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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  Problems... - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By upset customer - April 17 - 2:00 am

  From the beginning, the car pulled to the left. Toyota does not know how to fix. Also, Tire Gauge light does not turn off. Toyota does not know how to fix. Been in the dealer more than Ive driven it. Its a shame because its a beautiful car. Ive gotten lots of complements on it. Unfortunately, the dealer has not been very helpful. Instituted the Lemon Law. :(

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  6 months and 15,000miles later - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By Fire Dad - April 17 - 2:00 am

  Great design interior. Has become the family fav with the DVD player and great sound system. Van has been to the shop 3 times for DVD problems took a month to fix. 3 times for Check engine light for a bad spark plug and replaced fuel injectors. Still has to go back because problem was not fixed. Have had fun in the rentals though. And in shop for a recalled fuel tank.

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  Great but no power - 2000 Toyota RAV4
  By DennisRavDriver - April 15 - 10:00 am

  Excellent vehicle. Roomy for size. Reliable. Fun. Low maintenance. Easy to get in and out of. Did I mention, FUN!

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  Smooth ride! Watch your wallet. - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By 4dfmbz - April 14 - 5:10 pm

  i bought my seq used it was a 2002 sr5 with all bells! My only concern is the brakes. I have had to replace pads twice in one year and rotors once. I do drive quiet a bit. I bought the car with 23k it has 63K in a little over a year. But the car is a joy to drive, very smooth, like the lexus. Had to replace battery, I left on the lights, tires, and brakes.. The car is defint reliable. I would def by another. But only used. The gas will murder your wallet. At aound 3.00 a gallon, youre looking at 85.00 to fill. Brakes run about 200-400, tires are 500.00. So we are buying a smaller car for commuting purposes. The SUV will be for trips and weekends only.

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  Good Truck - 2010 Toyota Tacoma
  By Dustyrider - April 14 - 2:30 pm

  Traded a 2009 Toyota reg cab 4 cyl automatic for this truck. Pulled a motorcycle on a trailer 1000 miles and decided I needed the 6 cyl auto instead. This new truck is much nicer and better equipped than the 09. The fuel economy is not what I expected (17 MPG so far), but it may get better as it breaks in. The cab is nosier on the access cab than the reg cab was, probably the extra doors. The Prerunner package makes it sit about 3 or 4 inches higher than the 09, and I feel that the seat will wear quicker from getting in and out. I like the buckets and the rest of the interior features better than the base truck, and hope the mileage improves as it gets some miles on it.

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  Jumped too fast - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By vtx - April 14 - 12:16 pm

  Cant see the front of the car when driving it so parking distance is impossible, steering is to touchy, instrument panel small lettering is hard to see, other than that its an okay car especially to save money on gas, when accelerating you get the converter egg smell sometimes.

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  Buy it...if you can fix it. - 2001 Toyota Celica
  By krustuhfar - April 13 - 10:20 pm

  This vehicle looks and performs pretty well. But its a huge money pit. Big thumbs down. So much for the reliability for toyota. I bought mine brand new and before i had even hit 100k i had already replaced the clutch twice, tension pulley, water pump, and the sunroof leaks TERRIBLY. and i only drive it about 400 miles a month. I would never buy this car again.

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  Looks nice, feels cheap - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Paddyo - April 13 - 8:36 pm

  Ive only owned the vehicle for 3 months, but have already put 12,000 miles on it. My biggest complaint is that there is a line of rust developing around both the front and rear window. It is clearly a flaw that exists, but Toyota insists that I must have scraped the paint off while removing snow. The car is garaged and has seen very little snow at all. The transmission is awful! The car is noisy & rattles which is why I say it feels cheap. I love the look, and the comfort, but would never buy one again.

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  2008 Solara Sport Convertible - 2008 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Steve in Rockville - April 12 - 9:46 am

  I did quite a bit of research and drove a number of convertibles before buying the Solara. All convertibles have "blind spots"... It is the nature of the car. I selected the Solara Sport convertible based on expected dependability (as per Consumer Reports, Edmunds, and Kelly Blue Book). I am not a "leather interior fan" and I liked the look/feel of the sport package fabric. The car has decent pick-up and provides acceptable MPG (I am getting about 24 combined so far, but I have less than 1,000 miles on the car, so I am hoping/expecting some improvement).

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  Reliable But Boring - 2011 Toyota Corolla
  By delrey - April 10 - 9:22 am

  Smooth, quiet engine. Transmission shifts well even though it could use another gear or two. Ive been averaging 34-35mpg with 60% highway. Couldve been better with an 5 or 6 speed. Steering and handling is dull and unresponsive. The car does not give any feed back during cornering nor give any warning when near the limit. Steering is really loose. My wifes 2006 Mazda MPV is a better vehicle to drive. Exterior styling on the S is clean and nice to look at. Interior is simple and easy to look at and functional. Quite basic compared to some competition though. If you need an reliable car with no frills, you found it.