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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  Love/Hate my 4Runner - 2000 Toyota 4Runner
  By Love/hate my 4Runner - May 22 - 2:00 am

  I have had mine 11 years and 120,000 miles. Today its in the shop having a squeaky clutch pedal replaced for the second time at $300 a pop. That said, the manual transmission is the only way to go with this vehicle. As long as I am not towing anything, I feel I have adequate power. Like another reviewer noted, the check engine light comes on sporadically for no apparent reason. If youre not diligent and ask lots of questions, less respectable repair shops will try to pin it on the most expensive thing they can; I always get a second opinion on this one. Today, they are also looking into a cruise control and dash clock that only work sporadically; who knows why.

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  Sold on Avalon - 2000 Toyota Avalon
  By MJD - May 22 - 2:00 am

  I didnt like its looks at first, but I wanted a safe car for my wife. I have been very surprised with the quality of this car and it rides and handles well. Ive driven trucks and SUVs my whole life so this is a small car to me but its very comfortable.

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  Big Disappointment - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By Familycarowner - May 22 - 2:00 am

  I traded a 97 XLE for the fully loaded 02 XLE V6. From the biginning the car started having integrity problems, it rattles and clicks, the curtain air bag cover on the driver side is loose and now after just two months the side molding is getting unglued. Time for a third trip to the dealer, what a shame. The 97 XLE was perfect, no problems for five years.

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  2008 Tundra CrewMax SR5 5.7 2WD - 2008 Toyota Tundra
  By Adam - May 22 - 2:00 am

  I bought my 08 Tundra used - it had 45k miles on it. Ive put 10k on it. Fits my needs perfectly with 3 kids (huge back seat). Ride quality is great. Acceleration / power is awesome. Too much hard plastic and cheap parts on interior - but still very comfy. I put a 2" leveling kit with larger tires on stock steel wheels - looks better.

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  Easy To Drive - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Stacey - May 21 - 7:20 pm

  This car is easy to drive, extremely comfortable and a beauty. My only complaint is that it eats up the gas on the city mileage. Tight steering which makes it easy to drive. The best car Ive had so far. I hope to keep it for another 5 years.

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  Side air bags? - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By lucky to be alive - May 19 - 7:53 am

  I purchased this vehicle in july of 2006, i only had it for a bout a month when a drunk driver hit me on the side. When i purchased the car i was told all about the side curtain air bags and about the air bags for the drivers knees. and wouldnt you know i get hit on the side and NOT a single air bag deployed. I look on the internet and find that there was a recall in april about the air bags and i was not told of this when i purchased the car. Look for recalls before buying. Im just glad me and my husband are still alive. can furnish pictures of damages upon request so you can see how toyota stands up

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  Mostly Good, few points to consider... - 2010 Toyota Sequoia
  By armartin22 - May 19 - 7:25 am

  I traded in my 2011 Honda Pilot (yes, a 2011) for a slightly used 2010 Sequioa Platinum. I did this mostly for the towing capacity, but I also love the styling of the Sequioa. Despite loving the overall SUV, I will list the cons to consider if you dont need the towing capacity: - Seat layout. Platinum captain seating in back is silly and inconvenient. - Nav/Audio: overly complex touchscreen interface. For example, to change stations to next preset (without using the steering wheel controls), you have to switch to "audio" mode. - Handling: while good for a 3 ton truck, its still shaky at speeds and subject to wind. If you need a luxury tank, buy this.

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  Wonderful Car - 2002 Toyota Prius
  By Susan - May 19 - 3:30 am

  The 2002 Prius is fabulous. I have owned it for 3 1/2 years with no problems. The car gives terrific gas mileage, steady, comfortable performance and excellent reliability.

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  Great Car - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By Com Ray - May 18 - 11:43 am

  Bought new and so far no major repairs. Brake problems when new but they replaced the master cylinder. Regular oil changes with synth., change transmission fluid every 30 K (whats in the pan). Otherwise, spark plugs once, and front pads at 114K.

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  Faithful - 2001 Toyota Corolla
  By Rod Stodghill - May 18 - 9:46 am

  Excellent, faithful and true. No repairs or maintenance problems. Good gas mileage. Great car for around town and little small for a family of five. Exactly what I expect from a Toyota: faithful and long lasting, built with excellence. You buy it and forget about it. Well designed.