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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  Camry LE V6 - 1997 Toyota Camry
  By KLG - May 4 - 2:00 am

  My Toyota Camry V6 LE has been a great car. It is 5 years old and still feels like a brand new luxury car. I think it is the best value in a sedan for the price.

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  it becomes your friend - 2002 Toyota Echo
  By wrgraham - May 4 - 2:00 am

  After 2 years I like the Echo as much as when I started with it. It responds quickly to steering inputs. It accelerates smoothly and strongly. Great turning radius and good visibility makes it so easy to park. Fuel economy is excellent. I agree that the car is not physically attractive, but that fades as an issue when you live with the Echo.

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  Very Nice SUV - 1998 Toyota 4Runner
  By bowerman - May 4 - 2:00 am

  This is a very nice SUV and Toyatos are always very good.

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  Great Car - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
  By txgirl - May 4 - 2:00 am

  Great car to drive. Ive had my manual for over year and its as fun to drive today as when I first bought it. I prefer to drive a 5 speed, but also wanted a smooth ride. This car is a great mix of sport and comfort.

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  Happy With My Tundra - 2000 Toyota Tundra
  By rtundra - May 4 - 2:00 am

  I have had absolutely no trouble with my 4WD SB Tundra. There has been no mechanical problems nor any squeeks or rattles. It easily pulls my 18 boat and trailer. I highly recommend.

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  2003 Corolla S - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By Nate09 - May 4 - 2:00 am

  absolutely the best car ive driven

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  4th Redesign and Ive had em all - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By heins68 - May 4 - 2:00 am

  This is the 4th major redesign of the Camry since my first ine in 1990 and I am pleased on what that have done this time. The Toyota engineers have worked magic on the interior space by making the legroom for the front passengers larger than the 2001 design. The headroom space feels as if they pulled the roof up about 5 feet as I always used to bump the top of my head on the foof. The styling of the nose is very similar to its big brother the Lexus ES300 but smooshed in about 1/2 foot. The slab sides are nice and easy on the eyes and to clean! The rear is very similar to the Avalon in its design and huge trunk.

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  a quiet and smooth car (I) - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By toyotaowner - May 4 - 2:00 am

  I just bought a 2002 Camry XLE. It is a very quiet and smooth car. I read some reviews about the build quality of this model and rattling interior sounds. My car is extremely quiet with no rattling sound, even though there is one small scar on the wood trim of the XLE I bought. It perhaps shows that the new assembly line for 2002 Camry has occasional problems with quality control. So you might want to check carefully when you buy a new 2002 Camry. I agree with what one reviewer said, the wind noise on the highway sounds louder than it actually is due to muted engine and power-train noise. Accord has more road noise than Camry.

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  Pleased Overall, With Some Caveats - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By daveinNJ - May 4 - 2:00 am

  Took over the lease on this car. Engine is powerful but vehicle does torque a bit when accelerating quickly. Quiet enough on the highway but the audio system is poor. Nice high driving position. Interior is versatile; seat fabric in Sport Model is very thick synthetic something or other. I like this car much better than my old gfriends 08 CRV EX-L. Some small things left out, e.g., no light in glove compartment. Looking forward to replacing the OEM tires (Yokohama) - theyre not great. Easy to back up for an SUV - spare tire helps you gauge how close you are to whatevers behind you. If I can find a way to upgrade the stereo, Ill definitely by the car when the lease is up.

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  Jeep. Nah! Get the fj! - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By FJfan! - May 4 - 2:00 am

  Bought my black one in 3/10 w/ 50k on it now have 65k and love it! I have always had toyota pickups and jeeps and have always had a lot of fun, but my fj takes the cake! For the money you cant beat its capabilities off road...and on. Takes corners well, accelerates nicely w/ a throaty stock sound, has a lot of room in the back w/ a decent amt of room in the back seat also. The back doors can be a bit of a pain when in tighter parking, but overall not much of a problem, still easy to get in and out. Slightly heavy in sand, but with the locker, not a problem. Get the rack on top if youre "outdoorsy"! Runs like a champ, looking forward to many more miles and some upgrades!