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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  Want my 2003 back! - 2010 Toyota Sequoia
  By 3kids1dog - November 24 - 9:13 am

  OK - I have to admit, this purchase was a compromise for me. I wasnt sold on the new HUGE interior, but to accommodate 3 kids + 1 dog we decided to take a chance on this beast, especially considering our love of our 2003 Limited Sequoia. Here are my complaints: 1 - ITS HUGE. Hard to park such an enormous vehicle, even though the turning radius has been greatly improved. 2 - The interior finish is below par. For $50K youd think youd get nice finishes, not cheap plastic everywhere. Seats are NOT comfortable. 3rd - I miss the cargo space in my 2003 Sequoia. The self storing 3rd row makes the cargo space "short" from floor to ceiling.

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  Sweet & Easy - 1997 Toyota Avalon
  By STRETCH - November 17 - 2:00 am

  For the four years that I have had this car. The only major work that I had done was to have the timing belt changed. The only reason for that was it was just time for it on the schedule. If I had to do it all over again I would have gotten the CD player option and the power moonroof.

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  Nice Car - 1999 Toyota Corolla
  By silvion - November 17 - 2:00 am

  I bought a used corolla. No problems but the ride quality is not that good. It rides rough even after me changing the shocks

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  Hopeful but doubting... - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By alien1297 - November 17 - 2:00 am

  Minor flaws of this car eventually led to a major disappointment.The air button broke and when it was repaired by Toyota, the dash became scratched since it is made from poor quality plastic.The car is ALL over the road on mildly windy days and I am in dire need of ABS that were unobtainable at my time of purchase on any Corolla model in my area. My worst gripe is the foul smell of rotten eggs that has been blowing out of my interior air vents everytime I turn on the heat. This smelly problem has been happenning since 1000 miles. Lastly, my brakes slip constantly at red lights and brief stops. Numberous attempts for redemption by Toyota have failed.

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  love Camrys but, this one disappoints - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By YodaFan - November 16 - 2:46 pm

  I like the new body design mostly. Only traded my 2002 Camry because of new body style. I never really test-drove the 07 much before purchase. Though I would probably still get a 2007, I am somewhat disappointed in Toyota on this one. Gas mileage is lower than my 02. Auto-tranny is not smooth in shifting. Initial acceleration performance is lacking; has hesitation while shifting through about 35 mph. Due to lack-of-power or transmission problem, car down-shifts (revs to 3000+ rpm ) with cruise control going up very slight incline (i.e. frwy overpass); then annoying up-shift jolt well after cresting incline.

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  2004 Toyota Sienna XLE - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By Robert - November 15 - 9:43 pm

  Only complaint now is the tire noise. Hated the Run Flats and replaced them at 19,000 which meant I had to buy a new wheel. Toyota refunded all my cost. Wish I could see better to back up, bought a $100 back up camera and fixed that prob. Middle row seats are heavy to remove and should fold flat into frame but are manageable as is. All in all I really like the car. The AWD is important to me as our driveway is steep and snow makes it hard to navigate. Passengers have told me middle row seats are uncomfortable with lump in low back.

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  Big car, little storage. - 2017 Toyota Highlander
  By KAREN SMITH - November 15 - 7:25 pm

  It has a comfortable, smooth ride. Features are easy to figure out. My 3 complaints: More storage inside the car including some small compartments as well as somewhere to hang a small trash bag. Also all levels should come with a better camera view when backing up ( a view including the sides as well as behind). The view looking out the windows, with this body design, is poor.Lastly it would be nice if the passenger front seat would adjust for height. If your tall your can lower the drivers seat and its great but if your a passenger in the front you will be hitting your head. Over all nice vehicle.

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  Low MPG For New Hybrid - 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By joe - November 15 - 2:16 am

  I purchased a 2009 highlander Ltd Hybrid with the expectation that I would experience MPG at or above the sticker stated 27 city and 25 highway. It seems that there is a problem with the electric motors or the computer which controls the timing of the electric and gas motor operation. Toyota specifications indicate that the three electric motors come on line in higher torque needs such as when starting from a light or going up grades to minimize the use of the gas engine. This car does not do that. The gas engine is forced to run in almost all situations because only the front electric motors operate. The car acts like a standard gas vehicle instead of a hybrid.

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  Simple Elegance - 1997 Toyota Camry
  By Mike Pratt - November 15 - 12:00 am

  We inherited this car from my great aunt a few months ago. It only have 62K miles and hardly driven. After some new tires and brake pads it was fit for a king. Its a CE addiction so it has no bells and whistles. Not even cruise control, but it works great four new and young drivers alike. I love the car for its easy to drive, handles like a dream, and is quieter then my van. - It may be a CE and my mothers car, but as a new driver I find this the perfect vehicle to start out in for its all I need - and I find it to be simplistic elegance.

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  Does Everything Without a Fuss - 2012 Toyota RAV4
  By Central Maryland Dad - November 13 - 11:42 pm

  This 2012 RAV4 Base is my first SUV and Im pleased with my choice. I needed a fuel efficient, roomy, do-it-all car for my daily commute, driving the kids, and something my partially disabled wife could drive, too. I put about 9,000 miles on the SUV since I bought it used in January, including a couple days of central Maryland snow. So far, this RAV4 does everything well enough and nothing spectacularly. Performance is adequate. The 2.5 liter four-banger has enough power for my commute and in-town driving. Highway merges arent a problem as long as Im willing to gun it hard. The power is barely adequate with three passengers and highway merging is dicey. My overall fuel economy is a pretty good 27 MPG. Braking is effective. The long pedal travel was disconcerting enough that I had the dealer re-check the brakes. The brakes work well under all conditions once I got the feel of them. The car holds the road suprisingly well, much better than I expected from an SUV. The steering is predictable and solid. The four-speed automatic transmission shifts quickly and the gear changes are merely noticeable, even under hard acceleration. I hardly notice them any more. Front seat comfort is okay. Im 64" and weigh about 310 pounds. Leg room is sufficient and I have plenty of headroom, about three inches. I wish the seat had better thigh support. The seat cushions are very firm, almost hard. The side bolsters hold me in place nicely, even during hard curves and corners. All of my drive times have been shorter than an hour. I have no information about longer trips. The rear seat is surprisingly roomy. Teenagers (up to 58") can sit behind me and still have enough room to be comfortable. I could sit behind me and have enough room! The rear seat cushions are as firm as the front seat cushions. However, my teenaged rear seat passengers ride for short trips and havent complained. My main interior complaint is the frikkin noise! A lot of engine and tire noise penetrate the cabin. Road noise is so bad that I cant listen to the radio. I stopped playing the radio during my commute lest my ears ring painfully at the end of the trip. Cargo and storage is cavernous. I love it! Im glad the first owner did not get the optional third row seat. There are plenty of pockets, cubbies, and other cavities for small things. The cavernous cargo space is a boom box, though. I think half of the road noise is amplified back there. Safety seems fine. If I dont notice, then its probably good, right? The headlights are nice and bright. The all-wheel drive, anti-skid control, and anti-lock brakes worked unobtrusively or as expected in the snow. Win! This RAV4 is my first car to have Bluetooth. I dont know how I lived without it! I have one USB port and one 3.5mm headphone jack in the Base trim. The radio sounds okay for playing speech but lousy for music. Its the cheap base model radio and it sucks. I dont know if I would notice a better radio over the aforementioned interior noise, though. Reliability? Maintenance costs? Its a Toyota! It gets top reviews and recommendations everywhere. This is the fifth Toyota in my family and all previous Toyotas have been rock solid. I expect my RAV4 to be just as reliable. Ive been driving the snot out of this car ever since I got it and Ive been satisfied with it.