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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  Excellent runner - 1999 Toyota Camry
  By silvansilvan - November 27 - 5:46 pm

  I have 197,000 and it is still going strong. I had to have the EGR valve replaced and other than that, it has been great.

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  I love my corolla! - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By povd - November 27 - 4:15 pm

  I am going to give a completely honest and unbiased review since I have never owned a Toyota before. So I drive 15 mins on the highway to get to work. I wanted something that is reliable, fuel efficent, fun to drive, and still looks good. I love my Corolla. When I drove it off the lot, I was feeling like I made the wrong decision, but as I kept driving it, I fell in looove :] I have a 2006 BMW M3 Convertible as a summer car and it is very easy to go from that to this corolla. No problem. The fuel economy is awesome. 40 bucks to fill and I get 500-570 KMs on a tank that lasts 10-12 days. And the seats are comfortable for me. But yeah i have quite a few paint chips but oh well. Its plastic.

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  Does Toyota quality still exist? Not my Tacoma.. - 2007 Toyota Tacoma
  By strauchfx - November 27 - 6:39 am

  I recently traded my tacoma, so now I feel I can give an unbiased review. I also own a Toyota Camry and after owning the Tacoma and talking to Toyota customer service I swore to myself I wouldnt buy another EVER. The first thing that went wrong.. a HIGH pitch whistling noise from the front end, Toyota could diagnose the problem, customer service told me "your truck was designed that way".. I figured it out finally, there was a TSB out on the internet for a weak seal on the windshield. Good job Toyota for the help. Next.. The temp/compass thing broke, the HVAC Fan switch broke, only HIGH or nothing. Rear end feel like it has resistance. Strange clunks and bangs. Continued below..

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  Great Car - 1996 Toyota Celica
  By johnst - November 27 - 2:00 am

  This really is a great car. Never spent a penny on it other than oil changes. Really fun to drive by yourself, but the engine is underpowered if you have a car full of people.

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  Traded up from a Grand Cherokee - 2004 Toyota Sequoia
  By Tina - November 26 - 12:33 am

  We purchased a 2002 Grand Cherokee when we started a family and didnt want to go the minivan route. The Cherokee was a nightmare (maintenance, performance, etc.) So, we saw a great deal on a new 2004 Sequoia at the end of 2003 and went for it. We have loved this car (and we arent really "car" people). We go away a lot for the weekend and its so easy to just throw stuff in the Sequoia and go. It rides so smoothly and we havent had any problems with it at all. We added a DVD player b/c it was cheaper to have it done on our own than @ the dealer. My only complaint - it is cumbersome & hard to park sometimes. But - thats a large SUV for you. GREAT SUV!

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  Best Truck Ive owned - 2012 Toyota Tundra
  By mancheskia - November 25 - 4:03 pm

  Overall very happy with my tundra. There is a fair amount of plastic in the interior that could be refined. Comfort is top notch. The huge center council is great for the traveling Business man. Plenty of power on tap at all times and the auto stick works great for pulling those heavy loads. Double cab passenger room is plentiful with a 62" 260lbs guy able to easily fit comfortably in the back seat. I do notice the frame flex more than on my previous trucks but the ride on the tundras are much better than fully boxed frame. If Toyota would come out with a 3500 Id trade in my current Tundra today, as I know you shouldnt but I have occasionally exceeded the max towing cap hauling equipment

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  2008 Toyota Tacoma - 2008 Toyota Tacoma
  By Mark - November 25 - 3:13 am

  I am having an issue with steering wheel vibration between 50 and 70 mph and it started that way off the lot (7 miles). Tires were replaced and alignment completed and still having vibrations. So far everything else working ok and mpg is 20 which is better than my other truck was.

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  still pretty happy after 15K - 2013 Toyota Venza
  By ldecastro1 - November 23 - 5:10 pm

  I bought my 2013 Venza LE AWD last April, so I have almost had it one year. Overall, I am very happy with my purchase. I liked the exterior design when they 1st came out several years ago. The inside of the car is very roomy all around. The kids have plenty of space in the back and the car is wider than most. I am a pretty big guy, so I appreciate the width of the drivers seat. It also has a nice large trunk. The electric steering take a bit to get used to (feels a little loose at first) and this car also rides pretty rough compared to most American-made cars. You really need to take it for a long test drive before you buy it. This car is absolutely amazing in the snow.

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  Headlights - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By Dee - November 23 - 2:23 pm

  I have read some of the reviews about the headlights. We experienced a problem with our the battery going dead. We also had problems with both headlights. We were out of warranty but the guys at the dealership told us there had been some bad headlights that were put in some models. They replaced the headlights at no cost to us because there was a known problems and the car is working fine.

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  My Camry - 2012 Toyota Camry
  By Rich Wein - November 23 - 9:07 am