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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  Rumble strip tranny - 2007 Toyota Tundra
  By VaTundraOwner - February 27 - 12:40 pm

  Like everything about this truck except for one unfortunate issue. The six speed auto seems to randomly start vibrating as if going over a rumble strip. It feels like a torque converter issue. Picked up from dealer today after they evaluated it. They are going to replace the transmission which only has about 800 miles on it. What adds insult to injury is that they are replacing this with a rebuilt unit. I for one havent had real good luck with other rebuilt auto parts. Service said Toyota wouldnt let them order a new one. They had their crankshaft issue earlier this year now it appears the transmission may be an issue. This truck cost almost 50k!

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  Just bought our new suv! What an improvement! - 2016 Toyota Highlander
  By aaron barnard - February 27 - 6:32 am

  Our first suv was a murano, and that was a nightmare. So many issues, including the head gasket blowing @ 90k!? Anyway, the Highland Performs better on every level. Looks great, feels great, we just love our new family vehicle.

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  Great Value, Reliable - 2001 Toyota Corolla
  By a9zn - February 26 - 11:20 pm

  Got this car used in 2002 & have been putting 1k mi per month on it. Gets me from point A to B w/o any hassle. Easy on the gas & my wallet. Very economical to maintain it.

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  From New til Now - 1997 Toyota T100
  By 283fs - February 26 - 10:09 am

  Bought my T-100 new in Jan 97. Best truck I have ever owned, got 120,000 and have only replaced the starter, ($120.00) Only tuned up once and still runs like a dream. Dont know much about the Tundra, but if it is half the truck this is they have got a winner.

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  2004 Sienna LE - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By dlkkjk - February 26 - 2:50 am

  While we love the van most of the time, we have had it in the shop way too many times (at least 8) in 20 months for non-routine items. There is a problem with the middle row passenger side seat belt that Toyota cant seem to fix after 5 visits, and the drivers side sliding door creaks (3 visits), as well as 3 recalls (some trips we had multiple things done). The build quality isnt what we had hoped for from Toyota.

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  I Like it overall - 2001 Toyota Tacoma
  By PJED - February 26 - 2:00 am

  I have had problems with the rubber between the plastic fenders and the body coming off. The dealer has fixed this twice, now with some new kind of glue.Other problems are, a rattle somewhere around the back seats?, the clock needs to be moved, the engine seems to cranks longer than it should after sitting for a while. Now for the biggie. The 4x4 shift lever is positioned so that my right knee is constantly resting on it. This is extremely annoying because of the vibration coming through it. This alone makes me want to get rid of the truck but I cannot find anything that I can trust for dependability but a Toyota.

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  My First Toyota, Good Truck!! - 1994 Toyota 4Runner
  By Josh Banks - February 25 - 6:23 pm

  Well my famly has had good experience with Toyota, and I knew the reliability was up there so when my stepfather approached me and asked me if I wanted to purchase his truck, I said yes. I am graduating high school and I am big in the outdoors. So I knew this truck would fit my needs. The 3.0 V6 is underpowered for the gas mileage you get, it can still haul my fishing and camping gear no problem, and it even gets us through these harsh northern winters in Wisconsin. I also own the nicest suv in school!

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  93,000 Miles Later and BETRAYED! - 2001 Toyota RAV4
  By Dissappointed - February 25 - 9:36 am

  It was good overall. I kept up with all regular scheduled maintenance. First the Catalytic Converter went out at approximately 74,000 miles. Of course, the brakes had to be replaced more than other cars, and now at 92,000 miles I had to replace the transmission solenoid for $1,600. Next, might be the transmission, for $3,000 dollars more. Had both of them gone out it would have been a downpayment on a new car. So, thats all I have to say.

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  Not as Advertised - 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By WilliamB - February 24 - 10:40 pm

  Purchased the Highlander Hybrid and now have about 1100 miles on the vehicle. It is a comfortable car to ride in and drives very good. Exception noted, wife drives a car with a V8 and on the highway can get over 30 miles per gallon, yet with the new hybrid, the most I can do is 22 mpg, up hill, down hill, city or road. This is nowhere near what is advertised for this vehicle.

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  2002 Toyota Tacoma - 2002 Toyota Tacoma
  By Jerry - February 24 - 12:16 pm

  I love driving this truck. I spent many miles a day driving between and onto jodsites. The extended cab allows room for books and plans but offers little for a passenger. I also use it to pull two ATVs on a trailer when we go riding. The 6 cyl. handles the load at 65 mph on the straight level road but a slight inclines cause it to drop down a gear. At 20,000 miles, trouble arose with front end feeling loose and vibrating. Neither Toyota nor tire dealer could target the cause. Recall work on problem ball joints just completed and all seems smooth again. The Pre-runner ride is good and stiff and it puts you up in the air a bit for additional clearance and a better feel when driving.