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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  A great SUT - 2004 Toyota Tundra
  By Puckyhuddle - December 9 - 10:00 am

  Ive had this truck for a week now and I am very impressed with it. I think of it as a Sport Utility Truck (SUT) than combines the best features of an SUV and a truck. The ride is incredible, plenty of room in and out. Its a great vehicle for an active family with plenty of utlity.

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  Fantastic Car - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By jygjyfjhvhjgfkuh - December 9 - 10:00 am

  This is the best car I have ever owned!!!

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  FACTORY FLAW - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By pamperedprince - December 9 - 10:00 am

  This car and many like it suffer from a left drift problem (car steers left) that remains after numerous dealership visits. With front end alignments, applying TSB adjustments, and then replacing front struts (not in the TSB) this nagging problem persists. POOR!

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  Excellent car - 2001 Toyota Camry
  By Highlanders - December 9 - 10:00 am

  This is a Japanese built car and bulletproof. I had my fill of edgy design and unreliability (i.e. American cars)so went for the conservative look. It has handled every condition I could throw at it and it didnt hurt to have the traction control, ABS, etc. What has made this the best car buying and ownership experience I have ever had (in 40 years of driving) is the dealership. An unbeatable combination.

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  Simply the Best!! - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By David2503 - December 9 - 10:00 am

  This quite simply is the best SUV on the market. Quite, smooth, and fast. Looks great too!!!

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  Exceeded my expectations - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By MrCorso - December 9 - 10:00 am

  I bought my 4Runner 2500 miles ago and have been very pleased. The vehicle is very solid, quiet, and comfortable. The V6 has plenty of power and delivers it quite smoothly. A lot of people complain about gas milage, but for a two ton+ vehicle with good acceleration, I dont think 17-18mpg is bad. There are plenty of storage compartments and the interior seems intelligently laid out. The stock stereo sounds good, climate control works well and the vehicle is very impressive overall.

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  I love my 4Runner - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By SAS12383 - December 9 - 10:00 am

  I havent had any problems with my 4Runner. It is very reliable. I would recommend the 4Runner to anyone looking at a SUV.

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  A very noisy automobile. - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By Mr. Jim - December 9 - 10:00 am

  This is a nice looking vehicle and handles very nicely.There is some driveability problem when accelerating.My biggest complaint about the car is the tremendous amount of road noise and wind noise that we experience.The car is equipped with Michelin tires. The interior noise really gets to me at times where I just want to get rid of the car.I have heard complaints from other Corolla owners about the excessive road noise they also get in their cars.

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  Not the perfect design by far - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By selfshift - December 9 - 10:00 am

  My biggest gripe is regarding Toyotas distribution system: using regional distributors is a thing of the past, they only add to the price of the car while actually lower customer satisfaction. Case in point: Southeast Toyota adds on all sorts of ridiculous accessories and equipment while not offering antilock brakes on ONE, you read it right, NOT ONE single Corolla sold in the Southeast, regardless of trim, transmission or color. Same goes for side airbags. My recommendation: check out the Elantra before you buy.

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  The best sedan on the market - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By Henry Vasquez - December 9 - 10:00 am

  it has been a good experience and pleasure to have and drive the 2004 Camry, it is an excellent car and I will keep it for long time