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:

• 

  A first version and need improvement. - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By biz - December 22 - 10:00 am

  In general, the car is great, nice looking, good handling, comfortable and a lot of room even in the back seat for the new generation giant kids. I own also a Volkswagen Jetta and I must confess that Toyota really impressed me with this new (Lexus made) Corolla 2003 it is finally reaching a step ahead its competitors. GOOD WORK!...

• 

  Dealer - Factory - who did it? - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By Ed S. - December 22 - 10:00 am

  Bought 03 Corolla new Aug. 8 - Aug. 26 noticed rust on quarter panel at trunk. Trunk was hitting L/H Qrt panel when closed & chipped paint. Aug. 29 toyota dealer (not one purch. from) inspected vehicle, said it had been repaired. Took 03 back to Team Toyota, Lithia Springs Ga. They had fact rep. look & he agreed car had been repaired. Toyota denies having anything done at factory or shipping. Dealer denies same. On Oct.3 took car to Team Toyota for defective Radio repl. During the radio repl. dash wash badly damaged by mechanic. Oct.16 and vehicle is still at dealer.

• 

  Camery is Awsome - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By Jerrymander - December 22 - 10:00 am

  Best car out there. Period.

• 

  No change really from the 05 - 2010 Toyota Tacoma
  By PatB - December 22 - 6:03 am

  This is my second Tacoma after having an 05. This one has a quieter engine, and I like the USB audio port. Biggest surprise is Toyota made very few changes after 5 years! Mileage is still low but reliability is high. It is a workhorse. Nissan comes somewhat close and Honda just has that overstuffed Ridgeline so Tacoma is a solid midsized choice.

• 

  Better than thought! - 2006 Toyota Sienna
  By m.sum - December 21 - 8:16 pm

  Our family grew and we needed all 8 seats. We owned a 98 Sienna and loved it so when Toyota came out with a 8 seater it was a no brainer for us. It is quieter, smoother and has everything a large family needs as well as being economical to drive. Would tell anyone who is considering to buy the Sienna it is fun to drive and doesnt feel like a minivan but like you are driving a sedan. We looked at all the competition and test drove them all and there is no comparision with Toyota quality. Buy and enjoy.

• 

  SO FAR SO GOOD - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By karen nelson - December 21 - 1:56 pm

  This car has it all. Easy to drive, comfortable and appears to have all the safety features plus some. No problems here.

• 

  Problems - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By bridge - December 21 - 11:26 am

  Very uncomfortable when driving long distances. Replaced radio at 15k. Transmission was very rough, dealership re-programmed, its ok now. Gas mileage not the best (regular 87).

• 

  The new age car - 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Mayur Amin - December 21 - 10:03 am

  Purchased this car two weeks ago. Love all the features and most of all the comfortable drive. I can say also with confidence that I will not be getting any more speeding tickets. The digital readout really is informative and key to getting good mileage. I would highly recommend this car. Added bonus compared to the Mercedes I had, lower operating cost, dont have to worry about the car being being damaged by flying debris on the road and resale value.

• 

  Very Solid - 2006 Toyota 4Runner
  By ColoradoKid - December 21 - 9:43 am

  I couldnt be happier! I have researched SUVs for some time; the 06 4 Runner is a great vehicle. Quiet, smooth, and fun to drive.... Kudos to Toyota.

• 

  Versatility and Value. Will last 4ever. - 2000 Toyota 4Runner
  By PD - December 21 - 8:13 am

  Why spend 13 grand on a 2000 Toyota? Theres simply no vehicle out there like it. Incredibly versatile. 4 door, 4wd, V6, manual tranny (i might look at a new one if they still offered the stick), decent gas mileage (way better than the Jeep I used to drive), composed on the highway, QUIET for an SUV, really comfortable sport seats, laughs at the snow, and of course Toyota reliability. The build quality is ridiculous. 8 years old and no rattles or squeaks. Almost feels like a convertible with the windows down, the tailgate window down, and the sunroof open. I paid a lot more than I would have for a 2000 Explorer, but compare it to a new 4Runner and its a no-brainer. Will go forever.