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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  Is one Hell of a car - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By Hector L Torres - January 1 - 10:00 am

  Sinse the fisrt day I saw this car, I fell in love with it. Keep up the good work Toyota

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  Great ride, but missing a few features - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By Jason A - January 1 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my 03 Grey Mica 4runner now for about 3 months and I have really enjoyed it. I have always been a car person but the new 4runner caught my eye so I decided to take the plunge. I dont have any regrets. The truck is remarkably smooth and quiet and the gas mileage is good for an SUV with a V-8. The Navigation is a nice feature and great to have on road trips.

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  first new truck i have owned - 2003 Toyota Tacoma
  By beck - January 1 - 10:00 am

  purchased truck in oct 2001..they just came out with the new design..liked it alot more than 2000..i wrecked my 85 toyota sr5 long bed..it had 220000 miles on it..so i knew i wanted another toyota...i like it but not as sporty as my 85 mis my 5 sp trans...great solid feeling on road..good looking...added chrome side bars..hitch..tonuea cover sprayed in bed liner...ive had the dash replaced due to deformed pad..caused rattles...stil has some ratles and creeks..dis appointed over that..85 had no rattles...all in all a good truck...but i miss something more sporty and fuel effient..may trade

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  The Perfect Car! - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By Pawdoc - January 1 - 10:00 am

  In 2001 I discovered the Toyota Sequoia, and I watched as it increased 10K in price in 14 mos. Then I found the Highlander. It is the perfect combination of truck, performance, reliability, safety, cargo, quality, and comfort available for the price. Expensive? Perhaps, but compared to EVERYTHING else its a steal. If you have 50K for a car, get a Sequoia, but if you have 50K, why not just get the Lexus! For the rest of us - Highlander!!

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  Dream Car - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By Kalpaj - January 1 - 10:00 am

  We just bought this car and we love it!!! The car has ample legroom and seats are very comfortable. Drive is quiet and smooth and the car handles bumps very nicely. I have no regrets

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  Best Minivan Ever Built - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By Arup Karmakar - January 1 - 10:00 am

  Toyota has come out with a class minivan, the best available currently in the market. Odyssey buyers, think twice before buying and would recommend test driving the 2004 Sienna before deciding which one to buy. It happended the same thing with me. Once I test drove the Sienna, I did not take long to decide which one to buy. Compared to Odyssey, 2004 Sienna is quieter, awesome sound system, better exterior and interior design, and with innumerable extra features. I had to wait for 3 weeks to get my minivan and consider worth the wait. Honestly, wherever I went, the 2004 Sienna have drawn a lot of attention from many stangers.

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  Excellent Car!! - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By C.S. - January 1 - 10:00 am

  I have had my car for 1 year and 3 months now, and its still going strong!! about 10,500 miles now. There is now an annoying squeak in the dash on the right side, the dealer cant find what it is. The radio display has somehow gotten moisture behind it, and it is a little fogged up. Other than that it is still great and I dont regret buying it. We looked at Impala and Taurus, but neither had as much to offer.

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  Im so glad I have this car! - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Monique - January 1 - 4:36 am

  I just bought this car in July and it is so fun. Everything is so visual. I drove through California and at times got 50 to 55 mpgs depending if i was going down hill. Other times, i got between 35-45. I love the navigation system and the fact that you dont actually need to use your key to get in and start. As long as you have it on your person, you can access it. This car has excellent stability and smooth driving. I had no problem accelerating to pass cars if i needed to. There are a lot of great features to this car, but my favorite is the gas mileage. This is the best investment Ive ever made and I am looking forward to my $2000 tax rebate next year.

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  frustrated consumer - 1993 Toyota Camry
  By dont believe the hyp - January 1 - 2:33 am

  this car has needed a new engine at 125,000miles, new tires, and multiple tripsto the dealer. After paying 1400 dollars for a top to bottom review of the car , the steering mechanism is now broken and needs repair estimated cost 500 dollars. Driving this car is like being invested in technology stocks in 2001 and sure fire loser. I think Toyota owes me a refund

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  Great commuter - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By perfectstorm1 - January 1 - 12:16 am

  Replaced 230K mile Camry which hardly made 25 MPG and lots of repair cost at the end. It drives high 40s (46 to 49 MPG) in winter weather. Cannot wait for warm weather to test Sunroof/fan feature. It drives fine at highway, and corners very well (not much leaning).