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:

• 

  Needs major work on GPS and info center - 2018 Toyota Camry
  By Toyota Fan - November 5 - 9:51 am

  We bought this 2018 Camry XLE late November 2018, and the Entune 3.0 apps suite has never worked properly. We are back to using our iPhone displays. The dealer has not been able to resolve this issue even after multiple long attempts. For this reason we can not recommend this car and really regret the purchase, no way out now, major frustration. This is a real problem for Toyota, they need to focus and resolve as other brands have.

• 

  2009 Corolla - First Glance - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By Wiscane - November 5 - 6:26 am

  I have had my LE for approx 3 weeks. I wanted to give everyone a first impression. The car is great! First/second tank of gas 31 MPG mix driving. No big road trips yet. The car is tight. The power steering is not as bad as you may have read. The car finish is great. Great car.

• 

  Transmssion - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By kevin - November 4 - 2:50 pm

  At slow speeds, when gear lever in D, transmssion sometimes has difficulty in deciding appropriate gear to shift into. Toyota dealer says no problem, just a new configuration (drive by wire)that is developing a feel for drivers style. I believe there is a software glitch here. Also, am averaging 15mph city and 25 highway, well below published standards, while driving modestly. Finally, this car is hot, there is almost too much power for a front wheel drive configuration to handle. My 2000 XLS was a more satisfactory purchase.

• 

  4th Avalon - 2011 Toyota Avalon
  By AutoDrone - November 4 - 10:10 am

  Between my family and I we have owned every model of Avalon Toyota has ever made. Theyve never been particularly striking cars, but theyve been great bang-for-the-buck and the rear legroom is unbeatable. The 2011 exterior changes that, it looks 1000 times better. Unfortunately the interior seems to have been downgraded. The "faux-wood" has less shine and looks like a rental car and the fake brushed metal (plastic) center console is ugly and overhangs the rest of the dash by a good inch. The quality of the stitching in the rear seats seems lower as well. I really wanted to like this car based on the tech/look upgrades, but the interior changes are low rent. New version in 2 years.

• 

  A nice value in a basic SUV - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By Cheryl in VA - November 4 - 9:33 am

  Just bought 2010 Base I-4 FWD RAV4. So far, it seems like a good SUV. I had fun driving it on hilly, twisty roads in my area. It had enough pep to merge into traffic on a 65-mph HWY. More energy than expected. The radio is better than some of the reviews Ive read, but Im not one who needs the best audio. Seats are firm; hoping they soften a little with use. The headlights on the RAV4 are surprisingly bright! I rarely had to use my high beams (unusual for me). The rear door needs to be changed to a left- hinge for sale in the U.S. Plenty of storage room. Would like more space to rest my left arm on while driving. Love the exterior design. Even the base model is sporty.

• 

  Tall people beware - 2011 Toyota Corolla
  By nfinityman - November 4 - 1:19 am

  Like many other reviewers I spent quite a bit of time test driving the many competitors on the market today. I started my search by reading through the Consumers Digest car review edition that came out in February. Based on these results I concentrated on the Hyundai Elantra, the Ford Focus 2012 edition, and the Mazda 3 Touring. I ended up choosing the Toyota Corolla because it had all the features I was looking for at the right price. The interior was larger than the others with more space for backseat passengers and the actual fuel economy held up when compared to both the Elantra and Focus despite their 40 mpg claims. The ride is smooth and quiet, I just wish it had more power.

• 

  Rear Clunking Sound - 2010 Toyota Camry
  By Clunking sound - November 3 - 1:36 pm

  We recently purchased our 2010 XLE 6cyl Camry. It has a clunking sound when accelerating from a complete stop. Sounds like there is a watermelon in the trunk rolling back. The sound is intermittent. I have taken it to the repair shop and they have heard the problem but cannot tell me what it is. I was told a Toyota rep will be looking at it next time he is in town. Car has less than 900 miles on it and has had this problem since we purchased it. Really wish we had noticed it on the test drive. Disappointed.

• 

  bought new - 1995 Toyota Tacoma
  By stevedp - November 2 - 2:06 pm

  Very dependable truck. Had to replace the center leafs on both rear springs. Did that 3 years ago and no problems since. Sort of a chore changing the oil filter. Box is not very sturdy. Not sure if it is worth the extra money for Toyota quality? lot or routine maintenace like valve lash adjustment etc.

• 

  Best econo car Ive ever driven - 2010 Toyota Yaris
  By balls_mckenzie - November 2 - 9:14 am

  Lately Ive been able to drive my gfs 2010 Yaris sedan auto and I cannot understand why this car ever gets a bad review. The turning radius is so tight, its insane. The room up front is fine, a little tight in the back, but its a subcompact. What blew me away most of all is this cars gas mileage. Ive found it to be much better than 32 or 33. She has had the car for nearly 3 years - 0 problems. She still gets free oil changes, spent nothing on the upkeep. The ride is comfortable, we drove it on trips - no problem and like I said, the mileage is unreal. I own a 06 Xb with the same exact engine. 100K plus miles - zero problems. Its the reliability, thats why people buy it.

• 

  Great SUV - 2002 Toyota 4Runner
  By Mitch - November 2 - 4:23 am

  Ive owned my 4Runner since new. Four years and 75k miles later I have to say I dont regret the purchase one bit. My 4Runner has been very reliable and I havent had a single problem with it. Routine mx is all that has been required and I usually stretch that out. It rides like a truck, which I like. The 4x4 is outstanding on the snow and ice. The only complaint of course is the gas mileage (16/21ish mpg). It doesnt run as well on 87 grade fuel. But I knew all this when buying the vehicle. I highly recommend!