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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  Great Car! - 2003 Toyota Celica
  By love2teach25 - January 6 - 2:00 am

  Overall this has been a great car. There have been a few quirks that bug, but other than that, great. The sunroof has had a constant squeek even though it has been in the shop twice. AND, the engine guard has falled off EVERY time I have an oil change done. When I talked to the dealer, they said this is common on the celicas.

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  More car than you may think - 2004 Toyota Matrix
  By OGscience - January 6 - 2:00 am

  I actually bought one of the first cars on the lot in 2/2002, so Ive had it for nearly two years - folks still think its brand new! Surprisingly roomy interior - fits 5 adults comfortably, to say nothing of hauling $3,000 in fundraiser candy! Very sporty handling, with "sexy" 6 speed manual transmission (teenage boys are deeply impressed by it). Its been an absolute kick to zip around in, and is a real head turner. My 16 year old son made me test drive it, and thats all it took.

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  The wave of the future! - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By Linda_0201 - January 6 - 2:00 am

  This car is awesome!! Ive only had it for about 2 days, but already I LOVE driving it! I purchased the BC package with the dvd system, smart entry, 6 cd changer, everything! Fully loaded. The ride is incredibly smooth! The car is so quite when you start up the engine, and when I was at a stop light, I almost thought that the car had cut off (its THAT quiet!!). There is ample room in the front and rear seats. I cant wait to drive this car! I wake up in the morning excited and anticipating my drive to work! (haha..I wonder how long that will last??)

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  The first no-compromises hybrid car - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By scotto - January 6 - 2:00 am

  The new Prius brings hybrid cars into the mainstream. Power now feels comparable to many sedans and it gets up to 60 mpg! ItÂ’s also much larger and more refined than the old model. It has remarkable space inside, with generous rear seat legroom and lots of luggage room with the new hatchback and fold-down rear seats (very Saab-like). I got mine fully loaded with SatNav system, Bluetooth, side curtain airbags, Smart Entry (*very* cool), and much more. All this for about $26,000 (base price is about $20,000). In summary, this is simply a great midsize car that happens to also be the greenest car on the planet. There are clearly no compromises in this hybrid.

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  Couldnt be better! - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By bs - January 6 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle has met, if not exceeded, all of my expectations. I would recommend it to anyone, especially those who commute daily and dont like spending so much money on gas. And it rides better than my previous car. Its roomy and has lots of storage space. Its an all-around great car!

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  Dealer Attitude - 2004 Toyota Avalon
  By rstuttler - January 6 - 2:00 am

  After the sale two relatively minor defects were brought to their attention. One defect was brushed off as insignificant. I was blamed for the other defect [which was a dent/gouge on each of the front wheels.

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  Excellent SUV - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By lhenson - January 6 - 2:00 am

  Chose the 4 Runner by accident. I was looking into buying a Honda Pilot or Nissan Murano, however I had not researched the 4Runner because I wasnt aware of the major model change for 2003. Was negotiating a deal on the Murano and just happened to stop by the Toyota dealer next door and looked at the 4Runner. I test drove both the V6 and V8 models and was sold on the V8. The Honda Pilot and their dealers were wanting MSRP and no deals, Nissan was dealing fairly well, however I was able to get this for about $800 below invoice and 2.9% Financing.

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  Wonderful SUV - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By Roccos Van - January 6 - 2:00 am

  This is a great truck, I am very impressed with the power, transmission and smooth ride. Since the day I purchased the truck, Ive enjoyed driving it. I especially like the stereo, which is 6 CD in dash, a nice feature and it sounds great. Another nice feature is the auto lock rear tailgate and the double deck cargo area. Would recommend this car to anyone! The only poor feature is the headlights, not much output. I added an HID upgrade kit from CATZ HID to fix the problem, also, not enough headroom with sunroof if you are 62" or taller.

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  Fantastic Truck - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By junkfisherman - January 6 - 2:00 am

  This truck is amazing. The six is just as good as the 8, if not better. It drives like a car, its smooth, and has a turning radius that is unbelievable. NOTHING but good things to say about it.

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  the best in its class - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By firesarfar - January 6 - 2:00 am

  cant think of anything better in its class. hss more history than civic.