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 the Corolla it use to be - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By Sad College Student - December 28 - 12:53 pm

  I had noise in front suspension,dealer replaced both front struts and housing, Hubcap fell off for no reason, tire pressure sensor replaced, brakes recalled, glove box popped off for no reason, breaks still squeak, weird steering that when traveling over 55 MPH car will not stay put in a straight line

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  Mixed Feeling - 2000 Toyota Sienna
  By kgb41 - December 24 - 2:00 am

  Nothing major complaints but lots of minor defects.AC problems, rear window rattling, plastic parts falling off,tires replaced at 24000,poor paint match on exterior, not thrilled with noise from brakes. But the dealer has been great thus far.Too small for family of 5 on vacations. Dont know if I would buy another one. Expected more from toyota.

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  My last Toyota - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By shyam - December 20 - 2:00 am

  Since I bought this RAV4, I have taken this to the dealer more than 10 times to fix problems. I took this to fix the rattle noise from dash and other places more than 5 times. Couple of times to fix the engine light. Now it is back with the dealer to fix the engine light and this time they have to replace the Cat converter and the transmission. It has only 23k miles. This is my first and last toyota.

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  Careful of Sliding door and run flat tir - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By Darlene - December 18 - 9:26 pm

  I have been ok with my mini van, but I would NOT recommend this van to a friend. First I had huge problems with the Run Flat tires- that Toyota eventually agreed to replace one set- after I had already paid for a set- then of course those wore out fast too- Now Im stuck- even though I put on regular tires- I cant get a spare for less than $700!! Brakes also wear fast on AWD, very fast! Next HUGE problem both of my sliding back doors started sticking and giving me problems just two years after I bought it- Now neither will open and Im being told it will cost 3,600 to fix- the car isnt even 5 years old yet AND one of the parts was just replaced 14 months ago, will it just break again?! Owned a Toyota tercel before for 5 years with NO problems & husband owned a Camry with no problems. Too bad I cant say the same for the Sienna.

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  Not good value - 2011 Toyota Venza
  By mikeintx - December 16 - 1:05 pm

  Nice looks. Lots of power. Poor ergonomics. Cheap materials inside. Seats very uncomfortable. Visibility limited. Rear camera is a joke. Weak brakes. Worse fuel mileage.

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  Mileage is way overstated - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By nothappy - December 14 - 6:06 pm

  The V6 mpg EPA rating is way overstated - beware. I use 91 octane and still get about 22mpg on the highway (65mph), 17 city if Im lucky. I drive conservatively. I get about 300 miles per tank, about 50 miles less per tank than the 2 year old ford explorer I traded in on (sure the Explorer had a bigger tank but still. All told, Id wish I kept the Explorer. I bought the RAV4 based on the 22/28 mileage statement which is just wrong - very wrong. I feel cheated. Ive appealed to Toyota several times with incident reports without even the courtesy of a reply. Wish I could return it also as its a gas hog for a new generation vehicle.

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  Not the truck i hoped and payed for - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By John H - December 9 - 6:46 pm

  As we all know Toyota Tacomas are very expensive in comparison to their domestic counterparts. Youre hoping they give u at least 200k. Bought this truck brand new with 26 miles. I commute nearly 350 miles every 2 days. I changed both the oil and filter every 3,000 with Toyotas recommended oil, flushed the trans every 45k and had the rear end done every 50k. Cooling system at 65k and again at 118k. With 121,450 miles my 2.7L seized. Not what I expected. Toyota said at 120k it should be ready for an overhaul. Engine sludge. OK? I thought they lasted. My wifes 05 FX4 f150 has 188k on original drivetrain along with my 97 Jeep 4.0 with 294k on the original engine. Should have spent money elsewhere.

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  RELIABILITY??? - 2002 Toyota Sienna
  By tbk - December 8 - 3:50 pm

  Bought my Sienna brand new in 2001. A very expensive mistake. Paid thousands more for "legendary" reliability only to find it contains many biodegradeable parts. Oxygen sensors, lower control arms, pads, rotors, drums, even dash lights all needed replacement or servicing within 6 weeks of warranty ending (with only 25000 miles on the vehicle). No help from Toyota... even wanted $75 for a dashboard light bulb! Was told there was no fix for brake noise in Siennas, "they just do that". Nearly $2000 in repairs to fix everything to try to sell and then the dealer (inspecting the Sienna prior to my selling) told a prospective buyer the brakes squeal because they were aftermarket! Now thats rich!

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  2008 Sequoia Warranty Repair@763 miles? - 2008 Toyota Sequoia
  By PIF - December 8 - 2:40 pm

  I only had the vehicle for 763 miles before a metal piece dropped on the floor as I adjusted my steering column. Now the steering column moves up and down, and can not lock into place. The service people wanted me to wait 2-3 weeks for an appointment. Would you drive a car like that? I said no. Toyota Quality?

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  Squeaky - 2001 Toyota Camry
  By Hearmecoming - December 8 - 10:00 am

  Squeaky brakes since shortly after break-in. This is considered "an acceptable level of noise" according to the Longo Service Manager. I wonder if they are telling all the new prospective buyers about the noise to come. Ill be listening for you! If you buy a Toyota product, get it in writing...They should fix this problem at their cost!