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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  Exterior parts Built Like LEGO not CARs - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By gmei - April 17 - 11:55 pm

  Ive had Corolla 2010 S model since 03/2011. Bought it brand new. After a year, I may have ran over the pot holes but that affected the rear bumper. During freeway trip, the two sides of rear bumpers opened up like two wings!!! It was so dangerous. I finally bang on those and got them to snap in place like legos, very flimpsy. When I took my car the the dealer folloowing day, they said its not warrantied because running over pot holes shifted the rear bumper (lego out of place). My Godh!! This is car and it should be nuts and bolt in place not plastic snap in place like LEGOS!!! Its not safe to be riding on these corollas. Prior to 2008 corollas are good but the later models are cheap!!!

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  Piece of Toyota Junk - 2000 Toyota Camry
  By J - April 17 - 8:30 am

  This car is the worst piece of junk Ive ever owned...and I had an 87 Ford Escort. The check engine light is on every other week, the car began burning oil at 40K miles (after regularly changing the oil every 3 months or 3,000 miles). The car has also had a leftward pull while driving since day one. The Toyota dealers I contacted all state that this is normal! Check the internet and youll see numerous complaints about the same leftward pull. Add to this the fact that the car is severely underpowered and handles like a go cart. What a waste. To call it a piece of junk assumes that the car has a purpose and is an insult to junk everywhere!

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  No personality - 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By graylc - April 11 - 11:00 pm

  This vehicle is not what we were hoping for. No personality, no character, very poor instrumentation design, exterior styling that is non-existent. It is a carbon copy of a Highlander, and you can buy two of those for one of these. Wait for the next redesign.

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  DEATHTRAP on Wheels 2008 - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By fredphelps2007 - April 3 - 5:07 pm

  Where to begin.... Recall notices... have received enough to kill an entire tree! Good luck in Snow/Ice, just aim for something soft... AWD my @$$, a rear wheel drive taxi cab with two flat tires has better snow performance than this "SUV"! Tire Pressure Issues... every 2-3 weeks the light comes on and at least one of the four tires is low (@24-26psi) For the first time in my life I pray for someone to steal my car and park it on the railroad tracks! It is disgraceful to call this thing a Toyota!

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  Buy at your own peril. - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By Shaun - March 14 - 5:39 pm

  This is my 6th Toyota truck, 4th Tacoma, and 9th Toyota vehicle overall. 2017 TRD Sport in the exact config I wanted. I was hyped. Then it started falling apart, and Im not sure that will ever stop. I have around 13k miles on it, and it sounds crickets are mating under the hood. You know the annoying chirp of a pulley going out? Yeah, Toyota thinks thats "normal operation" even though theres a TSB for the same issue (High Pressure Fuel Pump) on 2 other Toyota vehicles, and the problem didnt show up until about a week ago. I hear the same issue is on a Lexus model, but of course they are redesigning that pump because, well, Lexus. So far Ive had a window track/motor replaced, 2 BSM sensors replaced, my battery replaced, had to get my windshield replaced from a rock chip that cracked the whole thing, and I think thats it. The service center has gone downhill, which was an incredible disappointment given my history with them, and Toyota corp has failed to stand behind their product. I should have just bought a Raptor, at this point I cant see Ford being any worse than what Ive got from Toyota. Sad state of affairs.

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  Cheap ! - 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By FJ Crusier - February 27 - 10:00 am

  The paint on the outside of the FJ scratches way to easily. The plastic interior scratches even easier. For an off road vehicle, in which mine is not, just cheap and poorly designed. The premium gas @2.98 a gal. What ! 15 miles in the city and 20 on hwy. Rides nice and has good pick-up when you need it, just shouldnt have to run premium gas and give a second thought to the paint! Now the windshield, cracks WAY too easily. Bad up-right design as the hummer, rocks dont skip off, again an off road vehicle . What ! Had 5, count em, 5 small dings (dime size cracks/spots) fixed b4 the last one gave way to a 16" crack! Shop around, maybe buy American, I know. I know., but its true

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  Might last long but not a good car - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By Bruinmaster - February 26 - 7:43 pm

  I bought this car because it had been the best selling car for many years. But I dont see why it is so now. When I first bought it, the engine sound was very quiet but now after 3 years, it makes loud noise. Also, I am very dissatisfied with their warranty. 3 years or 30000 mileage whichever is sooner, u can assume it basically has no warranty. Also, the bottom of front bumper gets taken off so easily, I take it to mechanic every month. Above all, it has a very low MPG.

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  Ill never buy another Toyota - 2004 Toyota Tundra
  By James C. Craven - February 18 - 10:00 am

  I have owned 3 Toyotas and this is by far the worst of them. I have had to replace both tail light harnesses, 2 O2 sensors, brakes and now my fuel gauge has gone haywire. I dont even have 40,000 miles yet. I will never buy another one. They screwed up when they started building them in the US. Buy a Ford! I have a buddy that did and he has virtually no problems with his.

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  Not living up to the Toyota legend - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By Ron - February 18 - 3:33 am

  This vehicle is not very user friendly. The dash and control layout take a lot to get used to. If its a secondary vehicle you might feel like your driving a Rubiks cube. Limited head room combined with a passenger seat that doesnt adjust vertically, it leaves my head on the ceiling when Im the passenger. Fuel economy is poor when you factor in the cost of premium gas.

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  Mixed - 1998 Toyota Camry
  By colec - February 14 - 2:58 am

  Got this car as a hand me down from family. While the car has proved to be fairly reliable, I feel like the problems I have experienced with only 138,000 miles are not consistent with the reputation that Toyota builds for itself. Many interior things have broken and have proven costly, the clock alone was several hundred dollars. I also feel like for a 98, and the top Camry model, steering wheel controls and keyless entry should have been available. This is the first car, out of the three that Ive had to leave me stranded somewhere, due to it not starting. Other than this car, my family owns all GM and one Ford, and believe it or not, the 98 GM sedan we have has been a better car overall.