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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  Fuel Economy - 2007 Toyota Prius
  By PRin NM - August 14 - 7:56 pm

  I drove this 07 for 4000 miles in Florida, then cross country to NM in late March. Averaged 51-52 mpg at sea level in mixed driving. Now 52-53 mpg at 7000 ft. altitude. I just learned something very interesting today. Toyota service rep. informed me that the car runs everything on electric. The gas engine is there only to recharge the battery! To maximize fuel economy, minimize gas engine operation. Accelerate rather quickly to operational speed and then drive with a light foot. Coast whenever possible. I love this car! My only negative is the inability to raise the drivers seat. My wife is 55" and cannot see nearly as well using the rear view mirror as I can.

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  Pats review of 2006 RAV4 - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Pat in Kentucky - August 14 - 2:16 pm

  Estimated gas mileage is not correct. It has lots of road noise. Has been dented very easily in parking lot, the metal is very thin. We bought the base model with mag wheels, black luggage rack, 6 airbags, floor mats and grocery cargo net, we paid for the extras. The spare tire cover faded very quickly and was exchanged for a one time only exchange. This cover has faded again and is purple instead of the midnight blue the real car color. I was told by the dealership there was nothing else that could be done. I am not happy, and I will not purchase another Toyota product. When other people see the purple tire cover they ask questions!!

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  Good Pick Up - 2002 Toyota Tacoma
  By Hooray_beer - August 14 - 8:30 am

  Solid and reliable. I now have 120K and have only had to replace the power steering pump which I got from the dealership. It went out again in one month. I went ahead and replaced it on my own. The gas mileage is terrible for a truck of that size. On a good note, this is a great PU that I feel safe with my two kids and wife in. I also feel confident that I can go anywhere at anytime. PS. I pulled a Dodge 3500 4x4 w/Cummins pullin a Chevy 1500 SB out of the sand with no problem. 4 Wheel Low with a forgiving tow strap.

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  First month - 2005 Toyota Tundra
  By newlimited - August 13 - 12:20 pm

  I tested every full-size truck out there over the summer. I loved the Nissan Titan, but it was a little too loud had HUGE towing mirrors. I liked the F-150 (esp on Z-plan). In fact, I liked those 2 better than Tundra SR5, but once I drove the Limited, I had a clear choice. It had the smoothest ride of any truck (full size OR compact) and every feature I wanted with only feature I didnt want (a cassette player!). Some may prefer the feel of a big truck, but for me the refinement in the ride was a selling point. The Toyota quality is a bonus.

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  Toyota is not reliable anymore!!! - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By Julie - August 12 - 11:03 pm

  Fantastic for the first 3 years. Fits a bunch of stuff, comfy to drive long distance, stylish, and great fuel economy. After 3 years our drivers side window totally broke, not related to the recall. Fixable, but only with a new door. We are living without working window. Then at 95,000 miles our engine blew a rod and needs to be totally replaced. WHAT!?!? Warranty only went to 60,000 miles and despite the fact that we maintained the car properly Toyota refuses to take responsibility for the bad build - acting like it is normal for cars to die this young. We expected to drive this for 250,000 miles based on reputation. Well, Toyota is bunk in our book. Honda here we come.

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  The perfect car - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Dave - August 12 - 8:53 am

  I love this car. Ive gone 150K miles and its still brand new; original tires being the only problem so far. I paid it off last year so, normally, Id buy a new car. But Id only get another Prius, so why? My only worry is the battery. Its covered to 150K; but nobody seems to know how long it will last. So far Ive replace nothing! And the brakes are still great! I Love This Car!

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  Great little SUV - 2012 Toyota RAV4
  By tnboy - August 11 - 5:12 am

  We wanted a smaller SUV with a V-6, maximum room for the class, and a moderate price for the class, and this fit the bill perfectly. We compared others, and none had the combination of our four main wants. We also considered the Lexus RX350 and the Volvo XC60 but didnt see $15-$20K worth of quality differences ("prestige" in a vehicle was not one of our needs).

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  Nice value - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Bryan - August 11 - 4:33 am

  We bought the 2007 Camry CE after trying the Honda Accord LE, CRV, Toyota RAV4, Matrix, Prius, Subaru Forester, and Legacy. Hands-down, the Camry was the quietest, most comfortable car; although the Prius was cool, but overpriced. Auto transmission is smooth, 4 cyl. engine is strong enough for everyday driving, handling is crisp with a good feel for the road, fuel economy is great. Many safety features are standard this year. We have only put about 200 miles on it so far, but we like it! I would definitely test drive one if you are shopping for a mid- size sedan. We even started out looking at small SUVs and found this gem. :-)

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  Disappointed - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Slats - August 10 - 6:16 pm

  I HATE to say this, but as a long-time Cadillac owner, I finally switched to Toyota on the advice of friends who are loyal Toyota owners. The ride is great, the gas mileage is spectacular, and the interior and trunk space are huge. BUT - the interior finish is cheap. The yellow foam on the front seats shows through. Ive had the steering column replaced (recall item), the driver seatbelt stopped retracting, the power steering pump went out (10,000 miles) and its got a ferocious pull to the right that the dealer says will probably be a future recall. Not the quality/reliability I was looking for. Im considering switching to Lexus. Not what I expected at all.

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  One Headache After Another-Unreliable - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By stacy banks - August 9 - 11:23 pm

  If there is an example that Toyota doesnt have its thumb on quality control, it is me. I jumped the car 14 times the first year I owned it even though the battery checked out O.K. They said it didnt need to be replaced. Just after the warranty expired, it needed to be replaced. Power door broke-$1500 to fix. Electric locks go crazy and cant open doors. Have to crawl out. Has never shifted smoothly although transmission checks out O.K. Frequently lurches and downshifts unexpectedly. Radiator replaced in 2nd year. None in stock had to wait a week. The rocker panels rusted in the first year. I had to change the tires in the first month - not good on snow and ice. Generally, a bad car.