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 SUV, uses gas faster than can pump - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By csl - June 13 - 10:00 am

  Bought a Sequoia day before yesterday and love it. Itll work great to drive to my 2nd job to pay for the gas - it sucks gas faster than I can pump! Seriously, we knew that would happen - this is larger than our Jeep GC so we knew mileage would be lousy. Size is great, but 8th person needs to be a kid. Middle row has a lot of room, and 3rd row isnt bad either. No complaints about interior/exterior. Bottom line, at 36+ hours of ownership, would recommend it.

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  One Great Car - 1997 Toyota Corolla
  By kdblossom - June 13 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car after it had been wrecked. It was easy to have fixed and you cant tell it has ever been wrecked. It gets the same mileage as a new Corolla. It also has some get up and go when you want it to. The biggest problem I have noted is that the seat belts could be a little sturdier. I had to replace the drivers side as it did not work correctly. The people at my local dealership say this is a VERY common problem. Also, I hate were the cup holder is. However, I really love this car and do not regret buying it.

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  Great Car - 1996 Toyota Corolla
  By dogperson11 - June 13 - 10:00 am

  This is a great car. It is my first car, and after puting more then 7k miles on it in just 8 months, the only thing I have had to do are oil changes. It has 81k (almost 82k) miles right now, and I hope it goes at least twice that!

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  A Great Car - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
  By CaptainKirk - June 13 - 10:00 am

  Great car. Fun to drive. Toyota reliablility and an outstanding value.

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  From Honda to Toyota - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By pchewning - June 13 - 10:00 am

  I have always purchased Hondas in the past. I purchased a 1981 Honda Civic Wayon in 1981. 11 years later I purchased a 1992 Honda Civic Wayon. That was the last year they were made. I was worried that I would not find a comparable car in 2003. I was wrong. The 2003 Toyota Rav4 is great. It drives easy and very smooth. I love the back door which opens from the side. I look forward to purchasing another Rav4 in 2014. Thanks Toyota. Patty

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  My Rav 4 - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By Lis Mrie - June 13 - 10:00 am

  My Rav 4 was the first car i ever fully bought on my own,, something that can be a very scary experience, but in the end it was all worth it. The dealership i delt with was wonderful and made things as smooth as can be. I have not had my car for a year quite yet, but have enjoyed every single aspect of it. I drive a ton for work and haul quite a bit around for my occupation and my car has made just my job that much more enjoyable. Knowing that it is a well made reliable car brings much ease of mind to my already stressed life!!!!

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  The best choice out there - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By glad all over - June 13 - 10:00 am

  We looked at several vehicles but kept coming back to the Highlander. The combination of style, comfort and performance is really the best out there right now for the money. We have been enjoying every minute in our new Highlander, it feels good, looks good and performs fantasticly. The Limited version has all of the features we wanted at a good price, none of the extremes of some other competitors such as Murano or even the Pacifica (yes, we did test drive one). I am looking forward to driving this car for a long time.

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  Very Happy! - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By blueflyyguy - June 13 - 10:00 am

  I am very happy with my purchase. I am able to pull a couple of waverunners up Parleys canyon well, and the Temp. gauge never leaves the middle. I wouldnt pull much more, but I am pleased. I used to drive a Ford Explorer, which gave me an SUV ride, now that I have the Highlander it is almost exactly like driving my Honda Accord. I bought the 2002 model used with 3k miles, so I got a good price break for a practacially new car.

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  Mr. Bill and his 2010 Prius - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By Mr. Bill - June 12 - 7:26 am

  The vehicle rocks - beyond my expectations, beyond my MPG beliefs - Toyota got it right. I am a hybrid convert - 53 Mile per Gal. and its fun to drive. 50 plus MPG and no only even comes close - thank you Toyota for your innovations, vision and products that are simply the worlds best in class outstanding job by all. Thank you.

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  Like it so far - 2017 Toyota Corolla
  By Rafayel Paremuzyan - June 11 - 3:44 pm

  We have it for about one month. So far we like it. As a family car it is great. The thing I like most is, the Adaptive cruise control and line departure alert. Also LED lights great when driving in dark