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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  This is the Flagship vehicle? - 1997 Toyota Avalon
  By amazingarthur - February 1 - 10:00 am

  I am somewhat dissapointed with the quality of this car. The interior edges that meet the door when closed have frayed terribly. There is a rattle from the ignition that the dealership can do nothing about. A few electrical gremlins have set off the rear tailight dummy light on the dash. Cant figure out why. The trunk release mechanism doesnt always work. Ah, the myth of Toyota quality.

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  Great Sequoia - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By PaulBay - February 1 - 10:00 am

  Really the best car Ive ever driven - from comfort and roominess inside to enough space to hold my twins babies and all their stuff, its easily the best family vehicle you can get if you can afford the price.

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  CE with cruise - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By steve05401 - February 1 - 10:00 am

  hate to disagree with 14SC14, but if he/she bought their 2003 Corolla CE in the US, cruise is NOT standard. it is available as an OPTION, but it is NOT standard. check for yourself on Toyotas own website.

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  I love it! - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Artie - February 1 - 9:46 am

  Overall..it handles well...comfortable. Sturdy.

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  2001 Toyota 4Runner SR5 4x4 - 2001 Toyota 4Runner
  By Yangster - February 1 - 8:26 am

  Bought it used w/ 78k in Aug. of 2006. No problems yet with it and 105k currently in just a little over 1yr of owning it. All I did to it was put tires and keep on driving. Due for the 90k Toyota recommended tune up. Drives nice like a truck w/ an SUV feeling. My dog absolutely loves the roll down rear window. Could use a little more space but what do you expect from a midsize truck. The gas is ok, not complaining. I average 16-17 city mix w/ hwy driving. Straight hwy is about 20-21 mpg. Not too bad. V6 motor is weak but a phenomenal mileage motor known to exceed 300k. Looking forward to upgrading to a Sequoia. Growing family. Love the truck though. 11in clearance for snow and 4wd A+

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  Problems Galore - 2008 Toyota Tundra
  By aternie - February 1 - 5:42 am

  I bought this Tundra hoping to get that Toyota quality. At 45,000 miles, the radio just quit working. At 60,000 miles the drivers door lock actuator quit working immediately followed by the front passenger door lock actuator and then the drivers side rear door lock actuator. The drivers door is just a nuisance but the other doors are now totally useless since there are no keyholes for those doors. At 65,000 miles I have an oil leak and a water pump leak. In other words, at less than 80,000 miles, I have about $4,500.00 in repairs. So much for Toyota quality. As others have said, the body dents too easily. Other than that it is a powerful truck. I just would not recommend one.

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  inspect windshield before buying - 2015 Toyota Corolla
  By former toyota fan - February 1 - 2:15 am

  I am very saddened by the experience Ive had with Toyota over the purchase of this vehicle. Overall this really is a good little car, gets the job done, decent pickup for the size, smooth enough ride although there is significant road noise compared to other vehicles Ive driven, and good feel to it while driving. HOWEVER, there seems to be an issue with the windshields that Toyota is getting from its vendor. My original windshield had a very weird magnifying effect with random waves running through it that would distort the view of cars, the road, and other objects as you drove it. I took it to the dealer who agreed with me and replaced it, only to find the second one had the same problem. The third windshield is much better but still have two waves running through the drivers viewing range from different angles creating a significant distraction, and if you drive the car long enough, tension headaches. It seems Toyota is sick of dealing with this issue and is, what appears to be, refusing to fix the third defective windshield. I was given a loaner while my car has been in the shop for 1.5 months back and forth over this issue and the loaner appears to be fine. There is a great deal of inconsistency in the quality of the windshields being put on the 2015 Corollas, and recently I heard this is also true for the 2016s. Unfortunately I am now stuck with a car that has a defective windshields with waves in it, although its better than the original windshield, and will have to replace it through Safelite on my own dime. This is a major fail, Toyota. Never again. I hope this review helps others to avoid the same situation. Not sure if this constitutes a significant impairment to the value of the vehicle which would be covered under lemon law in most states.

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  Better Than I Thought - 2007 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Jeff - February 1 - 1:33 am

  My wife and I had the car for 6 weeks with 2500 miles. The car is very quiet, solid, and lives up to Toyota quality. I traded a 3 BMW and the Solara is as quiet and comfortable as the Bimmer. I was impressed as to how quiet the ride is with the top up and also with the top down. The navigation system is a bit busy but it keeps my wife occupied during out short trips to the beach. Im happy I bought the car.

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  At 32k mi, this is what I have to say - 2003 Toyota Tundra
  By Mister_T - January 31 - 8:03 pm

  Owned since aug 03 and now at end of lease term. Chose to keep. Ill skip what has been covered. Turn radius is awful, 45 feet... takes 4 and a half lanes to make a U turn. Still just too small. Add 5 more inches it will make a world of diff. Gas mileage on my v6 is not very good. Very comfortable. I use for long hwy trips and never need to stop to stretch. A serious work truck? Yes. Work truck capabilities? No. Styling on 03 looks too imported. Paint not too good. V6 is SLOW! No mech probs. No chk eng. No plastic parts falling off. As good as it gets.

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  The Best - 2000 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By machelle - January 31 - 1:36 pm

  I just ordered my third new Land Cruiser (2007 model). At 110,250 miles, my 2000 handled better, drove tighter and was a smoother ride than every test drive we took of other comparable 2007 SUVs. The Land Cruiser has only needed two repairs (a starter and CD electrical problem) all these miles. It has reliably gotten me out of sticky situations numerous times ranging from snow packs in the Rockies to an approaching hurricane on the Florida Coast. The third seats are not as comfortable, but are great for hauling my daughters middle school basketball team. The seats all easily tuck away in several formations for hauling everything from small trees to luggage. We couldnt go anywhere else.