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 it! - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By Hugh & Ginger - December 2 - 10:00 am

  More fun to drive than my 525i BMW. Engine is a little loud on rapid acceleration. I am heavy on the accelerator and get 25 mpg city and over 30 highway. The 2004 has the upgraded engine with more horses. Ride is very comfortable but stiff and very agile.

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  A pretty good vehicle - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By Easteddie - December 2 - 10:00 am

  A little noisey on the Interstate

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  Nice Ride - 2002 Toyota Tacoma
  By Angel Beltran - December 2 - 3:10 am

  The Tacoma is a fun toy.

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  100% Pure Class - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Bro8x - December 1 - 1:23 pm

  Try it, - youll like it. Just traded in my 2004 Solara for the big Toyota. My family and friend love the roominess in the rear. I love the power and the distinguished appearance. I have the black with the ivory interior. Bee-yoo-tee-ful!!

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  LUV my SUV - 2006 Toyota Sequoia
  By M. Santiago SR - December 1 - 8:06 am

  As a newbee to SUVs I absolutely love my Sequoia. Gas mileage isnt as bad as you would think for a V8, but if you drive it like a racecar your miles per gallon will decrease big time. The only thing I wish they did better was the dash and console. Its identical to that of the Tundra and quite honestly not the most elegant or fun to look at. I guess if you can live with that or without, then this is a great ride. Smooth on the road, power when you need it and quite elegant for the price range. Im definitely hooked and look forward to the next Sequoia model.

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  I Adore This Car - 2001 Toyota Prius
  By joy2drive - December 1 - 5:30 am

  Ive owned my Prius for 3.5 yrs and put 55,000 miles on it. The reason...its a joy2drive! There is a 140 mile stretch of 2 lane highway on the way to Moms place. I pass everything with ease and avg 45 MPG combined. Of course MPGs are highly effected by head/tail winds, temps below 30 degrees, and driver "hybridability". My son has a hybrid touch (put 126K miles on an Insight). He can make my 45mpg go straight up to 60-75mpg (city). Only problems Ive had are the main warning indicator appears periodically on the screen and clears itself and the 12 volt battery drains periodically (both are mysteries). Great Car Overall!!

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  Its my bliss - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By idaten - December 1 - 3:56 am

  29 mpg for the first 700 miles, which exceeds my expectations, especially during break-in.

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  My Celica - 2004 Toyota Celica
  By Celicachicksc - December 1 - 2:00 am

  I really think this car is wonderful for many reasons. First thing that caught my eye was the appearance, its a beautiful car. I have the automatic GT-S model so its fast but something I can still handle. I have had my car for about 6 months and I am just still in love with it like its brand new.

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  The Matrix... - 2004 Toyota Matrix
  By Charles R. - December 1 - 2:00 am

  Great versatile car. This is the perfect marriage between a midsize sedan and a small SUV. Perfect for hauling people and things (expandable cargo space). The gas mileage is excellent and car is very roomy/comfortable (lots of headroom). I also love the driving position - you sit higher than in a sedan. Excellent value for the price paid.

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  Love our Prius....Thanks Toyota! - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By egordy - December 1 - 2:00 am

  We bought the car having never even seen one, and loved it from the moment we got in! I found its controls quite intuitive. It handles very well and I love the acceleration available for passing. We use it almost exclusively for highway/interstate driving (live in the country) and we are averaging between 48 and 50 MPG - and yes it will cruise comfortably at 75 --thats the 48 MPG. We now have almost 10,000 miles on it with no problems. Incidently the service (maintenance) has been great, our Prius technician is very competent and nice as well. We will need a new truck soon, and have decided to wait until the hybrid engine is available in a Toyota truck.