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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  Very Happy Owner - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By MikeQ - November 14 - 10:00 am

  Traded in 2001 Caravan Sport for 2004 Sienna CE. Wife is 51" and had problems driving/parking the Caravan. No such problems with the Sienna. Plenty of power. Great fuel economy. Quiet ride. Great visibility. Front/rear wiper switches (all on one arm) can be confusing. Very happy with everything else.

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  Toyota Camry review - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By Jil - November 14 - 10:00 am

  I have regularly had my Camry serviced and have had no problems. At 40,000 miles, it drives as smooth as ever. The Camry has a very relaxing feel to it, and because of its quality, will be reliable for years to come.

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  Great Little Car - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By Lou - November 13 - 2:46 pm

  I have camped in my car and hauled trees, bushes and a big dog. The seats fold flat making a nice level surface. I have gone cross country in the heat of summer, driven 120 miles round trip to work daily in the snows of Maine, driven the Maine to Boston Corridor in the black of night and at the height of snow storms and never had a whit of a problem with any feature of the car. My only wish would be that it was a little more quiet on some road surfaces. I average 34 MPG. I Love It! Lou

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  Great Vehicle - 2005 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By Rob Karas - November 13 - 5:13 am

  This is by far the most comfortable vehicle I have ever owned. I have owned Mercedes, Jeeps, Hondas and Toyotas in the past but never a Land Cruiser. The other day I was at an outdoor festival and we parked in the grass. It started to pour down rain and soaked everything. When we were leaving there were lots of SUVs which were spinning there wheels in mud and the grass, but we had no problem in the grassy field or going through the mud. The best part was that I didnt even have to switch to 4 wheel drive since it is in it full time. I love this vehicle.

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  1995 4 Door DX Sedan (Toyota Camry) - 1995 Toyota Camry
  By ptle - November 13 - 5:13 am

  Ive been driving this car for around a year. It is excellent, no problems whatsoever and Im up to 127,000 miles. The ride is very smooth, the seats are comfortable, the noise level is also really low. The controls are very easy to use, and the displays are not confusing. The AC is gets cool really quickly, and the heat gets warm quickly. The radio is somewhat lacking, but thats reasonable since this is the lowest model level and the car is 10 years old. Overall this is a great car that I would recommend. Its reliable and I havent had any problems with it so far.

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  New to Me - 2002 Toyota Prius
  By BCinLB - November 13 - 2:00 am

  Im the 2nd owner of this car. I love it! I rated it lower in performance b/c it is not a sports car. It will handle great for everyday needs. You will not lack for power getting on the freeway or getting up to speed. It is great to be cruising along and get an immediate feedback of what your mileage is. With gas prices what they are, this car has helped me drive the speed limit and save money. Lots of fun to drive, great on the hills here in So.Cali.

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  Best Car Ive ever owned!!! - 2000 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Ryan Scales - November 13 - 2:00 am

  I truly love this little car. Im looking to trade it in today and Im sad about doing so! This has been a great car to own that always satisfies.

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  Long Wait - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By pdpapa - November 13 - 2:00 am

  Arrived 4 months after order was placed. Only have for two weeks. Took on trip to Las Vegas from Palm Desert CA. first week. Fun car to drive although it is a little light for me. Have Lexus RX300 as primary car, heavy. Car belongs to wife, she lets me drive when she is sleeping. lol Now we fight over who gets the Prius. Who ever travels futhest that day gets the Toyota.

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  Great Truck - 2004 Toyota Tundra
  By kellyc - November 13 - 2:00 am

  Just bought our truck on March 31, 2004. That makes it about a week old to us. It really has a smooth ride. We are enjoying it tremendously. The moonroof and the sliding rear window kind of reminds us of our Jeep Wrangler.

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  High quality design - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Bill - November 12 - 1:23 pm

  Love the car, plenty of power and it is built like a higher priced luxury vehicle. The design is much classier than the last generation of the RAV and it turns heads everywhere I drive it.