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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  Fun Car - 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Hybrid Believer - August 26 - 3:00 pm

  Great car! Fun to drive and very quiet. Average daily mpg 40-41 rural/urban roads and 41-43.8 mpg interstates(soft foot driving). Love all the screens available on nav., Bluetooth & ECO screens. Comfortable for both 63"and 51" bodies with the power seats and adjustable steering wheel positions. Great dual climate controls and sound system for CDs and easy iPod connection.

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  4Runner - 1994 Toyota 4Runner
  By Marvin - August 26 - 10:00 am

  Reliable vehicle. 151,000 miles and still in very good condition.

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  The Most Fun Car in the World - 2001 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By Jastram - August 26 - 10:00 am

  Ive never been enamored of any vehicle as I am with this one. When i drive this car, I have a smile on my face. Everyone looks at me in this car and the handling is unbelievable. Its fast, its great looking, it handles curves beautifully. I love driving the hills at night with the top down. This is pure, unadulterated pleasure.

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  A big disappointment - 1999 Toyota Sienna
  By Sad owner - August 26 - 10:00 am

  I have owned Toyotas for years. I had always been happy with their quality and reliability - until now. I have had nothing but problems with this van and been blamed repeatedly by the dealer for all the problems. Its funny that I take care of all my Toyotas the same way and none of them ever had any problems like this. The engine is destroyed by oil sludge. Its in the shop getting a new engine right now. The interior of the van is falling apart. The vanity mirrors fell off. The door buttons stick in the down position so you cant close the door. I haul my kids around in this van and it needs to be safe and reliable. This van is WAY off base for that.

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  Great Car - 2002 Toyota Celica
  By Matt222 - August 26 - 10:00 am

  I love this car...if I had to do it all over again I would definetly stick with it.

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  Commands a second look from by-passers - 2000 Toyota Celica
  By balaji subramanian - August 26 - 10:00 am

  Great performance, fast on the road, futuristic look on the interiors - definitely an owners pride

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  Love my Avalon - 2001 Toyota Avalon
  By JJ@Santee - August 26 - 10:00 am

  Comfort of a large luxury sedan with the peformance of a sports sedan. Ive driven 43000 miles in 20 months and the reliability and performance have been extraordinary. Routine oil changes, tire rotations, etc.... My next car will also be an Avalon.

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  Get Your Hands on a Toyota... - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By Kyle S - August 26 - 10:00 am

  Great bang for the buck

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  Practical and Functional - 2006 Toyota Matrix
  By Seth - August 26 - 8:40 am

  I traded in my 2001 Celica for this, mainly because I wanted something with more utility while maintaining the fuel economy I had become accustomed to. Engine is weak in low revs, better as they build, and the transmission upshifts way too soon when merging or passing. The interior makes this car worth owning, for sheer cargo space, youd be hard pressed to find something this light and economical with this much space. Handles well. Id gladly buy the upcoming replacement, as long as it gets more grunt, a better transmission, and disc brakes in the rear. I would definitely recommend this car to anyone, knowing that my only hang-ups are its lack of sportiness.

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  Not very satisfied - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By Scott C. - August 26 - 1:50 am

  Overall probably the best truck in its class but for a $30K truck I would expect more standard features such as an illuminated glove box, illuminated console, illuminated sun visor mirrors, cargo bed light (the Tundra has it), heated mirrors, outside temp. and compass display (only available on sport or off road models). The transmission is extremely shifty and in my opinion rough. It often feels like I got rear ended when coming to a stop. My 2004 Jeep with 180K miles shifted much more smoothly. The stock stereo system is absolutely terrible. Virtually no highs, muffled lows and no midrange adjustment. Stereo in my 2000 4 Runner is 5 times better. Again, I would expect more at this pricepoint.