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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  AIR LEAKS/BAD BRAKES - 2009 Toyota Tacoma
  By Bob nebeker - August 31 - 3:53 pm

  The rear doors leak air and water, The brakes go to the floor, The radio comes on and off whenever. Other then that it could be a nice Vic.

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  First and Last Toyota - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Jason31 - August 25 - 8:40 pm

  I bought my Camry because of all the wonderful thing I had heard about Toyota, but i have to say that I am FAR from impressed. The interior rattles, with pieces falling off, the ride is not that great, and the handling of the vehicle is absolutely the worst I have ever experienced. To make matters worse I had to have it in for service 4 times during the year that I had it. Just traded it in a couple weeks ago.

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  Ok for what it is, but headlights are bad - 2014 Toyota Corolla
  By Chris - August 21 - 7:37 am

  Ive owned this car for a little over two years. Prior to that, I had a 4-speed 2001 Corolla CE that I owned for 5 years. Pros: - The engine is a typical Toyota engine, which means it hasnt changed much over the years. While it might lack some of the power compared to its competitors, Id be pretty confident with it lasting a long time. - The CVT isnt too bad in this vehicle. Toyota put in artifical shift points so it feels more like a conventional transmission. Reliability seems to be pretty good as I havent seen any failures posted online. - The interior is pretty nice. The S model has some nice stitching that makes it feel upscale. - The back seats are pretty roomy and comfortable. Granted, this generation is larger than the past ones, but its good if you need to shuttle people. - MPGs are pretty good. I get 35 average with mixed city/highway driving. This drops to 32 in the winter. But Im in general pretty light on the throttle. Cons: - The headlights are awful. I dont understand how so many people rated them as good. Theres a "lid" on the LED headlights to prevent it shining out too much. What this does is creates a sharp cut-off for low-beams. To make things worse, because the lights are bright white, it means you cant see anything beyond the cut-off point. It also is very blinding to other drivers. I cant stand it when another Corolla comes up behind me. I honestly try to avoid driving at night with this car, but that becomes impossible to do in winter. I never had this issue with my old car. - Handling is poor and requires a lot of manual correction. The steering doesnt transmit a lot of feedback to the driver. - The CVT loves to rev up everytime you apply the gas even in small amounts. This causes the engine RPMs to jostle around a lot. Even with the artifical shift points, its still a CVT at the end of the day and rather dull. Engine braking with it is barely there as its designed for fuel economy. - The Entune system doesnt allow mp3 files and folders to be read like a directory on a computer. It insists on reading all the tags and sorting them that way. If you want to play files on a USB stick or CD, make sure they are all tagged correctly first. - The dashboard and interior lights are all bright blue or white and are constantly illuminated. Id much prefer a softer color for night driving. - The automatic headlights were removed in this generation. Between this and the previous issue, Ive seen other Corolla drivers with headlights off at dusk. Thats not a good thing at all. If it wasnt for the headlight issue, this would be another Corolla that I would keep for many years. But because of the headlight issue, Im probably going to trade it in for something else.

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  New XLE - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By Phil - August 8 - 2:29 am

  I traded a 2006 4 Runner for the Rav4, and I was impressed with the room. Although a bit smaller, the gas savings and navigating in traffic, the Rav4 is worth it. If you have a big family think a larger vehicle, but for two or a young family (or retiree like me) this is just the answer. Go the extra mile and get the Convenience Package it makes driving much more enjoyable. After driving it for over 6 months, I wish It would have power seats. The XLE has most everything else, but is uncomfortable on longer trips. Added at a later date: After 7 months I traded the Rav4 in for Chevrolet. The lack of power seats was the deciding factor. A few squeaks and rattles began to appear, and the design lost its appeal {although I never did care for the overall look of the vehicle}.

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  My wife wanted one....what a mistake. - 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By tim1234 - August 7 - 10:00 am

  Big, slow and I am not sure why so many people like Toyotas. I am going to get a Tahoe. better engine and Id rather support an American company this time. I learned my lesson.

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  Disappointed - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By chloe - August 7 - 10:00 am

  We have had continued problems with our 04 Sienna and are very disappointed. We have had the gas tank replaced twice and the radiator replaced once. The van fails to accerlerate at times in very dangerous situations. We like the styling of the van but would be hesitant to recommend. This is our 2nd try with Toyota. Our 1st was with an 01 Sienna which incurred engine gelling. We thought Toyota was supposed to represent quality (?)

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  Darkened Dashboard/Speedometer - 2013 Toyota RAV4
  By dgambini - August 3 - 7:20 am

  The dashboard/speedometer is set back into a tunnel. In any other car when you turn the ignition key on the dashboard/speedometer illuminate. Not the case in the RAV4. It stays dark. So dark, that when you are driving downa tree lined street or on a cloudy day, its almost impossible to see the speedometer. This is a design flaw in the vehicle. I have to turn my night time lights on during the day to see the speedometer clearly. A very dangerous situation! I have tried talking to corporate in California and they will not do anything about this problem. I have not contacted the BBB, The Dept. Of Consumer Affairs and the Attorney Generals office.

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  1st & Last Toyota - 2009 Toyota Tacoma
  By disappinted - August 2 - 2:33 pm

  This is my first Toyota. Had a lifted 98 Chevy before this. I have had to take the car in to have an exhaust seal replaced. Overall I loved my Chevy better! I felt safe in it. I feel like I and in an aluminum can when it is storming outside. Why are so many dealers going overkill on the fenders? Im a women and we like trucks too!I have wanted to sell this truck for a while but hate to lose so much money. Now with Toyota NOT really knowing what is wrong with their vehicles, i want to sell it even more.

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  whats next? - 2000 Toyota Tacoma
  By stressed - July 29 - 12:33 am

  my 1st and last toyota?h2o has leaked into the driver side floor board (3)times.1st the dealer service addvisor says its a seam that wasnt sealed properly.2nd i saw h2o leaking through a bracket.3rd through the driver side door.the carpet has been replaced but there is still an oder.they put it on the ozone mach.but that made it smell like an old carboard box.only myself and anyone outside the dealership can smell an oder.i bought a toyota "for peace of mind".but its been anything but that.

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  BEWARE - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By BEWARE - July 24 - 2:00 am

  Bought an 03 HighlanderV6.Replacing my loaded Mountaineer lease,I knew Id sacrifice some bells & whistles,but wanted a smaller SUV. Toyota makes a great safe car,I thought it was a no-brainer. Well,BUYER BEWARE!Dont drive over 38mph with the back window down or youll feel like your ears will explode.Worse than a plane.If this wouldnt bother you, then Id say its a nice choice.However,if you care about your kids or backseat passangers ears,I BEG YOU TO SEARCH FOR SOMETHING ELSE,or at the least make sure it comes w/a sunroof to slightly alleviate it. With the great ratings&reviews I thought Id be thrilled, but you live & learn. DONT BELIEVE THE HYPE!