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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  Im in love with this car. - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Ralph Roughton - January 27 - 1:20 pm

  Ive had it only for 6 weeks, so maybe its still the honeymoon. I bought it to do my part for the environment and the economy; but its turned out to be a fun car to drive. Peppy on pickup, easily maneuverable, feels roomy, even for my 6 foot height. Plenty of power. I pushed it on a deserted, straight stretch of freeway -- and pulled back when it reached 93. Im sure it would have gone over 100. With careful driving, Im getting 52 mpg.

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  04 MATRIX - 2004 Toyota Matrix
  By drust - January 27 - 10:00 am

  I LOVE WHEN I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND PEOPLE YELL, I LOVE YOUR CAR, OR I LIKE THE COLOR OF YOUR CAR!-I HAVE PHANTOM GRAY.

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  Prius is all it claims to be and more! - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By biotwerp - January 27 - 10:00 am

  This is the best car I have ever driven! I drive nearly 40 miles each way to work over (mostly) country roads, I have several stops and turns. I average 50-53 MPG. My husband has more head room in this car than in any car we have had. The car handles great in all weather conditions. I arrived on time at work all last winter. My 87 year old father (a former mechanic and staunchly "buy American") has said, "If I were to buy another car, this would be it; it is a quality car all around!"

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  I love my Rav 4!! - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By haylieplum - January 27 - 10:00 am

  I just bought this car and I love it. It is so much fun to drive. I got the all black one and its so sleek to look at. It looks like a smaller BMW suv. I love all the options I have on mine and I love the reliability of everything.

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  Mazda3 Hatchback vs. Toyota Matrix - 2005 Toyota Matrix
  By ftq - January 27 - 10:00 am

  This is a great looking car that handles great, and is very versitile. The Mazda3 is quite comparable, but it has a bigger engine (2.3L vs. 1.8L)and is also 5 inches longer. The matrix however sits higher the mazda which is great if you hate sitting in trafic and having low visability. It is higher then sedans and slighly lower then a Rav4 in terms of seating. Matrix is slightly wider and taller then the mazda3. Unfortunately I did not get to test drive a mazda3 before I purchased this car, as I fell in love with it the moment I took it for a test drive. It won out when I test drove a Rav4 and a camary before this one. Very comfortable seats, great for long trips. Toyota = Reliable!!

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  My truck - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By jfreckle15 - January 27 - 10:00 am

  This is the first new vehicle I have ever owned and I will never buy anything but a Toyota again. I have gone on several long (8hrs) trips in my truck and it is extremely comfortable. It gets great gas milage and the cruise control is easy to use. The ample amount of cup holders comes in handy during these trips as well as the tilt steering.

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  our first suv - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By ruthmb - January 27 - 10:00 am

  We have had nothing but enjoyment with the suv the workmanship and quality are very good

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  COROLLA S - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By NikDaNikster - January 27 - 10:00 am

  This was my 19th Birthday present. Well its not bad livin in da urban area and drivin in tight spaces and tighttt corners. The S type is not bad to show off and the styling and its performance is really cool. And the Gas mileage is awesome. I been rought on it but it has handled it and so far no complaints.

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  Great suv - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By Room617 - January 27 - 10:00 am

  I have to say that this suv is very well built. It drives like a car and does well off road (not talking about mud bogging or serious off roading if you want that jeep wrangler or hummer h2 is for you). My friend a pipefitter who hates japanese cars said it was very quiet and this was when he was putting it to its paces off road when we were river rafting on the colorado. Toyotas do cost more but if you want a car that wont rattle and will be reliable for the long haul then toyotas highlander is your type of vehicle. Safety features are great and I have had the thing in hairy corners but it drove like a car hugging the road with minamal body lean.

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  Great Van For The Money - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By bullock - January 27 - 10:00 am

  It came down to the Sienna or the Odessey. We found that the Sienna was a better value and offered a few more extras than the Honda. The seats were more comfortable than the Honda. We now have 12,000. miles on it and love it. We get 25 mph city and highway. The seats are much more comfortable than any van in this class. It has plenty of room. Drives and handles like a more expensive car.