 1 inside door mechanism). Seems minimal, right? No. Each fix cost us between $200 and $300 because they have to take the door apart from the inside to get the handle in. Its all Labor. The sliding doors have always stuck too. My suspicion is the previous owner had these issues too because the inside sliding door panel on the right side wont stay in place, Probably been taken apart too many times. Current issue: stuck ignition switch.

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  A Great SUV - 2002 Toyota 4Runner
  By Howie - March 7 - 6:10 am

  After having the suv for more than 3 years, I find no major problem with the car. The only thing is that the car tend to shake a little when breaking. I asked the dealer to look into the problem and they said its just the surface of the break pad is either dirty or uneven. To fix the problem I need to replace the whole break pad which can cost over $200. So I am just gonna leave it alone until its time for new ones. Otherwise no other major problems. The car runs great and its so much fun to drive. Its also got a great look but the new 2003 model looks a lot better.

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  nice truck - 2002 Toyota Tacoma
  By Helo pilot - March 6 - 9:26 pm

  No issues after 3 harddriving years! Love the design of the truck. Chrome bumpers. The overall reputation for quality is holding up. Seats alittle uncomfortable on long hauls. Extra features costly. Clock placement is a joke. Very happy with truck.

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  Satisfied At First - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By jlt - March 6 - 11:40 am

  I purchased a highlander after reading hundreds of reviews. I was looking for a reliable vehicle this time around. From the first day I bought it, the transmission skipped. The dealership continues to tell me that this is how Toyotas perform. Recently we took the vehicle on vacation and upon returning, we had to have the transmission seal replaced because of a transmission fluid leak. One tire is bad and when rotated, they placed it on the back of the vehicle, so not I need to have that replaced. I only have 25K miles on the car, so I am becoming a skeptic. I love the looks of the car and the interior. It may be time to trade-in, but not sure I would buy a Toyota again - just not sure.

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  Happy and Disappointed - 2011 Toyota 4Runner
  By cwpa - March 5 - 2:00 am

  I traded in my Honda Pilot on the 4runner to get back into a Toyota. While the materials and I think build quality is much better on the Toyota, the seats in the 4runner are very uncomfortable compared to the Pilot. After having it a few weeks, between the ride, seats being too short on the bottom and the lack of interior size compared to the Pilot, I may end up going back to Honda. The car purchase taught me that no car is perfect, I need Toyota build quality, Pilot interior size and ride. What is interesting is that the power of this 4runner seems less than my 2006 I had. I would drive it for decent test drive to see if you can tolerate the truck ride and seat comfort.

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  Good Buy - 2011 Toyota Sienna
  By M. Viejo - March 5 - 2:00 am

  We decided to purchase the 2011 XLE instead of the new Odyssey strictly because of the exterior Design. Overall the van is a great buy with a a few minor needed improvements.

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  Tires, Brakes, Oxygen Sensor Issues - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By 4redwings - March 5 - 12:49 am

  Tires were shot at 30,000 miles. Odd size makes replacement expensive. Rear brake pads shot at 30,000 miles (grinding heard on LR rotor). Lots of life left on the front pads, so whats up with that? Biggest disappointment was at 30,000 miles and 3.5 years both oxygen sensors on right exhaust went out at the same time. Bank 1 Sensor 1 and Bank 1 Sensor 2 to be exact. $700 repair. I like the car but the reliability is coming into question for us.

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  Mixed Feelings - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By hi land er - March 4 - 2:36 pm

  I feel the advertising and the sticker on the window promised MUCH better mileage for a hybrid SUV than it gets in reality, even while driving with Toyotas fuel-ecomony tips. Overall, I like the car, how it handles, acceleration, interior & exterior (decent length for an SUV). I have had it since Oct 2005. But we paid a lot for it & I am still upset about the low gas mileage. I know its an SUV, but much better mileage should be possible.

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  Prius 101 - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Prius - March 4 - 1:03 pm

  I have had my Prius since June of 2005. I bought it to replace a Toyota Camry which I drove for about 7 years. The car is reliable, fun to drive and makes me very, very happy when I put in about $17 to fill the tank with gas prices climbing to over $3.00 per gallon. I find the feel of the car very spacious and roomy. The drawbacks are that the mileage, while excellent does not live up to what they say. When I drive really well I am achieving about 47 miles per gallon with work. I cannot seem to sustain anything higher. For a very brief moment I achieved 50 mpg, but it didnt last. The interior of the car specifically the plastic scratches very easily. Though all in all, its a great car.