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 convertible for the price - 2002 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By spiketron - May 30 - 2:00 am

  For the price, you cant be it, plus its a Toyota! Handles well and corners on a dime, without any sliding or swaying. This is a great second car, as storage is non-existent (you dont realize how important this is until you dont have it and you need it, trust me).

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  4RUNNA! - 1997 Toyota 4Runner
  By kford - May 30 - 2:00 am

  I love my 4runner. its the best SUV made. Ever.

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  Magnificent - 2002 Toyota Camry Solara
  By KCN - May 30 - 2:00 am

  I bought one of the first ones in May 2000 and have been very happy. I wanted a family sized convertible and was about to buy the Chrysler Sebring, even though I wasnt wild about it. Then I heard an aannouncement of the Toyota Solara coming out in a year. I waited a whole year before the first production models were rolled out and have not been sorry about the wait.

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  Toyota Rav4 - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By Car and Driver - May 30 - 2:00 am

  nice small suv much better than the new crv and all the other small sized suvs

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  camry is reliable, solid - 2001 Toyota Camry
  By velshin - May 30 - 2:00 am

  Why would you want anything but a reliable car? The Camry always works.

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  A winner from Toyota - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By garshir5 - May 30 - 2:00 am

  My wife and I were not happy with the downsized SUV offerings.... until (drum roll please) we decided to "upscale" a tad and try out the Highlander. Comfort and ride are in a whole different class than the aforementioned minis and with our 2wd v6 drive base model equipped with fender flares, rear spoiler, bug deflector, roof rack, four-wheel discs, reese hitch/wiring, privacy glass, 8-way power seat, keyless entry, Steller alloy wheels, and a few other goodies - well - this baby was a like a glove fit for us. (Ive added McNeil WeatherFlectors and taillight covers to "butch-up" the all white Highlander....so far).

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  Excellent Car!! - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By HollyK. - May 30 - 2:00 am

  I purchased my Corolla in March...Absolutely great car!! I love the sportiness and feel of the car. It has get up and go for a 4cy and has a comfortable ride. I feel like a got a great value for the money spent. Corolla definetly does "want to have fun"

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  Great Car! A few problems though ... - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By Edouble - May 29 - 10:56 pm

  This is without a doubt a great car! The ride is smooth and quiet, and I am averaging about 31 mpg on mostly highway miles. The transmission shifts great, and the JBL/XM radio/stereo is a blast. Oddly enough though, it ejects a CD and then shuts off once in a while for no reason. The dealer said that this could be caused by using colored or labeled CDs (makes sense), but this happens even when using the FM or XM radio too - weird. Also, the roof is leaking and during rain water is coming though the inside of the A pillars into the interior. But overall this is the best car I have ever owned and assuming they can fix the roof leak I will definitely buy a Toyota again.

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  A real life saver! - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By Flint - May 29 - 10:10 pm

  We bought this Corolla used, about 6 months ago. It was great on millage, and fun to drive. This was our second Corolla (were true believers in how Toyota builds cars). My wife was driving the car about 3 months after we bought it, and someone pulled out right in front of her - while she was going 60 mph. The Corolla was totaled. The whole front of the car was compressed into about 2 feet, and the engine rolled under the firewall. My wife walked away without a scratch. Ive never really paid attention to crash test ratings, but when they say 5 star, they mean it.

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  Ive become the house errand boy - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Dan - May 29 - 6:26 pm

  The Pruis has turned fuel economy into a sport for me. Performance is more than satisfactory. And the display of current fuel efficiency sensitizes one to the effects of subtle changes in driving habits (e.g., easing off the accelerator well before coming to a stop sign). Over the course of three tanks of gas, Ive gotten about 46 mpg. With practice, I hope to reach the 50 mpg mark. This thing is so much fun to drive that Ive become the errand boy at our house.