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 little car - 2002 Toyota Celica
  By ken - May 14 - 10:56 pm

  Im 65 and have owned this car for 3 years. I plan on keeping it for the rest of my life. It is really fun to drive, it has excellent brakes, handles great, gets good gas mileage,(32 mpg highway) and is super reliable, Ive had zero problems with it. The only changes Ive done on it are going to 16" performance tires and a low restriction air filter. It is plenty fast when you need to pass on 2 lane roads. High speed stability is outstanding. Im 63" so it is a little tight when I slide under the steering wheel, but the headroom is fine. My only complaints are what everyone else seems to mention in their reviews, not enough low end torque, rear visibility, and rear seat room.

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  The Best! - 2001 Toyota Tacoma
  By grbarnard - May 14 - 3:03 pm

  Bought at 21k, now 125k in 1 3/4 yrs. Excellent truck, beat on it and it keeps on going like the Energizer Bunny.

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  Rock Solid - 1994 Toyota 4Runner
  By Dwern - May 14 - 2:00 am

  I bought my 4Runner used four years ago with 63K miles. I bought an extended warranty when I bought the car and what a waste. I have had only had to put a new battery and starter in it in the last 4 years. Every mechanic I take it to says it is bulletproof, which I have found out as it is near 123K miles. We recently bought my wife a Mercedes ML320 and I still prefer to ride around in the 4Runner.

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  Best car Ive owned - 1992 Toyota Camry
  By Joe Satisfied - May 14 - 2:00 am

  Purchased new and maintained according to normal schedule. No mechanical problems of any kind, excellent gas milage (28+ mpg). Nothing has failed. Car performs as it did when it was new. I will keep it until something major fails, probably in another ten years. The new 2003 Toyota SE is just like my 92, only cost more. 5 speed manual is great; cant hardly find manual trans. anymore. Toyota quality is first rate. Id buy another in an instant.

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  The RAV 4 is one of the Best! - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By Pauldo - May 14 - 2:00 am

  The RAV 4L is well built and very reliable. It is a lot of fun to drive since it can corner on a dime with minimum body roll. The Toyota quality is apparent through out the exterior and interior of the mini suv. Gas mileage is excellent all around on regular unleaded gas.

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  lovin it - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By ashleyc - May 14 - 2:00 am

  My parents bought me this car before I went to college. We wanted a car that i would be safe traveling long distances in, something that wasnt too bulky, and something that i could still fit all of my stuff in. The highlander was perfect. Other cars I considered were Nissan Altima, Nissan Xterra, Mitsubishi Montero Sport, Saturn Vue. But, the highlander satisfied everything that we wanted.

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  Camry Fuel Economy - Lower than Expected - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By JP15 - May 14 - 2:00 am

  On my 2003 Camry SE (V6) I am only experiencing only 17/18 MPG overall. This consist of combine city/highway driving.

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  Toyota takes the lead - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By newvan - May 14 - 2:00 am

  This van is built in the typical Toyota way, that is rock solid. Switches, knobs, levers all have that precision no-slop feel. The quality of the interior materials is high. The doors close with a bank vault-like thunk. Quiet and comfortable ride on the freeway. Cupholders and compartments galore. Driveability, however, suffers somewhat with a slight lag in acceleration from a stop. I understand this is correctable by the dealer performing TSB TC007-03. Overall very satisfied.

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  I swore Id never own a minivan ... - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By BrenSommer - May 14 - 2:00 am

  I owned a 2000 Toyota 4Runner and was considering a full-size car, however, after shopping around and driving a few (and reading crash-test ratings) I wasnt able to find anything I felt was as safe as my 4Runner. The Sienna was actually the first and only minivan I drove. It had everything (and more) that I was looking for – with safety being the primary concern. The van drives beautifully and the great gas mileage amazed me! My husband and I loved it so much that we took our first road trip from Texas to Colorado instead of flying as we always did. This is a great van for long road trips or just short hops around town. Highly, highly recommended.

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  Heaven on the Highway!!!! - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By Sunsh616 - May 14 - 2:00 am

  I am so pleased with this car and I am only on day 3 =). I never would have imagined this car would be as nice as it is!!!!!