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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  My Prius - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By Ed Zoeller - July 28 - 10:00 am

  I love my little hybrid. Its fun to drive, handles well, gets great mileage, which is the main reason I bought it. Its plenty roomy enough, though I wonder how comfortable that 5th person would be?

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  Prius Perfomance - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By Robin Lerner - July 28 - 10:00 am

  Since i bought this care i have gotten great gas milage ..average about 48 mpg. I drive over 100 miles a day and i drive mostly highways. Learning how to use some of the extras was difficult. Sometimes i have trouble when i go to wash my car as people don;t know how to drive it. One time when i left it alone for a week i had to call roadside service to get it started. Also i must take it to the dealer for all repairs even oil changes which is time consuming. I love the care and hope it will last me along time. I purchased the extended warrenty just in case.

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  Interest in selling - 2000 Toyota Corolla
  By Hall - July 28 - 10:00 am

  I have had excellent service from this vehicle but feel it is time to exchange for a newer model. Have had no problems or complaints about performance ability,

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  My 2003 Corolla S - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By Babygyrl0021 - July 28 - 10:00 am

  I bought my 2003 Corolla S a little over a year ago from Lustine in Woodbridge VA(do not recommend anyone going there.My experience buying this car was absolutely horrible)I will never buy a car from them again!! Anyway,other than that Ive only had a few minor issues with my car.Within the first few months the screws on the driver side visor came loose.Also the dash rattles.The brake pedal squeeks.The driver side automatic windows clicked when rolling down.I have taken it to Lustine several times to fix these problems and they still havent fixed a few things.Guess that has to do with the dealership.

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  A tough act to follow! - 2008 Toyota Corolla
  By Jerry - July 28 - 5:00 am

  I bought my 2008 Corolla to replace my 1995 Geo Prizm which I recently retired having driven it more than 338,000 miles with its original engine, transmission and clutch still intact and never having been rebuilt! Since the Geo Prizm was a Toyota Corolla clone and having experienced first hand how reliable and economical the Prizm had been, I was naturally drawn to the Corolla, although I did consider the Honda Fit and Mazda 3 as well. I chose the Corolla for the legendary reliability and build quality, the excellent fuel economy, a comfortable, quiet ride and an excellent value overall. So far, I have been very pleased with my Corolla, but the Prizm will be a tough act to follow!

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  Nice luxury - 1997 Toyota Avalon
  By nice ride - July 28 - 4:20 am

  Bought it used with 140k miles but still runs and looks like new with enough power from a smooth quiet 3.0 v6 engine.

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  375,000 going strong - 2001 Toyota Camry
  By Mike - July 28 - 1:43 am

  I have this Toyota from 2001 , never misses a beat change oil , timing belts and it looks like it will run forever . I drive out of state ever weekend and it runs like a pure monster ...proud of this car and will not sell it doubt anyone will buy with that much mileage anyhow.

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  The first 1500 miles. - 2006 Toyota Highlander
  By Brandon - July 27 - 6:43 pm

  We purchased a Toyota Highlander the last week of June, 2006. We got the base model with the 2.4L 4-cyl. engine, which has very good performance. We have no problems with highway driving or acceleration. I havent owned it long enough to give hard mileage estimates, but it looks like the 22/27 or so on the sticker is accurate with 87 octane. The backseat is VERY roomy. The ride is terrific when compared to other SUVs in this segment, being based on the Camry. Theres no rollover feeling at all when changing lanes at highway speeds. The turning radius is incredibly small for its size. Being based on a Camry, I expect to own this car for at least 150,000 miles.

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  Echo Lovers Come On Over - 2009 Toyota Yaris
  By Carol - July 27 - 2:23 am

  I owned a Toyota Echo, and drove it for 8 years with excellent satisfaction. I was hoping to drive it 8 more but was hit by another vehicle running a red light. Even so it handled beautifully and stayed upright. I searched to replace it and couldnt find another Echo. I looked for the closest thing..a 2009 Toyota Yaris. I love it. I recommend it. Gas mileage highway miles about 43 mpg. Plenty of pep and handles well. Try it, youll like it:)

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  Great little econocar - 2000 Toyota Corolla
  By Mike Gates - July 26 - 7:50 pm