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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  Honest Review - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By Kelly in Texas - January 16 - 2:00 am

  Have just had the Highlander V6 for 1 day but am loving it already. Great ride. Very good gas milage for a SUV. Quality throughout. Test drove Ford and Chevy SUVs then the Highlander. You can just feel the higher level of quality.

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  Serious crosswind problem - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By cchi - January 16 - 2:00 am

  I tested the new 2003 Corolla several times during the windy condition. The transmission is smooth, turning is accurate, acceleration is good, and gas mileage is excellent for a small call with lots of interior space. But do not drive it over 65 MPH in northeastern states during the winter time. The car can change one line at strong crosswind. I dont recommend to drive this car when passing a truck, raining day, or wintery condition. Its just unsafe. Like the previous model, the body is too wide and the tires are too narrow cause the car unstable in high speed.

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  Danger Beware! - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By What Next? - January 16 - 2:00 am

  We loved this car when we purchased it. However, at 4,000 miles, the starter/engine caught fire. Toyota has not notified any of you as to this problem, have they? We are on the third set of rotors and brake pads and are also experiencing all the rattles, etc. We have had it tied up for 23+ days in just under a year. Have been to arbitration but no accountability by Toyota. Per Toyota, "Thats what the extended warranty is for." Toyota couldnt possibly have any lemons?!?

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  Nice Large SUV - 2004 Toyota Sequoia
  By nhtoyotaalways - January 15 - 2:12 pm

  UPDATE 12/2016. Everything going along OK. Did have a damaged rear hatch when I tried to close it and didnt see a suitcase handle sticking up. Misaligned the door/hatch pretty badly - so much so that replacing the hinges did not work. Had to get a used hatch, hinges, etc, plus the paint-job. $1,400 later it is still not exactly a perfect fit but does close. So be careful and be sure nothing is in the way (upper) when closing the hatch. Pulling a trailer full of furniture from hilly PA to NH it gets about 14 MPG. Nice, SAFE vehicle. Have owned nothing but Toyotas, from a 1979 Corolla to the 2003 Sequoia. Bought it to pull an enclosed trailer when needed. Wife fell in love with it. This Sequoia was part of the recall for the rusted frame/underbody. It also recently was recalled for the faulty passenger airbag. Put about 25K miles on it, and it did have an intermittent check-engine light on it - for evap issue i think. Usually got 15 MPG with it, 13 or so when pulling the trailer. As high as 21.5 on a recent trip that was mostly highway. Vehicle was rear-ended recently - probably a good thing we were driving this or could have had serious injuries. VERY solid SUV with good reliability.

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  Styling - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By bhwells - January 14 - 11:30 pm

  Love to drive the cruiser as it is cool, performs outstanding and attracts lots of attention. Wife also loves to drive it. Lots of people inquire about it as they dont know what it is or who makes it.

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  MY TOYOTa - 2000 Toyota Corolla
  By docster - January 13 - 1:16 pm

  Would like to see more features for the money. But it is fun to drive and is easy for my wife who has a disability to get in and out of

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  Good value - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By Charlie - January 12 - 7:33 pm

  Lot of power, good acceleration. Easy and fun to drive. 25 to 27 mpg around town, 36 to 38 on the highway. Did get over 41 mpg once.

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  Does not Match up to 2005 4Runner Sport - 2014 Toyota 4Runner
  By joestehling - January 12 - 12:57 am

  Basic vehicle is good but numerous things are cheapened and useless items added from the 2005 Sport model. Reliability has yet to be determined but I am confident it will be as reliable as the 2005 Sport I traded in.

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  Better than the Altima - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Merced Dave - January 11 - 9:13 am

  I planned to purchase an Altima Hybrid based on superior reviews in Edmunds.com. However, when I test drove both vehicles, I found the Toyota Hybrid superior in almost all regards. True the Altima handled better than the Camry, but the Altima was noisy and the gas engine continously cycled in and out of operation. By comparison, the Camry is quieter, the gas engine only cycles at appropriate times and the ride is quieter than the Altima. It is clear to me that the Camry Hybrid is a more sophisticated implementation of hybrid technology.

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  Upholstery problems - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By sewsue - January 11 - 7:56 am

  Purchased my base model 2008 RAV4 at the end of October. Love everything about it except the upholstery. At 3 months old and under 5500 miles, the fabric on the seats and on the door panels is starting to pill and fuzz. Toyota tells me this is "normal wear and tear". Thankfully my dealer disagrees. They are trying to find me matching fabric. Glad I no longer have kids and their gear to haul around. The interior would not survive. Wish now that I had chosen the Limited trim level with leather seats.