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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  great! - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By leo25 - March 14 - 10:00 am

  fun all around. the kids love the van as much as the adults. no comparison to the windstar which we had before this one. highly recomended!

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  Safety & Comfort Equals BeauCoup Bucks - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By reinadeclubs - March 14 - 10:00 am

  Attracted to this vehicle because of its safety features, smart design elements and its impressive record of performance. Consumer reviews and editor ratings convinced me to place it high on our wish list. Comparatively, this van combines sound family comfort with safe, practicality, but the price tag is inflated. The fully loaded XLE LMTD is difficult to come by or so they say. Having paid much more than the MSRP sticker price well expect and will demand premium customer service benefits from our thirsty Toyota dealership.

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  awesome - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By Corolla S - March 14 - 4:46 am

  nice look imporved much from the pervious corolla S...good handling and power when it is needed.

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  Safety and reliability - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By Snow - March 14 - 2:33 am

  I own a Prius for more than 18 months now. Its a fun car to drive with great fuel economy. The only thing that bothers me is how safe I am in this car. Had met with 2 accidents and the car got damaged badly in both. Luckily I was alone in the car on both the occasions. The body is not strong. A simple hit can cause bumps. Just wonder, is economy that better than the safety!!

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  Love this SUV!! - 2001 Toyota 4Runner
  By Rolly - March 13 - 1:46 pm

  I bought this brand new few days before 9/11. I am very happy owning this vehicle up to now 04/09/2016 (154,000 miles). I have very few issues - the gas tank and the easily rustic chassis. The rest of the vehicle I did not find any problems. With the gas tank, I found having a hard time pumping gas. The gas dispenser nozzle suddenly clicks even when the gas tank is half empty. I brought my 4Runner to a mechanic and he told me their is a problem with the tank (one of the valves is not functioning - the valve closes easily and tries blocking the flow of fuel into the tank. In this situation, the gas pump thinks the tank is already full therefore disengaging the flow by a clicking sound. I just dont know if other owners of this vehicle suffer the same fate as I am. With the rustic chassis, I always washed the vehicle especially after a snow storm (leave in New Jersey). Salt accumulation under the chassis creates oxidation (rust). I spray rust remover upon seeing rust spots under the chassis and around the exhaust system. I used metallic brush to scraped the rust and apply rust remover and dried the surface before spraying with pain primer then applying protective black metallic paint over the primed areas.

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  Best car Ive ever had. - 2002 Toyota Echo
  By bolvo - March 13 - 10:26 am

  I have had many cars in my life... from Mercedes Benz to Volvos to Nissan and Hondas. But boy did I ever own a Toyota? Not until now. Im 40 and I can tell you reliability and Toyota go together. This little car goes. 5 Speed Standard. 350 miles per tank!! Thats driving all over Houston for 10 days non-stop to the point where you forget what the car rolls on! And finally you remember to look at the fuel gauge... why? Because after 10 days of nothing but driving you are no longer concerned about gas or prices or even worrying about re-fueling. Cold A/C... small; easy to change the oil by yourself, brakes,etc... cheaper to fix... and its a Toyota. Yep, reliable (period).

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  great car - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By michael lowenstein - March 13 - 2:06 am

  This is a great car to drive it holds the road and is very quiet. Plenty of power when needed for passing. What a machine this is.

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  excellent sedan - 1994 Toyota Camry
  By LaurenceK - March 12 - 10:00 am

  excellent sedan in every way

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  Best 2door! - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
  By inlovewithmycar - March 12 - 10:00 am

  after driving nissan honda and vw in two doors this car definatly takes the cakeee..the minute i drove it i fell in love with it, it has the smoothness that honda and so on lack..sounds great...i got the goldish with tan interior, leather is great...sle v6 engine is so quiet

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  Love my new Corolla!! - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By Bubs - March 12 - 10:00 am

  I love this car! Fun to drive, so cute, and I know it will be reliable...