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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  Get the XR and not XRS - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By bucksw - September 25 - 2:00 am

  Another review mentioned to get the XR and not the XRS and Im glad I took their advice. I test drove both the XRS and the XR with the sport package. I parked them side by side and could not tell the difference. Inside was exactly the same and the engine didnt feel that much more powerful on the XRS. Not only will you save thousands, but the gas mileage on the XR is 30/36 as opposed to 25/30 on the XRS. I love the car. It drives great and I have no problems with it. If you go XR I recommend getting the 5 speed Manual. Some say the XR is sluggish, but the 5 speed Manual is pretty good.

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  Great Car !!!!! - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By brw0520 - September 25 - 2:00 am

  I have had a nissan, Honda, and now i finally have the top of the line with Toyota. These cars are well known for quality and i am sure to get many years of satisfaction from this cuv.

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  The Best Sedan for Anybody - 2003 Toyota Avalon
  By mosa - September 25 - 2:00 am

  This is one of the best cars out there... It offers alot of things. It offers smoothness, reliability, a nice exterior/interior. It is very comfortable to sit in, front or back. Theres alot of space for anyone to sit in the back. When I am driving the 2003 Toyota Avalon (XL), I feel like I am driving a 2003 Lexus... I just love my Avalon.

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  Dont buy the 4 cyl - 2000 Toyota Camry
  By dscott - September 25 - 2:00 am

  Dont waste your money on the 4 cyl - buy the V6!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  best truck - 2003 Toyota Tacoma
  By tom - September 25 - 2:00 am

  This is the best truck on the market. I have it jack up about 7 in with x terran tire it is assome

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  best truck - 2003 Toyota Tacoma
  By Tom - September 25 - 2:00 am

  This is the best truck on the market. I have it jack up about 7 in with x terran tire it is assome

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  This is the greatest car - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By kerrysuz - September 25 - 2:00 am

  Before I bought this car, I was approaching 200,000 miles in my Nissan Sentra. But it was beginning to fail, so I took the plunge and bought the Corolla just after it appeared in dealerships, a year ago (Feb. 2002). I have 21,000 miles on it and its been absolutely reliable. We drove it from Boston to New Orleans last May and I had no problems. Its very comfortable. The heat is on and hot in now time flat. The A/C was a dream during last summer. And there is SO much storage space for all of my little knick knacks. I think I love that the best.

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  What a poor car! - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By Immed - September 25 - 2:00 am

  2002 Camry SE V6 has a good exterior, lots of power & acceleration and a reasonable price, but.. From the begining its had a front end vibration that has not been diagnosed. There is a clunking in the transmission and the car will not accelerate when the engine is cold. Theres no response from the engine or the car starts then stops then starts, etc. on acceleration. Throttle housing has a defect & I must run it 15 minutes in park when its cold to get it to move. Throttle response gets worse worse as the car ages. Zero traction in wet or snowy weather. Steering is "wobbly". The power seat no longer adjusts properly.

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  Not the best choice - 2000 Toyota Avalon
  By Jim - September 25 - 1:06 am

  Over the years the car has not done well, time to sell - the VSC is OFF, light on dash - will cost $600 to fix a $600 option, the gas gauge stops at 1/4 tank. 8 years of below average, constantly small items - trouble w/ stereo, woofer blew out, squeaks, had interoir parts replaced. In 2nd year of ownership, the leather peeled off steering wheel. That was replaced under warranty. Hopefully they got better, disappointed overall.

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  Never Again! - 2008 Toyota Camry
  By jcollins2 - September 24 - 7:29 pm

  I would never purchase this car again. The number of (and cost of) repairs Ive had to do is ridiculous! While under warranty, the following things were repaired/replaced: seal around the sunroof, seal around the windshield, & cd player. Two weeks ago, my water pump went out and had to be changed, along with the rotors. Now my air conditioning is broken, and the Toyota dealership is telling me that it will cost me $2,900 to repair it. In a three week time period, I will have to invest $3,700 into a car that is 3 years old and has 70,000 miles. I bought a Toyota thinking I would get a good car for the money I spent. I was absolutely wrong! I will not purchase another Toyota!