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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  Not what they used to be - 2000 Toyota Avalon
  By Bob - May 4 - 2:00 am

  Pros: Great fuel economy for the size. VERY comfortable interior. Interior cabin is huge. Tons of rear legroom ! Cons: Rides like a 1970 Lincoln Mark 5 but handles like one too. Getting ready to take it in for yet another Toyota recall. Sensors going bad left and right. 02 and air-fuel ratio sensors and now the air bag light started flashing. It is also starting to have electrical gremlins (lights flickering)I have owned several Toyotas in the past and the quality and reliability used to be 2nd to none. Man has that changed. Ever wonder why Ford is selling so many vehicles now ? Because they build a better vehicle...Wake up Toyota, you lost yet another customer.

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  Love this vehicle - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By PerspectiveMan - May 4 - 2:00 am

  We went to the Toyota dealership to test the legroom in the Tundra. Not only did my son not fit in the backseat, I did not fit well in the front seat. Well, long story short, we started to leave when my wife saw the Highlander at a price we liked. It turned out to be one of those "one and only" that dealers advertise, then sell the day before the ad comes out. Only -5- weeks old, but it has been a great vehicle. Quiet, roomy, and so far very economical. Was initially hesitant on the 4cyl but really have no complaints. Hard to call it an SUV, I think of it more as a tall station wagon.

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  High pitched sound on 40 mph+ - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By ToyotaOwner - May 4 - 2:00 am

  Im just writing to say that yes, my 06 RAV4 has the high pitched noise at 40 mph. Its been going on for years now - and the sound continues sometimes up into the 60s. Extremely annoying. Also, I have a hum that is constant when idling. Windows stick into the runner - had them replaced once. But issue has returned. Rav4 is noisy, I agree. These little annoyances are causing me to look into another model. Seats are like sitting on cardboard...wish they were more plush and comfy. I get GREAT gas mileage though. Taken trips and once got 31mpg - usually highway driving allots 26-30 mpg and in town 23-24 mpg. Great vehicle - just the constant, daily noises are wearing on me.

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  Tacoma 2010 prerunner - 2010 Toyota Tacoma
  By Robert Klee - May 4 - 2:00 am

  Nice mid sized truck, But when you let your foot off the gas pedal, in town and put in back on, it feels like it hunting for best gear, but its to low of a gear most of the time, and the engine revs and it not all that smooth, very disappointed.

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  2007 Toyota RAV4 - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By GBS - May 4 - 12:50 am

  If you want a reasonably priced SUV that has a LOT of power and versatility, look at this one. Some people may find the ride a bit rough. Unless you are shelling out BIG bucks for variable suspension, there is a compromise between the responsiveness of a stiffer suspension, and a smoother, "I cant feel the road" ride. Its all about what you like. The Limited IS highly responsive, but also has a reasonably smooth ride. The interior quality is good (I didnt say great!) and in-line with the price. The rear seats can be moved forward or back, accommodating large passengers or more cargo. Its a mid-sized SUV that offers some interesting features for a reasonable cost. Go for the 6cyl version!

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  So far so good - 2006 Toyota Sienna
  By jk - May 3 - 7:20 pm

  We bought this a week back. Only have 300 miles in it. It drives well, although the road noise is pronounced (not what I would have expected from Toyota). The instrument panel is well laid out. However, I have not yet mastered all the buttons. Did not buy AWD based on negative run-flat tire reviews. We got 17.5 mpg (60% highway) so far. We have a 3 yr old, so she does not use the wireless headphone, so all of us have to listen to her DVDs (have not yet figured out how to mute the front speakers). We have two camrys (10 & 12 yrs old) and this is our third toyota, based on our experience with toyota reliability. Did take the extended warranty based on the pervasiveness of electrical systems

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  Missed the mark but the SE is a good SUV - 2017 Toyota Highlander
  By RGP - May 3 - 3:04 pm

  First the "stop/start" technology is absurd. No way to permanent disable and vehicle jumps when you take foot off brake. There is no way anyone is getting 1 mile more per gallon in city. And it fails, lookout, that feature is integrated with everything. Acceleration is awful for a engine with 295hp. With a MSRP of $41,000 and not have a premium sound system is a ripoff. GPS is unchanged and has no Interactive capability. The best value is the LE plus with google maps, no start/stop feature, BUT you cant get the black grille. Rides nice and low road noise

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  Good Car for the Money - 1998 Toyota 4Runner
  By Joe - May 3 - 7:46 am

  Youll pay a little bit more for a 4-Runner than you would for an Explorer but you are getting a better ride and have a more reliable vehicle. I have had the car for a couple years. Have not had to put any money into it. The rear window really pays off in the summer.

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  The RAV is cool - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By mike - May 2 - 11:30 pm

  My wife wanted a new vehicle after driving minivans for the last fifteen years. Gas mileage was a big factor as was the fact she wanted a small suv and something sporty. All those factors took us to the RAV. Nice ride, looks cool, good gas mileage so far (about 23 mpg), cant wait to take a trip with it this summer.

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  Watch out for the weather! - 1999 Toyota 4Runner
  By sbuttaz58 - May 1 - 2:00 am

  I love this car daily but beware in wintery, icy, and wet conditions! If this car is not in 4WD it may be the worst on the road. I have had two accidents one I slid on ice going very slow on the highway and the other a person slid in snow into me (I tell you this one bc ironically it was a 99 4-Runner). In regular conditions and straight snow it is great, but any thing else, it will slide all over!