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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  UNRELIABLE - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By MIKE - July 25 - 6:43 pm

  Unreliable for the long run. Had several warranty repairs, rear shock absorbers, water pump, steering shaft. Then after 60000 kms no support from Toyota Canada. Try and do repairs through the dealers and end up paying 2 times the price on parts alone.

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  Light as a feather and a lifesaver - 2002 Toyota Echo
  By Ethan - July 25 - 6:03 pm

  "Wow its zippy!" were my first words when I first drove this car. The acceleration is very responsive, the small engine was more than enough for this featherweight (just beware strong wind and rain), and it got better mileage than most hybrids. Its certainly stylish, and although the interior is lackluster, the high instrument panel to the right of the driver allowed for better eye contact with the road. For eight years, with regular oil changes and diagnostics, I never had a single problem with the car until I drove the car into another. The front crumpled, saving my life, but it crumpled far too easily and the car was totaled while the other car barely got a scratch.

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  Toyota isnt what it is in Japan - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By Tim - July 25 - 4:29 pm

  Worked for 8 years in Japan (Okinawa) and had three "used" Toyotas (fantastic vehicles - only thing I had to do was replace battery - tires - brakes ... AC on my Noah Lite Ace Van (8 years old when I bought it) didnt even require maintenance in 8 years of use in a the tropical environment of Okinawa)!!! Alternatively this vehicle has disappointed, to say the least. Acceleration is dangerous (in that you must wait 1 - 2 seconds for the computer to figure out what pressing on the accelerator means). Here in Denver when you change lanes you need to make your move upon turning on your signal - have had close calls when other drivers (whose vehicles accelerate crisply) shot into a lane I was trying to get into. Also, worse yet, this vehicle rolls backwards if youre on a steep upward grade when you put it in drive!!! Very dangerous if anyone is behind you (dealer told me to increase revs when Im in this situation ... if this was a manual thatd be a given ... but this is an automatic)! So if you live somewhere like San Francisco this is the last vehicle you want to buy. Im very disappointed in Toyota ... perhaps its because its made here (as stated, the Toyotas I had in Japan were head-and-shoulders better than this Toyota-Japan-wanna-be).

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  Great in the beginning - 2001 Toyota Celica
  By Kurtis Rich - July 24 - 7:43 pm

  I bought this car brand new in 2001. I loved it when I first bought it but after a while the car started acting up. One problem after another and theres a long list of problems but some of them are: trunk started rattling, the brake caliper on the rear driver side kept putting too much pressure on the pads and it would wear out more than the others. The DRL sensor also messed up. They also had a recall on the headlights. Im not an aggressive driver or anything but Ive put about 86,000 miles on it and the engine block cracked. I quickly trashed this car after that because I really hated it. So much for Toyotas reliability

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  Great all around SUV - 2008 Toyota Sequoia
  By EEC - July 24 - 6:26 pm

  Drives like a dream come true. I am very surprised at the drive ablity / size. Make no mistake this a big, smooth and powerful SUV. It is smooth in parking lots as well on the interstates. Its power & braking are great. It is quiet. The sound system, backup camera, & GPS are great. The reason the driver has a hard time reaching the dash is because the cab is so roomy. This is a great ride if you want luxury w/ plenty of pulling power. For almost 6,000 lbs. & the power it has, it gets great gas mileage. Thanks Toyota you did a great job.

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  Horrible! - 2012 Toyota Prius v
  By crazycatlady58 - July 24 - 6:08 pm

  This car has gotten stuck in 1 inch of snow this winter, and in Wisconsin that is not a good thing! This car rides horribly also, you feel every bump in the road! My family lives about 40 miles away, and I dread going to see them because I know I will be stiff and sore after the ride there! Another complaint I have about this vehicle is that it is difficult to get a convertible car seat to sit properly in the middle of the back seat while in the rear facing position. It would take forever to get the car seat in just the right spot that it wouldnt tip due to the split between the oddly sized seats in the back. And you cant put a car seat on the side because of the side air bags.

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  Hard to ask for a better van... - 2001 Toyota Sienna
  By CanaDan - July 24 - 5:53 am

  I bought this van after selling (in frustration) a fully loaded Pontiac Montana. After years of break-downs and failures of almost every major component, except the engine, I decided to go with proven quality. Simply said, I should have done this from day one.

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  Winshield Wiper Controls - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By David Kosik - July 24 - 3:13 am

  Positioning of windshield wiper switch mechanism is too low down on the steering column. At times I inadvertantly hit it with my knuckle while shifting the gear knob causing the wipers to activate.

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  My trusty 4Runner - 1995 Toyota 4Runner
  By janakins42 - July 24 - 12:22 am

  My Tacoma saved my life during a collision that totalled her. I was so depressed. I knew the only thing I could do was get another Toyota. When I got my 4Runner she was a real lemon. She had an overheating issue that I didnt discover until I took a small road trip. After I replaced the radiator and thermostat and maintainenced fluids and whatnot...she was the most dependable car I could ever ask for. The funny thing is...they made 2WD 4Runners! And I bought one! Didnt know until servicing her at Jiffy Lube. They were baffled too. She has 168k miles and still runs strong. The gas mileage sucks tho. I have to sell my baby because of it. I will be sad to see her go.

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  Our new 2005 Camry LE - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By Camry LE - July 23 - 7:23 pm

  This Camry is an excellent vehicle with air conditioning, automatic, beautiful leather upolstry, and tinted glass. While it is only a four cylinder is suprisingly peppy and very comfortable.