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Toyota

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6.5

Overall Score

Author: Kaitlyn Short

LAST UPDATED: March 22nd, 2022

Toyota is a trusted and well-known brand in the automobile industry. Toyota Motor Corporation was founded in 1937 in Japan and has grown to be one of the largest automakers in the world. Toyota’s mission is to manufacture reliable vehicles that result in a fulfilled ownership experience. 

With a wide variety of vehicle options, including sub-compacts, minivans, sedans, pickup trucks, crossovers, and SUVs, the company maintains its emphasis on building reliable cars. Many of these are built in the United States, with 10 of the company’s 14 manufacturing and production plants located in the country. With roughly 1,500 Toyota dealerships in the US, 2.4 million cars and trucks were sold last year.

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The Good

  • Reliability
  • Variety and Hybrid Options
  • AWD Options
  • Environmentally Minded
  • Affordable
  • High Resale Value
  • Positive Customer Reviews
  • Best-Selling Car Model
  • Best-Selling Hybrid Model
  • Safety Features

Reliability

Toyota has a reputation for dependability and ranks among the top third of auto companies in the latest JD Power dependability study. On top of that, according to the company, approximately “85% of all Toyota vehicles sold in the last fifteen years are still on the road today.” That is a huge percentage, on top of the impressive reliability score. 

With this reputation for reliability, the company has been included in Fortune’s list of the World’s Most Admired Companies four years in a row as the top-ranked motor vehicle company. 

Variety and Hybrid Options

Toyota makes sedans, like the company’s best-selling model, the Corolla. A customer can also buy a pickup truck, SUV, or crossovers. With Toyota, there are plenty of fuel-efficient models you can choose from, including a full-size hybrid Highlander SUV or a RAV 4 hybrid crossover. As the world’s largest manufacturer of hybrids, their flagship model, the Toyota Prius is the world’s best-selling hybrid. Additionally, the Toyota Mirai is the world’s best-selling hydrogen fuel cell car. 

AWD Options

Toyota offers AWD upgrades to give you more peace of mind during winter weather conditions or off-road excursions. AWD improves vehicle handling to give you more control behind the wheel. With dynamic torque control, Toyota AWD vehicles diffuse torque between the rear and front axles. This is an exclusive feature specifically designed for Toyota vehicles. 

AWD is available on select vehicles including the Toyota Prius, Toyota Sienna, Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Tundra, Toyota RAV4, Toyota Highlander, Toyota 4Runner, Toyota Sequoia, and Toyota Land Cruiser. AWD comes on many trim level upgrades. 

Environmentally Minded 

If you are a consumer worried about environmental safety, Toyota is the car company for you. Toyota has an environmental challenge set to be accomplished by 2050. Already offering hybrid vehicle options, Toyota hopes to reduce its fleets' carbon emissions and create a clear production process. This challenge includes six parts: 

  1. Reduce vehicle emissions to zero CO2.
  2. Eliminate CO2 from vehicle manufacturing to disposal.
  3. Improve manufacturing processes to zero CO2 emissions.
  4. Conserve and optimize water usage. 
  5. Establish a functional recycling program for end-of-life vehicles. 
  6. Build a positive relationship with nature now and for the future. 

This environmental initiative influences the innovation and engineering used to create vehicles that are better for the environment. We will continue to see vehicles with better fuel economy and fewer emissions. 

Affordable

Toyota vehicles are competitively priced. With Toyota, you can buy the following brand new models for under $25,000: 

  • Tacoma
  • Prius
  • Rav4
  • Yaris iA
  • Corolla
  • Corolla iM

High Resale Value

Toyota vehicles are known for holding their value even after years of driving. According to Kelly Blue Book, the new Toyota Tacoma is projected to have the highest resale value in the next five years. Other new cars with high resale values include the Toyota 4Runner and the Toyota Tundra. Toyota’s high resale values come from the long-established trust built with consumers. Toyota car models with 200,000–400,000 miles are still on the road today. High resale value is not an advantage you will find with all car brands. 

Positive Customer Reviews 

Based on real Toyota reviews, customers are highly satisfied with their Toyota purchases. Seventy-five percent of customers gave Toyota a 5 out of 5 star rating on bestcompany.com. With over 400 reviews, the main advantages that customers highlight include the following: 

  • Vehicles functioning properly with 150,000+ miles 
  • Quality customer service and support 
  • Affordable prices
  • Few maintenance or repair problems
  • Amazing gas mileage 

Read more Toyota reviews below. See why people become repeat customers at Toyota. 

Best-Selling Model Worldwide

Toyota is home to the best-selling car model in world history: the Toyota Corolla. The Toyota Corolla is a dependable sedan that features hybrid options for improved fuel efficiency and decreased carbon emissions. Toyota also offers a Corolla Hatchback version for increased cargo space. This year, the Corolla was named “2020 Green Car of the Year” by Green Car Journal. 

Toyota has sold over 44 million models since the Corolla debut in 1966. In fact, approximately one Toyota Corolla is sold every 15 seconds worldwide. That’s about four Corollas per minute. Holding the title for the best selling car model confirms Toyota’s ability to make cars that are versatile, reliable, and timeless. 

Best-Selling Hybrid Worldwide 

The Toyota Prius is the best-selling hybrid vehicle worldwide. Overcoming many technical and engineering obstacles, Toyota launched the Toyota Prius in late 1997. Toyota was not the first company to come up with a hybrid or electric motor idea. However, Toyota’s commitment to innovation and excellence led them to be the first car company to mass-produce a hybrid vehicle. 

Since its first introduction, the Toyota Prius has been improved and modified to the point that new models get a fuel economy of 53 to 58 mpg. That is a lot of money saved on gas every year, especially for people with long commutes. You can also purchase the Toyota Prius Prime allowing you to charge your vehicle to improve your EV mode range. Toyota continues to innovate, bringing you cars that will save you money and protect you while driving.

Safety Features

This Japanese automaker puts an emphasis on driving safety. Every year, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rates vehicle safety. Since 2014, the company has received an overall rating of 5 stars for over ten of its new models tested. Toyota vehicles have standard safety features including airbags, seatbelts, electronic stability control, and child safety seats. Toyota also has additional safety features installed in its vehicles. Toyota Safety Sense™ comes standard on many of the new models being released this year. This safety technology includes the following features: 

  • Pre-Collision System — Toyota’s safety technology quickly responds if the system detects a car or pedestrian shortly ahead. This feature improves reaction time to keep you and others safe on the road. 
  • Radar Cruise Control — This feature helps you adjust your speed based on your distance from the car in front of you. This intuitive technology reduces the number of times you have to adjust your cruise control. 
  • Lane Departure Alert — Get a lane departure warning if you unintentionally start to drift out of your lane. 
  • Automatic High Beams — Automatic high beams toggle your high beam and low beams based on the surrounding traffic. 
  • Lane Tracing Assist — This feature uses cameras to measure the length of the lane to create a centerline. Keep your vehicle in the middle of the lane with lane tracing assist. 
  • Road Sign Assist — This feature takes the worry out of missing a speed limit change. Road sign assist recognizes oncoming signs and displays them on your dashboard. 

Some of these features are available through other car brands such as Subaru and Hyundai. According to IIHS, Toyota has three models in the top 23 safest vehicles of 2020. Toyota vehicles stay competitive with other top car brands for the best safety features.

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The Bad

  • Takata Recall

Takata Recall

Thousands of Toyota vehicles have been affected by issues with Takata airbags. The Takata recall is the biggest auto recall in history, affecting many car makers, not just Toyota. Newer Toyota models will not have the Takata recalled airbags. You only need to be worried about this recall if you are buying a used vehicle.

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The Bottom Line

With Toyota, consumers can find a variety of options, based on their values and needs. There are lots of affordable choices, as well as sustainable ones. No matter which Toyota vehicle you choose, it is sure to have an industry-average warranty, plus above-average safety and dependability ratings. 

When people think of Toyota, the phrase “dream car” may not come to mind; however, owners will tell you that with this brand, you get a great deal with long-term quality in mind. It is no wonder that Toyota is a popular car brand with millions of sales and an admired reputation in the auto industry.

Read through our Toyota reviews below to learn about real customer experiences with the brand. If you are ready to take the next steps towards owning a Toyota, visit a local car dealer to test drive and discuss pricing options.

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Star Rating

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4.8

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621 Reviews

Review Breakdown

5 grade

78%

4 grade

19%

3 grade

2%

2 grade

0%

1 grade

1%

Sentiment Criteria

Value

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Quality

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Service

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Review Source

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Carnan Fort Collins, CO

We have only had 1 Toyota. We bought a Toyota because we were hoping for a car that could easily get us over 200K miles that our kids in college could use. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. As we were driving our daughter to college with the camry, the engine blew. We couldn't believe it. We have always been up to date on our maintenance and service schedule and the car was barely at 150K miles. I really like the look of a lot of Toyota vehicles, but I probably won't buy one again.

4 years ago

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RONALD BERNBAUM

Poor body integrity. Poor warranty service. Overpriced. All kinds of other issues with dealers.

7 years ago