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 looking camry with poor reliability - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By jtlboy - June 30 - 6:46 pm

  The performance of a V6 is awesome. Handling is great. The windshield wiper design with the water spray is horrible. The water spray is blocked by the wiper on the left side when it comes out initially. The interior looks good but feels cheap compared to my 1997 LE camry. The transmission is the worst ever for camry. It downshift to much causing engine flare and I had problem with the reverse gear, but the up gear shift is great and smooth. Too bad it is not close to perfect.

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  Great little Truck! - 2009 Toyota Tacoma
  By Nick - June 30 - 6:03 pm

  The 4 cylinder Access Cab with 4x4 is a great truck for those who want decent fuel economy and need the utility of a truck once in awhile. The 4 cylinder is no powerhouse, but it has plenty of power when not towing or hauling, and if you do need to haul heavy loads or tow up to its 3500 lbs limit, it will do the task for you! I am very pleased with this Tacoma!

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  All is good except for brakes - 2003 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Nick G S - June 30 - 10:00 am

  When I use brakes, the steering wheel shakes. Im surprised Toyota Rotors wharped after just 10K miles!!! Have to fight with dealship now to get them to machine rotors (free of charge). Otherwise the car is pleasant.

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  2001 CAMRY LE - 2001 Toyota Camry
  By DOUG N - June 30 - 10:00 am

  Very good vehicle. Only problem was front end struts which wore out quickly, the same as my 1998 Camry which I traded in.

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  2009 matrix 4d hacthback - 2009 Toyota Matrix
  By abstract007 - June 30 - 5:23 am

  I replaced a vw beetle with the 2009 matrix its good not to be in the every month. So far so good its lacking pickup the automatic transmission could use improvement in order to get power I have to be hard on the kickdown but it will reach 110mph on a good day with a tail wind. Toyota need to improve the transmission, noise level fr;under carriage, front suspension easily get out of alignment,fuel 31mpg average I commute it meet the daily needs

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  Disappointed - 2008 Toyota Tacoma
  By richiew13 - June 29 - 7:36 pm

  I bought this truck in May 2011, hoping it would be a reliable and economical vehicle for me to keep for a long time, eventually becoming my #2 vehicle. Ever since I got it, I havent been happy with the way the engine idles. It sometimes revs fast, and sometimes wavers up and down. I also dislike the way the transmission shifts. It can sometimes be harsh and/or wait too long to shift. As of now, 3 of my automatic door lock mechanisms have quit working. The A/C blower is noisy, and will occasionally stop working. (If you kick it, it will work again.) I hate the way the brakes make a "clunk" sound the first time you hit them after going in reverse. Other than that, Ive enjoyed it.

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  The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By Codyroo - June 28 - 5:40 pm

  Ive researched the Prius for 4 years before getting the car. It meets all of my expectations. 1) The gas mileage is as advertised. If you hold your freeways speeds down (speed limit) you can easily get 50 mpg or more. Short trips kill mileage, long trips are good. I average over 58 mpg for my daily 70 mile commute. 2) Stereo and bluetooth are nice 2) The brake and acceleration thing was media hype. There are no issues with my car. 3) This is not a 0-60 mph performance car, nor does it handle like a sports car. It has adequate acceleration and handling. 4) Rear visibility isnt very good out of the rear corner windows. Ensure youve adjusted your mirrors adequately.

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  what these fools talkin bout? - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By mrcashmoneey - June 27 - 3:58 pm

  now ive only had my 09 camry for a week so i cant speak for the reliability, but im reading some nonsense on here. this is a nice car. i have the 4 cyl. and it has plenty of power. it is a little weird accelerating from a stop i will agree to that but cmon. this thing shifts very smooth, the suspension is nice! its a solid ride. i find it comfortable too. after my 08 nissan versa, this thing feels like the greatest car ever. and i get about the same gas mileage but with more of everything! space, performance, oh and a quiet ride oh and its also pretty low priced. dont let these reviews fool you [non-permissible content removed]. sweeeet value.

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  1999 Tacoma Prerunner 2dr std cab - 1999 Toyota Tacoma
  By WAYNE WANSHEK - June 27 - 2:00 am

  Have owned truck 3 years. Only problem was dead battery. Dealer sent serviceman to mall lot to start car and replaced battery at dealership, total time two hours. Truck cab is small and seats could be more padded for long trips. Speed control is appreciated on highway. has been great truck. springs could have been stronger, very small load capacity. Would consider new one same model.

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  A smooth ride - 1999 Toyota Camry
  By hanstheman - June 25 - 4:50 pm

  I bought this car about a year ago and it clocked less than 50,000 miles when i first got it. The ride is very smooth and overall very pleased with the reliability of the car, it almost never gives me trouble (not yet, at least!). Good mileage, i get a combined city/town/highway of about 25 mpg.