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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  I love my Matrix XR - 2004 Toyota Matrix
  By Cmarchal - August 13 - 10:00 am

  I have absolutely fallen in love with my Matrix. It is so fun to drive and people are constantly stopping me to ask me questions about it. The gas mileage is wonderful and the insides are very sporty. The Matrix is a very fun and affordable car, where I can still haul things and dont have to compromise on the gas mileage.

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  Great Car for the Money - 1999 Toyota Corolla
  By basilisk4 - August 13 - 10:00 am

  This is my second Corolla (the previous one having been a 1989), and I still love them. Despite what many car snobs have to say about the performance of the Corolla, I find it to be pretty darn good when you consider what else you get with this car -- safety and excellent reliability. The newer Corollas retain that safety and reliability and add a certain degree of style and performance, making for an overall excellent compact sedan.

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  Best Ive Owned So Far - 2001 Toyota Highlander
  By 56rascal - August 13 - 10:00 am

  We shopped around for an SUV or Van to tow our new tent trailer, and we looked at the Tribute, Pathfinder, XTerra, Liberty, Sienna, and possibly the Odyssey (which was selling above MSRP at the time). One night we came close to getting an offer on a Liberty, but to our great fortune the dealership wasnt seriously negociating. So we, on a lark, tried the Highlander, and I just about fell out the seat when I drove it. It was just out of our top price range, but there was no doubt about getting one. Within 24 hours we made a reasonable deal considering it was new to the market. Then within a week we took it on a 9,000 mile road trip around the US.

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  Pretty good! - 1999 Toyota Camry
  By Chum - August 13 - 10:00 am

  The breakes squeak and the pick-up is not fantastic. All the cars around me a speeding passed.... But those are the only things that bothers me. Other than that, it is a super smooth ride, tremendous amount of space for things in the trunk, great sound, comfortable seats, and all together a fun ride!!!

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  COULDNT BE HAPPIER - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By BRET - August 13 - 10:00 am

  THIS TK IS SMOOTH. I TESTED JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING BEFORE BUYING AND THE SECOND I PUT THIS IN DRIVE I FELT IT WAY OVERCLASSED EVERYTHINGE ELSE. BUY AND YOU WONT BE DISAPPOINTED.

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  In a Class All By Itself! - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By avelaine - August 13 - 10:00 am

  After driving all the "competing" cars, buying the 2004 Corolla was a no brainer. Having previously owned a 1993 Paseo (still going strong at over 200k miles!) I may be a bit biased, but none the less this car is great. I love the new interior styling. The size is more than adequate and very comfortable. WHOA! That trunk size is amazing. The dash is very classy and looks as if it belongs in a more expensive car. The backseat is roomy. It handles so smooth. The mpg is awesome. I love the color combo I selected (metal green w/ pebble beige interior). Really, Who COULD ask for anything more?

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  Its NOT a minivan, its a car - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By E & N - August 13 - 10:00 am

  After about 3 weeks and a thousand miles, we are very impressed. Prior to our purchase, we drove the competition and were disappointed (accept for the Honda). Smooth, handles well, higher than some SUVs (the drivers side seat really comes up high), very powerful with smooth shifting(I drove the Honda and found the engine having to work harder), and lots of cargo room. Now this may sound weird but I was impressed with the powerful headlights that light up the road like daytime.

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  2007 Avalon with Special Edition Pk 2 - 2007 Toyota Avalon
  By BlackBeauty - August 13 - 1:33 am

  I have been buying new cars for 40 years. This is my first Japan purchase. My Avalon is the best car I have ever owned.

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  Great First Car - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By T - August 12 - 9:23 pm

  As a 16 year old, this is my first car and I love it. I test drove the Civic but it doesnt even compare to the Corolla. The Corollas handling is much more secure and the dashboard is much more ergonomic. The ride is smooth, and the handling is tight. The fuel economy is great - I drove 363 miles and only filled up 9.9 gallons - about 36 mpg! The Corolla is a safe, fun, and well designed car and I would recommend it to anyone.

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  Nothing even comes close - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By Autoinspector - August 12 - 12:26 pm

  to 4Runner. @50,000 miles - still original brakes, tires, and everything else with at least 15-20K to go. Gas mileage (with smooth driving style) - 20-23 MPG. Ride quality is better than that of others. And at this price point for a 4WD model, this is the cheapest SUV on the market.