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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  Toyota GPS is worthless - 2008 Toyota Camry
  By DonH - February 27 - 5:46 pm

  I am generally happy with my Camry, but the GPS is frustrating and almost worthless. The necessity to press ok to a disclaimer before each use is ridiculous. You have to pull off of the road and stop in order to the GPS, and the passenger can not reprogram the unit while the car is moving. I would not have bought the car if I had known how frustrating the GPS is. I will not buy another Toyota unless the GPS system is changed.

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  Lasted till all the batteries went - 2002 Toyota Prius
  By Jo Ann - February 27 - 10:00 am

  Got good mileage. then a few months back the steering wheel went out = $!,000. Then yesterday all the engine warning lights came on = $3,100 for batteries - cant sell the car now!

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  Minor Issues - 2010 Toyota Matrix
  By Kibbles00 - February 27 - 10:00 am

  I love this car but I have some minor complaints. On cold days, the fog on the front window is terrible. Water is retained on side windows so you cannot see out. There is also no place to put a drink in the center. I spilled so many drinks.

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  Camry - Expect Less and Be Happy - 2008 Toyota Camry
  By red8xle - February 27 - 10:00 am

  Mine is fully factory loaded XLE V6 with even a manual rear shade. I own three Germans (E320, Audi A4, BMW X3), and I expected Camry to be equal or better quality. The rattles inside the dash are too much even at slow speeds along with dealer runaround. The smart key isnt always as smart as its supposed to be. And, the GPS - save your money, buy a Nuvi, Magellan or even a cheap one at the Shack. The GPS directions cannot be modified unless you come to a complete stop, not even by the passenger. Thats one $1200 annoyance. Overall interior finish appears and feels cheap. Passenger power seat stays too low and short persons dont like riding in it. A good road car, not for city driving.

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  Great so far. - 2011 Toyota Sienna
  By Signal30 - February 27 - 10:00 am

  This is our first mini van that we have purchased, however I have driven a Chevy Astro and the GMC version at work for years. The first thing I noticed was the amazing field of view I get while driving our van. A large front windshield and big side windows allows you to see everything. The V-6 has good pick up from a stop and decent gas mileage. The plastic dash and other parts of the interior are no worse than any other vehicle that is being made. I will say that the controls on the center dash look like of thrown together and its takes a bit to get used to where everything is.

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  Comfy Car - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By P. Payton - February 27 - 12:43 am

  Bought the Venza new 6 mos ago, I enjoy using the car, avg 24-26 mpg. My Venza options are Security Package, Leather Package & JPL surround sound. Carmax in Laurel, MD has this car and we drove 10 hrs round trip to get it for 27,100 + 99 process fee. Back up camera is useful, passenger power seat is great (for lower issues), JPL sound is much better than the standard. 4 cyl. does has more engine sound but we want better mpg. Its still worth it. We dont need AWD because we dont want to drive in the snow. The higher seats works great for lower back issues. Ladies, your pants wont get dirty from getting out of the Venza. We keep our cars for 7-10 yrs, the Venza fits the bill.

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  Very Reliable Useful Vehicle - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By Southpaw - February 24 - 5:16 pm

  This is a great reliable car. If you want a car that is practical and a little bit fun buy a Matrix. I haul my dogs around in comfort. When I buy Toyota I expect a trouble free car and that is what I got. I wish the gear shift was a bit smoother but it isnt bad. You get a comfortable ride on the highway and it does great in the city too.

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  Brakes - 2013 Toyota Venza
  By Drew Gratts - February 24 - 9:49 am

  Leased for 5 years ,, the car was pulling left on braking. temperature on right disk 116f, on left disk 165f., proof of imbalance. The cabin noise is excessive. You may not have noticed but the steering wheel is at an angle in other word of center.

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  4Runner review - 1994 Toyota 4Runner
  By Nate Frame - February 24 - 7:20 am

  I have beat on my 4Runner again and again. It was used a lot for farm work, pulling trees down, and hauling heavy loads with a trailer. The only time it left me stranded was when I ran it close to empty. It was my fault. If you find one with no rust, get it rust protected. Any body shop should be able to help you. The inside of the doors and tailgate. The 4Runner is not fast, but its very dependable. Stick with the manual transmission models, the autos suck a lot of power you cannot afford to lose. Thirteen hard Michigan winters have taken their toll, but she is still alive and kickin.

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  Great truck, not-so-great mpg, Good buy! - 1997 Toyota 4Runner
  By Maki - February 24 - 6:16 am

  My first SUV. Bought it with 69K miles, now has 73K. Love the styling in and out, though THE FRONT CUPHOLDERS ARE HORRIBLE!!! Everyone complains about them because theyre in an awful location and they vibrate! Im planning to retrofit the newer 4Runner cupholders as others have done. Other than that, its a great truck! No problems whatsoever. Just change oil/filter every 3K and add gas, you can go anywhere. I take it snowboarding every weekend, drives great in the weather though I use chains in the snow...no 4WD. This car is a classic example of Toyota quality and no-nonsense styling. Toyota covered all of its bases, except the aforementioned cupholders and a little lack of grunt.