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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  2012 Toyota Camry Highway Perfection - 2012 Toyota Camry
  By smokeymaxwell - November 30 - 3:32 am

  I leased my 2012 Camry because I drive over 20k miles per year all highway. It has the base 4cyl engine and what a sweet thing it is! Easily does 34 MPG on the highway while traveling a brisk 78 to 85 MPH. No weird noises, no hesitations. Transmission and engine are quick to respond and are plenty fast. The driving dynamics on curvy roads is not so good. Car tends to push, which is normal for this segment. I didnt buy it to carve beautiful back roads in. I bought is because Im 63" and need something comfortable, reliable and efficient with gas. Job well done... This Camry is perfect at those things. Love the Bluetooth - its the best system yet. Crystal clear on both ends.

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  Excellent Commuter Car - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By keegm480 - November 29 - 11:27 pm

  I have owned my fair share of cars, and this is definitely my favorite to drive to work in every day. No, its not exciting to drive, but it is very comfortable and has plenty of power for the average person. I have had zero issues with this car, just routine maintenance. Has a very good stock audio system in the car, I cant see myself selling this any time soon! I drive a lot of long trips, this car just eats away the miles!

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  Not Perfect But Still The Best - 2005 Toyota Sequoia
  By Tinyelviss - November 29 - 9:13 pm

  My Sequoia has 8000 miles and runs flawlessly. Ergonomics excellent except for daytime visual of HVAC controls require driver to lean towards center of vehicle. Gobs of space in the back-much more useful than Tahoe. Electric rear window a big hit with the kiddies, but watch out for sucking stinky exhaust into cabin. INterior lighting excellent but needs central switch. 4WD system outstanding. You will really appreciate the locking center differential if you use 4WD more than just on rainy days around town. Vehicle Skid Control really works! All in all a nice looking package that surrounds you in safe quality.

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  Bland.. Its just an appliance on wheels.. - 2016 Toyota Camry
  By TheManInDboX - November 29 - 2:10 am

  Good: Its reliable, hasnt had a single "mechanical" issue, its nice looking and the paint is very good.. The interior look is sharp, and the exterior looks good too.. The accord IMO, which in 13 and 14 were one of the sharpest cheaper sedans around, have gotten way ugly with all the chrome, so a camry felt like a better solution, it is very cheap to run, and insurance is nearly free, the navigation system is actually pretty good, and the upgraded radio sounds very good, you get a lot of nice things for the money.. being a toyota it will likely run 300K miles without any major issues.. (But do i want to keep this one that long?).. BAD: The seats are hard and uncomfortable on long trips, the plastic in the dash rattles, and the glove compartment doesnt want to stay closed when its cold out (I have 6,400 miles) The speedo doesnt actually display the right speed, you can set your cruise at 40mph, your analog will indicate 45mph, and your digital will show 39mph, while GPS shows 42mph.. who really knows which is right, the factory tires are crap, they are loud, they are also awful in the snow and rain, the lack of a traditional ebrake is really annoying in bad weather, and the automatic transmission in anything outside of just "D"rive is pretty useless, the "Sports" or SE model supposedly gets sports suspension, i am still trying to figure out what 90 year old typical camry drivers think the camry is sporty, it rides rough, wont corner, has epic body roll, and is really not at all sporty, my 01 sienna would drive rings around it in the corners.. its like driving a 90s buick.. with roller-skate wheels.. in addition the outside panels are rolled out of foil.. if you sneeze too close to the car the panels will dent.. I expected much more from a toyota, after having multiple ones make it over 400K miles, it looks like my next car will be a hyundai.. Which i should have bought, but didnt because i expected the perfection of a toyota i have grown to expect..

• 

  Bland.. Its just an appliance on wheels.. - 2016 Toyota Camry
  By TheManInDboX - November 29 - 2:10 am

  Good: Its reliable, hasnt had a single "mechanical" issue, its nice looking and the paint is very good.. The interior look is sharp, and the exterior looks good too.. The accord IMO, which in 13 and 14 were one of the sharpest cheaper sedans around, have gotten way ugly with all the chrome, so a camry felt like a better solution, it is very cheap to run, and insurance is nearly free, the navigation system is actually pretty good, and the upgraded radio sounds very good, you get a lot of nice things for the money.. being a toyota it will likely run 300K miles without any major issues.. (But do i want to keep this one that long?).. BAD: The seats are hard and uncomfortable on long trips, the plastic in the dash rattles, and the glove compartment doesnt want to stay closed when its cold out (I have 6,400 miles) The speedo doesnt actually display the right speed, you can set your cruise at 40mph, your analog will indicate 45mph, and your digital will show 39mph, while GPS shows 42mph.. who really knows which is right, the factory tires are crap, they are loud, they are also awful in the snow and rain, the lack of a traditional ebrake is really annoying in bad weather, and the automatic transmission in anything outside of just "D"rive is pretty useless, the "Sports" or SE model supposedly gets sports suspension, i am still trying to figure out what 90 year old typical camry drivers think the camry is sporty, it rides rough, wont corner, has epic body roll, and is really not at all sporty, my 01 sienna would drive rings around it in the corners.. its like driving a 90s buick.. with roller-skate wheels.. in addition the outside panels are rolled out of foil.. if you sneeze too close to the car the panels will dent.. I expected much more from a toyota, after having multiple ones make it over 400K miles, it looks like my next car will be a hyundai.. Which i should have bought, but didnt because i expected the perfection of a toyota i have grown to expect..

• 

  Bland.. Its just an appliance on wheels.. - 2016 Toyota Camry
  By TheManInDboX - November 29 - 2:10 am

  Good: Its reliable, hasnt had a single "mechanical" issue, its nice looking and the paint is very good.. The interior look is sharp, and the exterior looks good too.. The accord IMO, which in 13 and 14 were one of the sharpest cheaper sedans around, have gotten way ugly with all the chrome, so a camry felt like a better solution, it is very cheap to run, and insurance is nearly free, the navigation system is actually pretty good, and the upgraded radio sounds very good, you get a lot of nice things for the money.. being a toyota it will likely run 300K miles without any major issues.. (But do i want to keep this one that long?).. BAD: The seats are hard and uncomfortable on long trips, the plastic in the dash rattles, and the glove compartment doesnt want to stay closed when its cold out (I have 6,400 miles) The speedo doesnt actually display the right speed, you can set your cruise at 40mph, your analog will indicate 45mph, and your digital will show 39mph, while GPS shows 42mph.. who really knows which is right, the factory tires are crap, they are loud, they are also awful in the snow and rain, the lack of a traditional ebrake is really annoying in bad weather, and the automatic transmission in anything outside of just "D"rive is pretty useless, the "Sports" or SE model supposedly gets sports suspension, i am still trying to figure out what 90 year old typical camry drivers think the camry is sporty, it rides rough, wont corner, has epic body roll, and is really not at all sporty, my 01 sienna would drive rings around it in the corners.. its like driving a 90s buick.. with roller-skate wheels.. in addition the outside panels are rolled out of foil.. if you sneeze too close to the car the panels will dent.. I expected much more from a toyota, after having multiple ones make it over 400K miles, it looks like my next car will be a hyundai.. Which i should have bought, but didnt because i expected the perfection of a toyota i have grown to expect..

• 

  Not as good as they used to be - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Russ - November 28 - 4:36 pm

  Ive driven Toyotas forever, but Im afraid this will be my last one. Its not a terrible car by any means, but the quality since they starting building them in America has really slipped. It hasnt broken down on me, but it seems every month theres something new that goes wrong. A panel falls off here, something else falls off over there. Every time I go in for service theres something else they have to replace. Last time it was issues with the steering linkage which still hasnt really been completely fixed. Transmission has a very strange hesitation when shifting. Again, no problems so big it has made the car undriveable, just constant irritations.

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  Almost the perfect car - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By Rescurik - November 28 - 10:00 am

  If it didnt eat up so much gas, it would be the perfect car.

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  Boy toy that doubles as family vehicle - 2003 Toyota Tacoma
  By goatboy - November 28 - 10:00 am

  Very well built truck. The pros in my opinion: super reliable, great built quality, very fun to drive, the look of 4x4 without the downsides (bad mileage, maintenance, insurance). A great poser 4x4 look/feel for yuppies wholl never leave concrete. I get up every day and enjoy driving this truck, its just fun to drive. Note: It also has a lot of room in the backseat compared to other extended cab full-size trucks. The cons: short wheel base makes for bouncy ride, its a smaller interior, and pretty spartan inside. Overall Im happy with this truck and it also works for throwing the kiddos in the back- seat.

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  A Definite Upgrade! - 2016 Toyota Prius
  By Michael - November 27 - 7:23 am

  I purchased a 2013 Prius Three for work a few years back, which I really enjoyed. Traded that one last year and missed it, so I purchased a 2016 Prius Four in March, 2016. Wow! Loving this car. My 2013 was not super comfortable, especially on long-haul trips (which I did on a weekly basis). I purchased my 2016 (black exterior, white interior) about 10 hours from home and had a very comfortable drive back - the vehicle feels stable on the road, and the seats are more comfortable. Add the safety sense package into the mix and my long drive was downright enjoyable; I love the adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist and would definitely recommend splurging on it if you can. I also got the upgraded JBL audio system, which sounds 1000% better than my last Prius (some may not care, but its important to me). Another improvement is the touchscreen - In my 2013 Prius and 2015 Tundra, the touch screen does not do well in sunlight - I would always have to shade the screen to see. This is not an issue on the 2016 Prius. I have only a few gripes to date. 1) The sun visor - it does not extend, so when the sun is hitting you from the side it is quite annoying. I will be ordering an attachment on Amazon to fix this problem. 2) Not enough front seat storage. My 2013 had a larger middle console and glove compartment; 2016 model is lacking in these areas.