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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  Good Vehicle for the Money - 2008 Toyota Corolla
  By RBGreen - November 25 - 3:30 pm

  First new vehicle we have purchased for a number of years, so we were looking for a great value. I have owned Toyotas in the past and have been impressed with their reliability. We compared this car against the Honda Civic and Mazda 3. We liked the Mazda the best based on design, look and finish, but decided it wasnt worth the extra $2-3K. Honda was overpriced as well. Overall we are satisfied except I hope the gas mileage improves with age. We have been getting mid-20s on a mix of urban/rural commuting and the best so far was 32 mpg on an all interstate highway trip. Driver comfort is not great on long trips. Steering wheel is too far away when you adjust the seat for proper leg room

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  Love it - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By javi67 - November 25 - 10:03 am

  This was only the second new car Ive ever bought and I love it. I was one of the first people in LA to drive one and i loved the looks and the comments, most of them made while I was in the car. Great gas mileage. Love my iPod jack. I can fit all sizes of people in it. Its white and its been nicknamed the "tic-tac". Now I see them everywhere - dont you just hate that? ;-)

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  Luv My Camry - 1994 Toyota Camry
  By Chris Ryan - November 25 - 10:00 am

  never been to the shop for anything serious, just normal checkup, creat built car

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  Have to love it! - 2004 Toyota Matrix
  By Mighty Mouse - November 25 - 10:00 am

  My girlfriend and my self were looking for a new vehicle that would fit in our college budgets. We love to travel and snowboard so it needed to have lots of room. We initially looked at small trucks, but when my girlfriend saw this car in the showroom, she looked as if she had found her second love! She always wanted the VW Golf, but it was just too small for our needs. The Matrix provided the size and looks we wanted. We ended up going with the standard version because the XR and XRS were just too low to the ground for any gravel roads. I wouldnt really call it sporty, but it is fun to drive.

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  My second 4Runner - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By Neospazzy - November 25 - 10:00 am

  The 2004 models got rid of the matte- finished fender flares on all the trims. They are replaced by the color coded ones. I was deciding on either the Caddy SRX, Infiniti FX-35, and the Lexus RX330 and realized that none of these cars will bear the truck-like performance I have grow to love from the my old 2001 4Runner SR5. This new V6 engine can really launch the car through the passing lane without effort. The new model also dampens the exterior road noise.

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  Toyota 4 Runner SR5 2WD V8 Review - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By Martins in West, TX - November 25 - 10:00 am

  The new 4 Runner has a much more comfortable ride than the older models. No bouncing feeling on the road. The vehicle is very stable. The 3rd row seating is great for kids. Not enough foot room for adults. Telescoping Steering wheel would be great for SR5 but not offered unless you scale up to a sport or limited model. Sharp appearance. Plenty of room. The vehicle will tow well and towing hitch is standard. Be careful with towing hitch. Some models come with 7500 LB tow hitch and others come with 5000 LB hitch. The 7500 LB hitch comes with transmission cooler located inside the front grill.

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  A great vehicle - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By John A Albree - November 25 - 10:00 am

  Traded 2004 Avalon for this SUV. Smart move for me.

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  Kims car - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By cricketman - November 25 - 10:00 am

  Very dependable, and comfortable. Traded a 97 Buick Riviera, and the power is comperable, even with the loss of cubic inches, and cylinders, advances in design more than make up for it. I actually enjoy having 4 doors again, for ease of entry, and not having to move for in-laws that travel with us sometimes. Getting softer, or lazier as we get older. Highly recommend the Camry as a daily driver, and even a road car.

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  Just a great value.... - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By brt714 - November 25 - 10:00 am

  I just bought a 2005 Corolla LE after driving a 1992 Nissan pickup for almost 200,000 miles. I ran the Nissan as long as I could and have to admit it was the best vehicle I have ever owned. The only part I replaced on it was the starter. Not bad for almost 200,000 miles. The Corolla LE is very smooth and confortable and as all Japanese cars, is very solid and well- built. I was looking at Camrys, but with gas prices in the scary range I went with something a little more fuel- efficient and something with a lower monthly payment. I was showing it to a coworker and she thought it was a Camry

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  S-pectacular - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By evdawg22 - November 25 - 7:36 am

  I have the S type and with the peppy engine and all new body design I think this car is a bargain. I wish had known about the XRS before I bought the S.