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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  Twenty Thousand Dollar Motor - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By Rebecca Davis - October 29 - 10:00 am

  This car feels unsafe over 55 MPH on the interstate. The seats are so firm on a long trip you are so uncomfortable from the seats being hard. The interior is the cheapest I have ever seen in any small car. The inside dash and door material are the cheapest plastics I have ever seen in a car. The trunk will not open with the inside release or key every time, taken it to the dealer twice still not fixed, road noise is awful. You live and learn,I will never buy a Toyota product again. I paid $20,000 dollars for a motor that uses less gas other than that the rest is one of the cheapest made small cars I have ever seen, mine is a 2010 Corolla with 10,200 miles on it.

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  Loved it at the dealership - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By Robert88 - October 26 - 7:10 pm

  Ive always wanted an off-roader. One of my buddies has a Jeep Wrangler, and I always loved riding with him off road, and decided I wanted to get one of my own. So, following the Toyota hype, I went with the FJ, and regret it completely. Its gotten 3 check engine lights, transmission replaced, front suspension makes weird noises and the dealership said its normal. The plastic scratches if you look at it. The off road performance is nothing exciting, really embarrassing having to be pulled out by my buddy with him laughing at me.

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  4 wheel drive.....not! - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By arantslimj12 - October 19 - 9:20 am

  We bought the 2010 Rav4 base model 4 cylinder because we owned a 2003 4runner and wanted better gas milage. the Rav4 boasted 21 to 27 miles per gallon. Yeah right! More like 21 all the time! Also the "4 wheel drive" isnt really 4 wheel drive. It is only active until you reach 25 mile per hour! Then its just a two wheel drive. And did i mention the suspension? It was sooooo stiff you get beat up in the drivers set day in and day out. Over all i was very disappointed and paid wayyyy too much for this thing! it just felt so cheap! Well we traded it in this week for a 2009 Subaru Forester!

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  Never again - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By lippy - October 15 - 4:06 pm

  I purchased my car based on having owned two other Toyotas in the past. I so regret buying this car. I should have waited and purchased an Acura. There is something seriously wrong with the transmission; it does not want to change and this is getting worse. Believe it or not my sun visor is broken on the driver side. Whoever heard of a sun visor breaking. Anyway whatever keeps it up, the spring, etc is broken, you can run your hand across the top and see that it has popped open. Of course I can get it fixed for about $200 at the dealer. I have a 2000 Camry and it is better than this one. Oh did I mention that the carpet I had replaced now has another hole in it. Never Again!

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  Transmission being replaced - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By LEMEN - October 14 - 10:00 am

  Weve had our Sienna for a month and noticed rough shifting shortly after bringing the car home. I didnt believe my wife when she mentioned it, but after driving it myself it wa clear this was not normal. I took it to our dealership and got the typical "I cant imagine there is anything wrong with your new van, the computer must be learning how you drive." He drove it, agreed with me. It is in their shop presently, he thought they would just hook it up to the diagnostic machine and tweek the computer and it would be back to normal...I had to call them and they told me they cant fix the problem and they are replacing the transmission.

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  DO NOT BUY THIS CAR! - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By nc3 - September 27 - 6:30 am

  This car is a complete lemon. I have had so many things go wrong with this car and Toyota DOES NOT CARE. This will be the last Toyota I ever buy. The sliding door has been broken at least four times, Ive had to spend money to replace several things in the drive shaft at a cost of hundreds of dollars, things fall apart and the quality sucks.

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  boring - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By roadrunner - September 24 - 10:00 am

  The Sequoia is big and boring. Front seat armrests are too small to be of any value. Daytime running lights cannot be shut off. Climate control system has a mind of its own. The owners manual has you consult your local Toyota dealer to change many preprogrammed electronic features.

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  A truly American SUV - 2010 Toyota 4Runner
  By extoyota - September 22 - 2:56 pm

  My 6th 4runner since 1989 and my last. Toyota got its wish, they are now an American car company. Cheapest, poorest example of a 4Runner i have bought. compared to my previous 5 there is no comparison. Go by something else dont waste 40 grand like me

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  Not for me - 2018 Toyota C-HR
  By Carl - September 21 - 7:07 pm

  The CHR is just "meh" Test drove one at an Indy dealership, bought a Honda HRV EX instead, more interior room, more cargo space, more extras at a lower cost. Also better resale value.

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  Tacoma Blues - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By James Chaffin - September 21 - 12:28 am

  I am writing this review to help identify problems for future buyers of 2016 Tacomas. I purchased a 2016 Double cab 4 door Limited , listing for over $40,000.00 , and I am having problems with the motor noise, accelerating , and lack of power . The truck sounds like a sewing machine running, and accelerating in traffic is a real problem. I am afraid to try and get on the freeway because the lack of power almost gets me ran over. I paid more for the Limited Addition, and I feel Toyota should be responsible for getting rid of the above mentioned problems . I forgot to mention the transmission shifting is very rough, and not smooth . I am also hearing outside exhaust noise in the cab ( Not quiet at all , like a new truck should be . ) What has gone wrong with Toyota, I traded a 2005 Tacoma in for this truck, and the 2005 was better the day I traded it in on this vehicle, than this 2016 truck will ever be. I have just 3000 miles on the new truck, but I feel the problems will be passed over, as I have heard others having the same problems, and dealers telling them -"Thats just normal for this truck " but I know better. I have not taken my truck to the dealer yet for repairs, as I have only had it for appx. 3 months. I know other 2016 Tacoma owners that have been to dealers with their trucks, and been told --" You just have to live with the problem, theres nothing wrong. I am considering selling this new truck that I have had only 3 months, and that is pitiful. I hope Toyota sees this review, and responds , as I would seriously like to talk to someone about the above mentioned problems