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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  First Truck/Best Truck - 2008 Toyota Tundra
  By JOG - June 4 - 10:36 am

  I am 47 yrs old, this is my first truck, so you know I have done my home work before purchasing. Very impress to say the least. The new Tundra beat all the other trucks in its class in every category. After owning a 2001 C5 Vette for three years, its kinda hard to give up speed all together. My vette did 0-60 in 5.3 seconds, but imagine a 7000 lb truck going 0-60 in 6.0 seconds. I LOVE IT!! I put some 22" U2 chrome wheels, added side bars, tinted my windows, bedliner and exhaust chrome tip. What a good looking Tundra!

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  An SUV to Keep - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By El Cid - June 4 - 10:00 am

  We just bought one and it is great if you have a large family and are towing a boat. We love the interior space and the dvd is great for long trips. it accelerates very well andhandles nicely.

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  Keeps Going and Going and Going... - 1995 Toyota Tacoma
  By Jon Martin - June 4 - 10:00 am

  I have had this truck for eight years now and it has been the best vehicle I have ever owned. Reliability is great, never breaks down. Replaced the clutch at 145,000. Need a new starter now, but I am able to start the truck if I play with it abit. I have been in two rear end accidents with the truck and have had no mechanical problems. Thus far, I have only replaced the clutch, alternator and battery.

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  Good Car - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By southpaw1 - June 4 - 10:00 am

  Once again Toyota has built a reliable good car. The Matrix XRS is useful in so many ways but still fun to drive. Finally a wagon that doesnt feel like an old fashion station wagon.

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  Simply better made and thought through - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By inbox - June 4 - 10:00 am

  We upgraded to Sequoia from a Chrysler T&C. Talk about night and day. Gone are the just-off fit and finish issues. Gone are the why didnt they just put one of those here... disappointments. This is our first non-"american" car, and I feel a but foolish for having clung to inferiority simply out of patriotism.

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  Gotta Have One!!! - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By BassMaster - June 4 - 10:00 am

  I have driven many vehicles in my day ~ & this one most certainly takes the cake! I think my cheeks are still blushed from all the compliments I have received in the first month of ownership!

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  Highlander review - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By lin - June 4 - 10:00 am

  I like the quite drive. It handles like butter. It carries my Siberian Husky and I can still see the road safley.

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  Highlander Smooth Rider - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By mktennis - June 4 - 10:00 am

  The Highlander is as complete a package in the mid-sized SUV around. The cockpit is well thought out and convienent. The AWD version sits up nice and high and handles rough unpaved roads with no problems. Interior is large enough for 5 and luggage.

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  I love my Camery - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By Amy B. - June 4 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my camery for 4 months and I love it. Im 21 and have a 1 yr. old daughter, so I was looking for something sporty and roomy for the car seat. I had a corolla before and it was safe and reliable so I felt like another Toyota would be the best thing to get. I test drove the Accord because my husband wanted me to and I could not wait to get out of it and back into the Camery. The Accord was so uncomfortable and loud. My Camery is so confortable and roomy....my husband does not have to sit with his knees in the dash when hes in MY Camery.

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  Many Design Flaws & Shabby Overall - 2017 Toyota Camry
  By Neward Thelman - June 4 - 2:16 am

  This is a review of the 2016 Toyota Camry SE, but since the 2017 models are carried over unchanged, all comments should apply to 2017 models. As of this writing, Toyotas been running ads which say that Toyota has built the Camry with close attention to detail. "Tested, trusted, Toyota", the ad says. As an owner of a 2016 Camry I can attest that the detail to which theyve devoted their corporate and engineering attention is toward producing a car as cheaply as possible, maximizing profit, and little else. Starting with the engine, Toyota uses what its salespeople refer to as "chain drive", which means that Corollas and Camrys use a a timing chain rather than a belt [which can break, causing catastrophic damage to the engine]. Thats good. Its more reliable. Unfortunately, it also makes the engine noisy. Diesel engine noisy. Of course, the manufacturer can reduce that noise to inaudibility, but that costs extra money. I found that the Corolla engine noise was really loud inside the cabin. The Camry was less noisy, but theres more to the story. I tested four different Camrys. Three of them were tolerably quiet. The one that I ordered from the factory has turned out to be loud. Clattering, dieseling loud. Even worse, in cold weather, it takes a long time for the car to warm up. The colder the temperature, the longer it takes for warm up. How long? Five to ten minutes. Yep. Thats sitting, burning gas, not moving for ten minutes - like some 1952 Rambler. Of course, I took the car to Toyota service. They explained that the long warm up is due to the use of a timing chain. They said it takes that long for the oil to warm up enough to allow the cam shaft and the timing chain to reach operating temperature. And, yes, the noise levels were "normal". In fact, they found it all to be "withing normal operating standards and parameters". The lessons here are that [1] there seems to be considerable Camry car-to-car variability, and [2] whether a manufacturer gives you a one month or a ten lifetime warranty, they can get out of fixing a problem by simply claiming that an issues "within normal operating standards...". Heading into the cabin, youll find that the seats are cheap, hard, and uncomfortable. Dont plan on any long trips. I have cloth seats. The cloth is really slippery polyester. As a result, if you use seat covers, theyll slip and slide to the extent that theyll make driving unsafe. Even worse, Toyota seems to have the largest and widest head rests in the industry. Ive compared. Toyotas head rests seem to be made for Godzilla. They far wider than those used by Honda, Mazda, Hyundai - pretty much everyone. Forget about being able to see anything over your left shoulder. You cant. But, at least when you crash - which, sooner or later, you will - that massive head rest will give you 10% more whiplash protection than a 1976 Bonneville would. If you live a tropical climate, then you may skip this next section; otherwise, youd better have a high tolerance for cold. The heater takes a long time to warm up. Even after driving for 30 minutes on cold days the heat still hadnt come up to comfort. I found that it took almost an hour to get adequately warm. Still, the heating duct directed at your feet delivers a weak, tepid air stream, so your feet will remain cold, regardless of the cabin temp. After making cars all of these decades, Toyota still hasnt figured out heat. The stock radio and sound system are execrable. And I mean that. Not just bad. Really, really bad. Almost unlistenable. If you buy a Camry, pop for an audio system upgrade. The ignition switch on the steering column is poorly machined and of low quality. It was like that in all four Camry models I tired. Youll be poking the key clumsily every single time you want to start your car. The leather covering the steering wheel is thin and of low quality, but the same as I found in all of the competition. The Camrys electronic power steering has as much unit-to-unit variation as its timing chain characteristics. Three of the Camrys I test drove had reasonably weighted steering. Far worse, far less secure and solid than regular, old hydraulic power steering, but better than most [such as the scary unstable new Chevy Cruze]. Of course, the one I got is crazy slippery. Driving it always feels as though youre hydroplaning on a sheet of sheer ice. So, with all of these factors, plus which ever new negative characteristics are lurking, waiting to appear and make my ownership of this lump of sheet metal even more miserable, Id say that I fully regret ever buying a Camry. If youre thinking of getting one, make sure you really look it over before you part with your hard-earned money. If you do decide to get one, you may be better off with one from the dealers stock, since you can test it out before hand. It seems you never know what youll get ordering from the factory