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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  Family Fun Van - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By rcbs - March 19 - 2:00 am

  My husband had always been the driver of old 1996 Odyssey but I thought that because I am always the one who takes our girls back and forth to school, swim practice, softball practice, Church and all the other things they do, I should be the one driving it. I gave my husband my two year old Avalon and grabbed the keys to this great fun family vehicle. I think because I drive so much for my job that I will miss driving the Avalon. It was so comfortable and pleasing to drive. I now find I enjoy driving the Sienna and am planning great long trips we can take, knowing the girls will have the space and the comfort to stretch out and not get on each others nerves.

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  My favorite van - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By Peterson - March 19 - 2:00 am

  I have two children that outgrew our voyagers bench seat. They are both very tall and need a lot of leg room. I found the Sienna had plenty of leg room, even in the 3rd row for their 512" friend!

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  Drivers Dream - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By Holly LaFosse - March 19 - 2:00 am

  The 2004 Sienna is a nice ride. Even nicer to drive. We recently decided to look for another van. Our current van is a 1998 Sienna. We test drove the van and were impressed. The handling on country roads is a critical issue for us. This vehicle certainly takes the bumps in the road. It corners like a sports car without losing a bit of traction. The engine doesnt bog down under a load such as mud or snow and ice. It bares down and does its job. We were surprised of the room in the van, a bit more than our current Sienna. We will be purchasing another Sienna. This time with an infant seat and a DVD player.

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  Love my venza - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By dmkent - March 18 - 10:56 am

  Our 15 year old Mercedes e class was totaled in an accident and we made safety a priority in buying a new car which led us to the venza... It had a phenomenal amount of safety features and was able to make it out of our steep driveway due to the 8 inch ground clearance... When we drove it we were impressed by the feel of the car and by the overall design... At this pricepoint other vehicles dont come close... It can never replace our Mercedes but it is giving us a great safe ride and a big bang for out buck!

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  Great car - 2002 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By Greg Gelesko - March 18 - 10:00 am

  Best vehicle Ive ever owned

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  great car - 2001 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By brett huff - March 18 - 10:00 am

  the car is grat at high speed handeling and cornering. its verry fast and nimble. the accelarition is ungodly fast for the size of the motor. the enjind setup is verry unique and has alot of advantiges mainly traction on take off from a stop. the car gets awesome gas millage for a sports car around 32 m.p.g. the cars interior is small at first but in about a week you adapt to it verry comfortably. the best thing is the wind in your hair at 140mph.

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  spyder man! - 2002 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By kapper1965 - March 18 - 10:00 am

  this car has to be the most fun one can have for under $30,000. its fast, its agile, it just feels great. you ride so low on the ground that you feel as a part of the vehicle. the looks you get are amazing. someone comments on the car every day, and the design is in its 3rd model year now! toyota outdid themselves on this car. great job guys!

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  1993 Camry LE V6 - 1993 Toyota Camry
  By RHooper - March 18 - 10:00 am

  173,000 miles to date. Still original exhaust, and one brake job! The engine and transmission remain strong. The biggest repair was a driver side power window motor. The vehicle has been bullet proof and extremely reliable. At legal speeds during highway trips, the V6 returns 29-32 mpg. The car continues to earn my respect with each passing maintenance free mile.

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  Outstanding Quality, Comfort and Value - 1999 Toyota Camry
  By Car Quality Fan - March 18 - 10:00 am

  Our 1999 Camry V6 is the best car value we have ever owned, hands down. Fully loaded, it compares closer to the Lexus than, say, the Taurus. The ride is so smooth and the interior layout is so smart. You will not find better comfort, quality and value in a car than the Camry. Our Camry was made in Kentucky. We are very pleased! It is no secret that Consumer Reports has been enthusistically endorsing the Camry for many years. Just go look at CRs quality ratings based on thousands of cars surveyed.

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  Great Car! - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By Steve Goldman - March 18 - 10:00 am

  This is truly a great mix of an SUV and a car. With the added payload room of an SUV and the drive of a car it is an incredibly versatile and pleasant vehicle to drive. Coming from a full size SUV I appreciate the better mileage and much smoother handling.