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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  S-runner 2001 - 2001 Toyota Tacoma
  By Switchblade Sue - October 30 - 12:20 pm

  I have had this truck only a week. I LOVE it! Great power even without the supercharger and i have gotten many compliments on it already. I find the hand brake to be very dated and the interior design to be very basic but even with these downfalls, i find it to be a great truck!

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  slow! - 1995 Toyota 4Runner
  By snast - October 30 - 2:16 am

  dont get me wrong, I love this car. but stomp on the gas, and dont expect much to happen except a lot more noise. that being said, this is simply the most reliable, capable vehicle ive ever driven. ive had mine for 5 years, it has 300,000 miles, and it runs just fine. off road, its absolutely unstoppable. the storage and versatility is awesome

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  Mostly Great, some problems - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By Francis Degnin - October 29 - 1:13 am

  Mostly a love this car. I really wanted the plug in version, but decided it wasnt worth waiting. If you live somewhere with snow and ice, you should also be prepared to purchase very high quality winter tires--I recommended this to a friend of mine with Prius two years ago, it solved the problem of a light car on an icy hill. I have noticed the reported break problem twice in three months--even though it was supposed to be fixed. The bigger problem for me is a very high pitched whine which comes from the engine in warmer temperatures. The dealer wants to say its normal, but none of my friends with earlier models report it. Thats the only really annoying issue I have with the car.

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  Reliable, Slightly Zippy Commuter Car - 1998 Toyota Corolla
  By coloradohunters - October 28 - 2:00 am

  My Corolla has been an excellent commuter car - great gas mileage (close to 30 around town), easy to drive, and even a little peppy when you need it. For the 5 years my wife and I have driven it weve had no problems with it. Although it can be sluggish when its loaded down. When my wife and I switched cars, my Camry for her Corrolla, I had to get use the less leg room and foot room.

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  Brake/vibration/O2 sensor problems - 2000 Toyota Tundra
  By tundrarules - October 28 - 2:00 am

  **Brake vibrations **Frame vibrations **O2 sensor bad **Cracked manifold Had problems with brake vibration. Have been to the dealer 3 times with the brakes. After the last time at the dealer the problem seems to be fixed. The truck has always had a small vibration problem. Even after tires changed. Had a ticking noise when the truck was first started. That turned out to be a cracked manifold. Just got a check engine light. The dealer says it is an O2 sensor. They wanted $270.00 to replace it!!!! I am not falling for that one. Got a sensor for $50 @ sparkplugs.com.

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  Sun, Rain, and lockout - 2011 Toyota Avalon
  By David Munn - October 27 - 3:32 pm

  The rear power sun shade quit requiring the removal of the fuse. Dealer told me the repair costs would be prohibitive. The power roof drains have become clogged several times with one occurrence causing the electrical system to go haywire. I have the roof drains checked every 5,000 miles. The power locks quit on three doors. The original dealer tried to tell me that all three locks simultaneously which I calculated the probability of that happening at a trillion to one. The other dealer in the area repaired the problem after three tries.

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  Perfect commuter car - 2008 Toyota Corolla
  By lonniegray - October 26 - 6:02 am

  This is an economy car, a little higher priced for that purpose but you get what you pay for. What I was willing to pay for was dependability, good gas mileage and easy to drive. What I got was exactly that. I bought this car new in 2008 and have driven it 120,000 miles and it has NEVER been in the shop except for oil changes, new brake pads and tires. It has been very dependable and worth every dollar I paid for it. It isnt a sexy car, or the best handling or very powerful but it does get around 33 miles per gallon, nice trunk space and decent interior space for its size. Overall, this car is perfect for what it is intended to be, highly recommend it to anyone.

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  Solid Performer is Underrated - 1998 Toyota T100
  By km - October 25 - 2:00 am

  Critics panned the T100 when it was introduced; too small, they said. Its the perfect size for me. Plenty of power, lots more cabin space than the Tacoma, plenty of cargo space, with Toyota reliability. At 62" I find plenty of room inside. Its been very reliable so far. The interior looks dated with the old style controls, and there are too many stalks on the steering column. Lacks niceties like cargo bed lamp, remote fuel hatch release, etc. Its no Tundra but doesnt cost nearly as much either. And its a big step up from the Tacoma. Friends say the resale on it will be awful, nobody wants them. I say, "Resale? Im going to drive it until it falls apart."

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  1996 toyota corolla - 1996 Toyota Corolla
  By cherie - October 25 - 2:00 am

  this is a wonderful car and i have not had a bit of problems with it. extremely reliable, fairly comfortable and i like its simplistic design. simple, yet functionable.

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  So close, yet so far - 2010 Toyota Venza
  By nyinpb - October 25 - 2:00 am

  First, the huge tires create lots of noise and are very expensive to replace. Second, the c pillar is just to thick and long/angled and blocks views. I really feel that if they had put on normal tires and lowered the car an inch, I would get much better highway mileage, the car would be less noisy, and the cost for new tires would not be a shock. Otherwise, it is a very pleasant near-luxury wagon. I could have used another set of latch in 2nd row.