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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  One year post purchase - 2002 Toyota Tundra
  By JEC - March 22 - 10:00 am

  I have had my toyota tundra for almost a year now. I love it, it rides like a Lexus. There is no comparing toyota quality with american made vehicles if you did comparisons based on that alone Toyota wins hands down. My only complaint is the difficulty in parking you have with this vehicle. Compared to other vehicle of the same size and class the turning radius is much smaller.

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  Oh what a feeling? - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By Brad - March 22 - 9:36 am

  We purchased the RAV specifically for gas mileage when the price per gallon was near $5. It has delivered high 20s on the road and around 20mpg in town. Ho-hum. The engine pulls like a freight train and easily tows up to the 3500# limit. Unfortunately, the engineers didnt sort out the torque steer problems under heavy acceleration, it can be very darty. Also, notice the acceleration rate keeps coming on even after I stop pushing on the gas any harder (like a turbo). We bought the Sport to get the darker interior, but the ride quality is too harsh for commuter style driving. And, worst for last, the AT has an irritating whine at 25-35 mph that is louder after warmed up.

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  18 days and 2 tanks - 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Initial Impressions - March 22 - 4:23 am

  Ive had this vehicle for about 680 miles and two tanks at 23.5 and 25.5 mpg. Not bad coming from a V8 Grand Cherokee @ 13 mpg. Ride is comfortable but a bit soft according to my preferences. Body roll and motions are controlled but nevertheless a bit too active for my taste. Steering is light which is good in parking lots but overly sensitive on the highway. Hybrid system works well but requires much attention to use effectively and optimally. Overall, the vehicle is quiet and suits my family needs well albeit in an unexciting and uninspiring way. If not for the hybrid system and the need for a SUV, I would have looked elsewhere.

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  Sequioa LTD 2004 - 2004 Toyota Sequoia
  By erparf - March 21 - 9:23 pm

  A really nice, but slightly underpowered, large SUV. Comfortable inside but a bit restricted when one needs to move backwards. Rear-looking visibility is limited, backing up.

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  6 Months Now - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By Tombola - March 20 - 3:03 am

  Ive had the FJ for 6 months now. Its a fun car and looks great. Shortly after we purchased it we had some major snowstorms. This is the best vehicle I have ever driven in the snow, and that covers a lot of vehicles. The FJ is built tough, feels solid, looks great and rides pretty good.

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  An honest opinion - 2010 Toyota Camry
  By SecondCamry - March 19 - 8:53 pm

  I did a lot of research before purchasing and read many reviews regarding the cars harsh shifting in low speeds. After driving it for 3000 miles I understand now what was meant. The will not let you cruise at low speeds when releasing the brake. In stop-and-go traffic the car seems to be confused about what gear to be in. However once you reach higher speeds the car is very smooth and gives an impressive ride. I just really hope they will figure some way to take car of the shifting issue in city traffic, its a little annoying. MY HUMBLE RECOMMENDATION - test drive the car for a while to get the feel of this issue and see if it bothers you. Hope this helps.

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  What were they thinking??? - 2012 Toyota Venza
  By jpf22467 - March 19 - 6:52 pm

  First off, I do like the car. It does what it is supposed to do. It drives nice, has good pickup, gets good MPG for a crossover (mostly highway driving and averaging 26). A few things that drive me crazy. The Navigation system is a mess. Too many things are cut off while the car is moving. Can no add a phone, can not modify contacts just off the top of my head. The screen will not stay on the audio screen. When I listen to music, I want to see the audio screen, but it only stays up for about 10 seconds, then defaults back to the map. The screen is positioned in a horrible angle. It catches the sun and makes it very difficult to read the screen

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  A great upgrade from a 96 geo tracker - 2008 Toyota Matrix
  By dlbrooks - March 19 - 2:03 am

  When I purchased my Matrix I was looking for something that would be good on gas and my dog could fit in. Well I got both. I figured that the car would do well in the snow being front wheel. We had a big snow storm recently and I wasnt impressed how the car handled itself. I did not feel safe driving in the snow and ice. Other than that this car is perfect for me, my husband and dog. It will hold all kinds of things in the cargo area with the back seat still up!! I purchased the dog gate and it works great. Everyone who has seen my car or rode in it love it. They rave about it. I might however buy a 4wdrive in the near future for safety reasons only.

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  Great car, but poor interior trim - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By toy4pat - March 19 - 1:50 am

  Love the car, love the mileage. Hate that little things are constantly happening with the interior paint. Chips on the garage door opener button on the mirror caused the entire mirror to have to be replaced. Poor fit of doors and dash board is causing paint to rub off both. Poor dealer prep.

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  A little truck that gets job done - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By DXL - March 18 - 10:00 am

  The cab is a too small for big people. Feel tired driving long distances since the seat is not comfortable, especially if without a speed control. Small engine offers good fuel economy, but the trade off is poor accelloration. Most of my driving is on freeway. It achieves 31 mpg if I remove the tailgate and drive @70mph. 60mph gives 35mpg with no load. In town driving gives 33mpg (this is just for me because I normally drive at above 45mph for 20 miles each weekday without many stops.) I travel about 700miles each weekend. So far I didnt have any problem at all for 78000miles. I do the routine maintinance and are very careful about fluid levels, etc.