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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  Advice - 2017 Toyota Corolla
  By Ahmed - February 22 - 1:05 pm

  I Switch between Hyundai 2017 Elantra and Toyota 2017 Corolla because I thought Corolla was better but after using Corolla Im very upset because for the first month of my use it of Corolla I had three problems in the car 1.I have a very annoying wheezing sound when driving at 40 miles I think in the transmission that it is imagine me driving a very old car and going Twice to Jerry dealer and did not fixe it and sent an E-mail to Toyota America and They did not find a solution I am dissatisfied.

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  Advice - 2017 Toyota Corolla
  By Ahmed - February 22 - 1:05 pm

  I Switch between Hyundai 2017 Elantra and Toyota 2017 Corolla because I thought Corolla was better but after using Corolla Im very upset because for the first month of my use it of Corolla I had three problems in the car 1.I have a very annoying wheezing sound when driving at 40 miles I think in the transmission that it is imagine me driving a very old car and going Twice to Jerry dealer and did not fixe it and sent an E-mail to Toyota America and They did not find a solution I am dissatisfied.

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  Beware before you buy - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By Frank Cobb - February 20 - 7:42 am

  Bad paint, chips on hood, paint off door jam. No power. Big loss of money on resale value.

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  Bad reliability! - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Wayne L. Nelson - January 22 - 10:50 am

  What a lemon! This thing has had problems both inside and out. The engine has had stalling problems. The seats are terrible and Ive had trim pieces falling off. Very poor.

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  Worst Purchase Ive ever made! - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By ralph - January 17 - 8:46 am

  Buying this car was a biggest mistake in my life. Poorest customer service, uncomfortable Steering wheel, Problems with trunk lid closing, cheap material used for interior, seats not comfortable, Toyota does not allow you to put floor mats on the driving side, which is insane as you ruin your cars carpet much sooner. Gas pedal problem was never resolved. I took it to the dealers and they cheated that it has been fixed. In fact, they just took the floor mat away. No compensation was offered for the recall. Please think 100 times before buying this car. You may have other great options in the market such as Honda, Nissan, and Hyundai. Final word, be careful, Toyotas dealers are butchers!

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  becareful of the ac system - 2016 Toyota Corolla
  By Jim - December 30 - 4:49 pm

  I bought a 2016 Correll 5 months ago and have had nothing but issues with the a/c system. There is a mold smell coming out of the vents. I have taken it to my local dealer 3 times in less rhan a month and they are trying to tell me to just deal with it and they cant get the smell out. This is a known issue with the Corollas per the shop manager at toyota. Just another note. There a certain instructions on how to shut the a/c systems off (make sure you follow it). Even though i have and it did not resolve my issue. I cant wait for the summer for it to get worse. I doubt i will ever buta toyota again. Expecially a corrola.

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  Door broke and Toyota cant fit it - 2011 Toyota Sienna
  By dontbuyatoyo - December 27 - 1:34 am

  The drivers side door on our new Sienna does not work. We have taken it to the dealer three times. The dealer and the national Toyota repair people do not know how to fix this. Toyota will not provide a loaner. When we called to request arbitration paperwork, we were told it would take 10-14 business days. I strongly believe this is an unethical business practice. We will continue to seek damages under state law and will never buy a Toyota again.

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  Highly disappointed! - 2018 Toyota Camry
  By Don Martinez - December 2 - 9:58 pm

  Traded in out 2016 Toyota Van XLE for this and been nothing but trouble. Shifts horrible and at times the engine response because of it is flat and scary. Weve had it to the dealership 3 times now for a burning smell under the hood. Finally the dealer has given us a loaner car and had the engineers come to check the car throughly. Were scared to park it in the garage or drive it as were afraid it might burn on the side the road or worse yet burn our house down. Will update this review if they fine the issue. I would not recommend this car to anyone currently. Some of the interior pieces could have been made better and the lack of GPS on all models is disappointing but were not surprised because the GPS we had on our Toyota Sienna was not great either. Toyota missed the mark only offering the GPS option on the XLE and XSE and supposedly they have to be V6 models as well. One of the things that frustrates me the most about the 2018 Toyota Camry is the trunk. you can only open it from the button on the dash or the key. If the car is running the key will not open the trunk. Why is theres not a switch on the trunk lid to open it from outside baffles me.

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  Worst Car I Have Ever Driven - 2016 Toyota Prius c
  By Marty - October 16 - 7:38 am

  Buy this car if you want to fulfill your eco penance. I rent a car 4 months of the year for work, and this is the first time I have ever returned a car mid rental (it was 2 hour round trip to do so). First thing I noticed was totally numb controls. There is absolutely zero feedback from the pedals and the steering wheel. Trying to brake smoothly is almost impossible because the brakes go from not gripping to suddenly clamping down. Acceleration is non-existent. Handling, what handling? I would get body roll when changing roads on a freeway interchange. The ride is rough and loud. The seats hurt (I am in my 20s). The interior is cheaper than an 80s Escort. Last but not least, this car has a CVT, which just drones loudly and mocks you for pushing on the gas pedal.

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  Worst 4X4 Ever! - 1997 Toyota 4Runner
  By Toyota - NOT! - September 30 - 10:40 am

  This thing is awful. Your feet stick straight out in front of you, putting your legs to sleep in the front seat, your knees are in your nose in the rear seat. Its a gutless wonder, with no power. In the shop all the time for piddlin little things like wrinkling rubber on the running boards, peeling paint, sticking sunroof, you know Toyota stuff. And the parts are outrageous! A new ignition tumbler cost me $120 bucks! Its like driving a two story house down the highway - tippy around corners. Its a wonder my wife hasnt rolled it. Its a pig in the woods - no diff locks=stuck lots. And be careful if you take it off road, its fragile. Im going with a Suburban next.