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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  MPG Not Even Close! Rip Off - 2015 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By wintersjaw - August 3 - 9:49 pm

  Me and my wife dont even come close to getting the advertised MPG of 38hwy/ 43city. We get a range of MPG from as low as 28 to as high as 34.5. We dont drive fast and have even tried to drive as slow as possible to get the maximum MPG. The computer says we do great, 38, 36, 39 but when we fill up it is apparent the computer is wrong. Toyota corporate tells us there is nothing wrong with the car because the computer says we are close to the proper MPG. The proof is in how much you fill up at the pump, not what the computer says. We spent thousands extra for the hybrid model and we feel like we were duped. We will never buy another Toyota or Lexus again. Would not recommend!

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  Noisy Relays/ABS Actuator Pump - 2002 Toyota 4Runner
  By Safari3006 - August 3 - 2:00 am

  This truck has a major flaw. You will hear the 3-clicking noise when you first start it in the morning even if you do not step on the brake. Drive the truck for 10 minutes and make a complete stop, and after a few seconds you will hear the clicking noise again for 3 seconds as if something is engaging and disengaging. The local dealer and the District Office of Toyota Motors informed us that the noise we hear is the ABS Actuator Pump and it is normal so Toyota would NOT replace it. This persistent noise can be really annoying so buyer beware...

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  A Big Disappointment - 2000 Toyota Sienna
  By suz - August 3 - 2:00 am

  We have been loyal Toyota buyers, but no more! Our Sienna has been a real disappointment. The engine is holding up well, but the interior and exterior is falling apart. When a penny size toy hit the window while the kids were playing the window shattered to pieces. My five year old was able to rip the handle right off the door while trying to open the door. The air conditioner vents have fallen off. And, the list goes on.

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  Toyota lost a fanboy. - 2017 Toyota Corolla
  By fanboy no more - July 29 - 10:07 pm

  First, there is a lot of things right with this car. Fit and Finish are great, and there are no squeaks or rattles, and the price (with discounts) make it a better deal than a Honda. If everything else after that was just average I would be satisfied, BUT. The transmission is horrible. The CVT works great in snowmobile, but does it belong in a car? The engine is always revving to a high rpm range when you accelerate, and you wait for the transmission to catch up. It is dangerous when you try to pass or merge from an on ramp. This creates a lot of noise in the cabin. I know now why the salesman went with me on the test drive, picked the route (city streets), and never stopped talking. It was so I wouldnt notice how bad the noise or tranny was. I took the car on a 100 mile trip to my parents house and my back hurt and Im young, skinny, and a runner. when you take a test drive leave the salesman at the dealer. If they insist on going along, walk away. Drive onto a highway, try merging with traffic, try to pass, and you wont buy it. The car is so slow and hesitant that it is almost dangerous. I am going to trade this car on a Honda or Nissan next year, take the bath, and never look back . What we need is a law that you can return the car in 48 hours and I bet that a lot of people will.

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  Toyota lost a fanboy. - 2017 Toyota Corolla
  By fanboy no more - July 29 - 10:07 pm

  First, there is a lot of things right with this car. Fit and Finish are great, and there are no squeaks or rattles, and the price (with discounts) make it a better deal than a Honda. If everything else after that was just average I would be satisfied, BUT. The transmission is horrible. The CVT works great in snowmobile, but does it belong in a car? The engine is always revving to a high rpm range when you accelerate, and you wait for the transmission to catch up. It is dangerous when you try to pass or merge from an on ramp. This creates a lot of noise in the cabin. I know now why the salesman went with me on the test drive, picked the route (city streets), and never stopped talking. It was so I wouldnt notice how bad the noise or tranny was. I took the car on a 100 mile trip to my parents house and my back hurt and Im young, skinny, and a runner. when you take a test drive leave the salesman at the dealer. If they insist on going along, walk away. Drive onto a highway, try merging with traffic, try to pass, and you wont buy it. The car is so slow and hesitant that it is almost dangerous. I am going to trade this car on a Honda or Nissan next year, take the bath, and never look back . What we need is a law that you can return the car in 48 hours and I bet that a lot of people will.

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  full size compromize - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By ED - July 29 - 6:03 am

  I bought this truck expecting good fuel economy and rugged capabilities. It is a great truck for off roading, towing, and getting dirty and if you want to look tough on your commute to work. The truck has disappointing fuel economy i rarely if ever got above 17 mpg on the freeway. the ground clearance is high so if youre under 58" better get the steps or nerf tubes. the automatic was terrible, it always searched for a right gear and downshifted constantly with the cruise control on, even on level roads, and engine noise gets pretty loud.

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  Toyota reneges on Frame Recall - 1996 Toyota Tacoma
  By mmcd1 - July 28 - 6:44 am

  Toyota Canada has denied any payout as the 15 yr program has ended. I had the truck in for the recall in April 2010 and now the truck is dangerous to drive and unsalable. Also my youngest daughter had been driving the truck to Toronto for school, which has obviously put her some peril with a faulty frame. I spoke with a Customer service rep named Steven ID# 5001, who told me that it has been decided and there is nothing that anyone can do. He would not give me a name or number of anyone above him to speak with regarding the decision. This is one of many Toyotax that I have owned and I am more than disappointed, I plan to sue!!

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  Great Value, though quite annoying - 2016 Toyota Prius
  By Joe - July 24 - 5:44 pm

  This is a great car, it gives you fantastic mileage and it seems very reliable. Toyotas flagship hybrid car does what you expect it to do. Now, there are a few EXTREMELLY annoying features on this car that will make you think about it twice before buying it. Firstly, the beeping: You are going to have loud beeping for almost anything you do, being the most irritating the one when you hit reverse. Its piercing, loud and cannot be heard outside of the vehicle, which kind of seems kind of idiotic. Why would you want an annoying loud beep sound INSIDE of your vehicle when you are in reverse mode? To warn you that you are in reverse mode? but you are the one hitting reverse, so you know, and as you are going back, you still know you are going back, so why a beep? I still have no answer for that, but it makes parking very unpleasant and it CAN NOT BE SWITCHED OFF. I repeat: IT CANNOT BE SWITCHED ON, E.V.E.R.. Also, every time you open the drivers door, you also get a LOUD beep, and it CANNOT BE SWITCHED OFF. Guess what? You already know you are opening the front door, because you are the one doing it! So, why that loud beep? yep. Surprisingly, you can exit the car, close the doors with your remote still leaving the car on, and it will remind completely silent, even though that WILL FOR SURE HAPPEN to you at some point if you never owned a keyless car. I can guarantee you that. There is a nice screen that allows you to read text msgs from your phone and even play video and watch pictures. However, it will not do that unless you car is stopped (and I believe the engine is off). So even if the co-pilot decided to watch pictures in the larger screen from their phone or just use the screen during a long trip, they cant do it. This feature cannot be overridden either. The car basically treats you like you are 4yo and its loud. I have been driving for 20 years, If I buy a car, I want a car, not a baby sitter with a loud piercing horn. Period. Another thing is the location of the mail panel. If you are tall or average height, your right knee will hit it. I get it, this is not a big car, still there are other ways to configure the inside so things dont get in the way. While that may not be a big deal as you drive test it on the dealer, it will became painful in a daily basis. I can also guarantee that. In conclusion, this is a great car, with a terrible computer built in computer. If we could just switch it off all together and just drive the damn thing, it would be a very valuable vehicle. But thats not the case.

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  First and Last Toyota - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By Bake - July 23 - 10:00 am

  Where is that legendary Toyota quality every one talks about. The paint is chipping off this car faster than I can touch it up. The transmission is constantly confused between 45 - 60 mph. The windows, doors, dash etc make loud snap, crackle and pop noises. The brakes feel like they dont engage until the the brake pedal nearly hits the floor. The steering is numb at best. The list goes on. If your dead set on buying an import I recommend you buy a Honda, Nissan or Mazda. Even a Hyundai would be a better choice than a Toyota.

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  Expected a lot better - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By hybrid826 - July 18 - 4:23 pm

  I had great expectations of this car and as far as mileage goes, I am very happy. However, the build quality is definitely lacking. This is my first Toyota and I have always heard about there great quality. So far, the satellite radio and bluetooth have been replaced, the heater/ac controls are getting replaced, the drivers sun visor has fallen off, the remote start only has worked once, the center console pulled apart removing a phone charger, the passenger map light died and all this in only 4000 miles. I purchased an extended warranty and I think I will be glad I did. Mileage has been excellent, although dropping off for the winter. Averaging city/highway of 38+.