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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  DISAPPOINTED - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By Hogan - March 21 - 10:00 am

  Attention 4-Runner owners with the cloth interior. 2 days after taking delivery of my SUV, I noticed 3 problems. First, all four tires were inflated to 57 psi!! Yes 57.Second, my steering wheel shakes between 60-65 like the tires were out of balance. Third, driver seat failure. Had seat replaced and its still loose. So I went to several new Runners on the lot to check and theyre all loose (check your thigh support and grab the whole seat with both hands and move it back and forth and youll see what im talking about.) Service guy said must be a bad design on the new model. Hmmmm...

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  Not Bad at all - 2003 Toyota Tacoma
  By cstulz - March 21 - 10:00 am

  Just purchased 30 days ago. Had minor problems with dash installation. Biggest issue with automatic is the idle speed. Dealer says it can be adjusted slightly through computer chip. Overall, I am very happy with the build quality and performance for the price paid. Also have a 98 4Runner V6 with 104,000 miles.

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  The Best SUV in the segment - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By tradland - March 21 - 10:00 am

  Great SUV Quiet smooth engine and aceleration, Great Quality and solid build and Best Value in its segment. Just like a Lexus but without the Leater and High Cost.

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  What a car! - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By eldiablo - March 21 - 10:00 am

  Ive only owned Toyotas and let me tell you that this is the best one yet. Reasonable pick up for the 4 cylinder engine, great looking interior (Leather not an option but I put leather in mine and it looks like a luxury car). Ground effects were a nice option as well as all the safety features (ABS, Side Air bags). Car feels solid, drives firm and holds its turns rather well. Dont miss out on this car, you will be very disappointed if you buy something without test driving this beauty.

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  awesome - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By rob martin - March 21 - 10:00 am

  This car is awesome...my wife talked me into buying this car and I will never be able to thank her enough. Shes an absolute blessing. Well be sure to have plenty of fun in our new Toyota Corolla...

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  JBs review - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By CJBUENO - March 21 - 10:00 am

  Cant complain about this car

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  Love my car - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By Dr. Vince - March 21 - 10:00 am

  Luxury car at a reasonable price. Only complaint--23 mpg in town, though its rated about 29. Cant figure out why.

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  Solid Family Vehicle - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By thdave - March 21 - 10:00 am

  Pluses: Great seats, layout, dashboard (I like the glossy black), storage (thoughtful in all the nooks and cranies). Great steering, acceleration, and good handling. Excellent tow vehicle for our pop-up camper. Non-JBL stereo is very good. Kids love it.

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  I hate it - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By Courtney - March 21 - 6:40 am

  This is car is horrible. I get it free through work-otherwise, I would never voluntarily purchase one. Its uncomfortable, poorly designed and has a rough ride. The interior looks cheap and has asinine places for cup holders. The fact that this car has a keyless ignition is, in my opinion, a nightmare. I find myself losing the keys like crazy because theres no specific spot for them. The rav also has a very jerky ride to it-not so great when riding with passengers who suffer from car sickness. The back door opens outward as opposed to upward-another stupid feature for obvious reasons. I could go on and on but to sum it up: its awful!!

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  First Truck - 2005 Toyota Tundra
  By Tundra Guy 858 - March 21 - 5:13 am

  So far I havent had any problems with it. It has tons of power for passing and it accelerates good for a truck. Beat out BMWs. Very comfortable for a truck, only thing I gotta get used to is the bounce in the back when going over speed bumps or pot holes.