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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  Love my Sequoia - 2005 Toyota Sequoia
  By 2005 Sequoia - March 18 - 2:06 am

  We bought the Sequoia new from the dealership and got an awesome price. We have used it to tow our boat and friends to the lake with no problems. We have 2 kids and plenty of room, barely use the 3rd row. Only had 1 recall on the tailgate hydraulics. We have 45k miles and no hints of any problems. We put the Michelin tires on and much better ride (if possible). I love the comfort as a driver and as a passenger. Plenty of room even in the back passenger seats. We hauled 8 volleyball players to a long distance tournament and no space complaints. I love this model but I am not happy to see the 2009 look. Looks too much like a Durango. Hopefully when we need a new one they will look different!

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  Excellent Buy - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By Big E - March 17 - 10:03 pm

  I have owned my highlander for one month now. I am well pleased with it. The tire monitoring system is excellent it warns me if the tires are low while driving @ high speed. I recommend the purchase of this car.

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  Great Car For The Money - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Mailman37204 - March 17 - 3:30 pm

  I love this car already. The gas mileage has been excellent so far (38 mpg), and its a real head turner in traffic. There are a few things that take some getting used to, including the center-mounted display, but after about 2 days I began to wonder why all cars dont have it. For a pretty small car, the Yaris sure does have plenty of leg room. It will whip in and out of traffic in the city, and when you take it out on the interstate, it will absolutely fly down the road with suprising comfort. Overall very fun to drive, good looking, and a smart move considering the price of gas these days.

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  Sienna 2011 has brake problems! - 2011 Toyota Sienna
  By ncadriver - March 17 - 3:00 pm

  I have been a loyal Toyota customer since Id first started driving. Therefore, I have bought many Toyota vehicles for personal use and work. Id just gotten a new Sienna. We have not driven more than 3000 miles before we realized that the car shakes while we went down the hill and try to apply the brake. I took it to the dealer and was told that the brake rotor has overheated because this car is heavier, and IT IS NOT A GUARANTEE ITEM. I was so disappointed because this is a brand new car, and I was told that there is nothing they could do because its Wear and Tear. Wear & Tear with 3000 miles? I understand if I had driven many miles and car had heavy loads, but not in this case.

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  THE BEST - 2001 Toyota Tacoma
  By dave - March 17 - 10:20 am

  I have been thoroughly happy with this car. Although the back seat is not exactly spacious, it is great to have a spot for an extra person or a bunch of extra stuff. You can actually fit quite a bit of stuff back there.

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  Over-Rated - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Loser - March 17 - 10:13 am

  I bought the car due to the great Toyota legacy, however I soon found this to be untrue. Six spd tranny shifts rapidly out of 1st to 2nd within 10 feet if not mashing the gas down. Just plain crappy down-shifting when coming to a stop. The front end wheel hops on slippery surface when accelerating quickly. Throttle hesitation always, service says no fix for it. Its driving habits, ha! No room under the foot pedals for my feet when cruise control activated. Blue-Tooth to the radio via my cell phone is poor reception and signal outgoing poor. Auto speed volume on the radio doesnt work at all. Dual climate control very inconsistent. Noisy underside of car when slush hits it

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  Hate my Toyota - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By Don - March 17 - 8:56 am

  Bought this vehicle used. Was forced into market after my Mazda Protege which I loved was totalled. Had a Camry for a rental and it seemed pretty nice for a few days. Now that Ive lived with one I hate it. Seating position is bad. After about a half hour, arms get tired because armrests too far away from steering wheel and steering too light to rest arm. Paint chips easily. Bad stink from exhaust. Engine sounds like it was made by John Deere. Radio reception terrible and stereo sound poor. Seats too soft after about an hour causing back and shoulder aches. Dealer wont do any more than they have to regarding repairs. Certified warranty coverage seems to have many loopholes. Could go on...

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  Corolla will last forever - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By MG - March 17 - 1:00 am

  I bought my Corolla 5 years ago and in that time I put 225000 km on it. I have not once had a problem with it. With the 5-speed it is fun to drive and super reliable! Unfortunately I got in an accident with it and it was written-off. Now its so hard to find a second-hand Corolla with low KMs.

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  2005 Avalon - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By W Nelson - March 16 - 9:33 pm

  I went from the Camry to Avalon in 1995 and this is my 5th Avalon. I have waited almost a year for this redesigned model. It is everything I expected and more, easily the best one yet. Exciting power, with such ease and the amenities are more than I expected. Inside and out, I am extremely pleased with this new model.

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  Engine Whine Noise - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Les - March 16 - 4:50 pm

  RAV4 has good features but the engine whine noise starting at 40 mph detracts from all of the positive features. Of course the service department has indicated that there is no technical notice from Toyota regarding this problem. I prefer the quality of our 1994 Highlander.