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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  Is mine the only one? - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By jinro - September 3 - 2:00 am

  Ive been driving this car for 3 weeks now, and from the very first day I bought this car and till now, there are so much rattles! Instrument panel rattles, something in the back of the car rattles (I think its the hatch) Also, CD player scratches the CD when braking! You can actually hear it, if you lower the volume. This is my first Toyota, and it is dissapointing. Is mine the only one doing all this????

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  Cant go wrong - 2010 Toyota Tundra
  By cpfincham - September 2 - 2:00 am

  I wanted to wait until I got to 15K miles before I wrote a review. Truck is amazing! Ride is surprisingly smooth for a large truck. Drove my dads 2010 Dodge Ram over same rough terrain and didnt feel a difference. CrewMax is enormous and capable of making a 6K camper seem like a load of firewood. More than enough power when you need it with or without a load. The transmission has a hard time finding the right gear at certain speeds and will drop into too low of a gear at times. Shorter people may have a hard time to reach all of the buttons on the radio because of the large interior area. Base no frills model is perfect for everyday and long road trip driving.

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  Toyota RAV4 - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By J Donohoe - September 2 - 2:00 am

  I purchased my RAV4 after looking at the Honda CRV, Acura RDX, Kia, Mazda and Hyndai small SUVs. I was previously driving a 2007 BMW X3. I was able to get an excellent price on my purchase after using Edmunds dealer quote program, sales price was even $1500 lower than average displayed. I have driven my RAV4 for 600 miles and am already averaging 23 MPG.

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  Initial Impressions of RAV4 - 2011 Toyota RAV4
  By isophorone - September 1 - 11:54 am

  We just bought a used 2011 Base FWD RAV4 with 24K mi on it as we were outgrowing a 1999 Corolla with 199k miles. This RAV4 is pretty stripped down but does have tinted glass. The acceleration is great for a 4 cylinder and the car is quiet. We get 24-25 MPG suburban driving, 28 mpg hwy. Kids are comfortable in the back, and there is plenty of storage for our needs. Visibility good.

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  Great car for a new driver! - 1998 Toyota Corolla
  By Janet - September 1 - 3:26 am

  I have had my 98 Toyota Corolla for 5 years now. I got it when I was 17 and it was the perfect first car. The compact size make the car easy to manuever. The strong braking has helped me avoid some near accidents. Its very easy to park, drive in the city. Believe it or not, it has good passing power. In 5 years I have never had anything serious go wrong ever. A few alignment issues, and now my AC/heat is acting up (at 95,000 miles). Its a comfortable ride even on long trips. The back seat space is a little tight, however. I would recommend this car highly for reliability and excellent gas mileage. 8 solid hours of highway driving before a tank refill.

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  A car that keeps going - 2000 Toyota Camry
  By Deon - August 31 - 11:46 pm

  I have driven many cars in my lifetime, was a valet, rented couple and friends and families cars, this car is the best. I have 171000 miles on it now and it runs like I first got it. I have been getting regular oil changes, 2 tie rods changed, a new water pump belts and hoses, shocks installed a rear window regulator, spark plugs, door handles, and alloy wheel. Never had to work on the A/C, I live in FL where the a/c is on every time I drive. The cost of ownership is very low. Great car, smooth and quiet. It has carted food, homeless people, pastors, druggies, kids, and trash. I have pulled a Jeep out of the ditch with it, been in mud pits, camping and off-road and it always does the job.

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  Love It - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By BD - August 31 - 10:50 pm

  I have about 700 miles on my new 2010 Corolla LE. It is extremely quiet - I almost cant hear it when starting up. The ride is very smooth. I actually love the steering - a very strong reason for buying it. The steering to me feels tight, and very responsive. It just feels great for me, while numerous other people have complained about the steering. Braking is responsive. Acceleration is good. All in all, I enjoy driving it.

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  Grandpa - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By grandpasmall - August 31 - 6:56 pm

  Could have better gas mileage but liveable. Only complaint is about the transmission. The computer could be updated or something done to prevent down shift in the mountains.

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  One step forward, half step back. - 2011 Toyota Sienna
  By Freshies - August 31 - 5:43 pm

  For reference, we owned a 07 Odyssey Touring, test drove the previous gen Sienna & road tripped ~1000mi in this 11. The new Sienna has a significantly improved drivetrain. The engine is strong & passing is easier than in the Odyssey. The steering is accurate though lifeless. And the brakes are better than the Hondas. In terms of driving, the new Sienna & the Odyssey are equal & both are far better than the last gen Sienna. Everything else, however, seems not as good. The plastics are about the cheapest Ive encountered outside a rental car. The road noise is far worse than the last gens. The 2nd row lazy-boy seats are a useless gimmick. The backup cameras display is microscopic.

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  2002 Highlander - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By Highlander02 - August 31 - 6:40 am

  This is my 3rd and last Toyota as the reliability has been just plain awful. Ive had constant interior rattles and now my instrument cluster is dead, as are two air to fuel sensors. Im only 2k out of warranty and the dealer along with Toyota said Too Bad, even though its always been dealer serviced. Having a $1200 repair at just over 3 years of age while being just 2k out of warranty is unacceptable. Who ever heard of an instrument cluster dying at just 3 years of age!