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:

• 

  SUV For People who Hate SUVs - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By ets - August 3 - 2:00 am

  I wanted a safer car for my commute and my family (we have to tote a wheelchair.) OTOH, I have always been one of the "SUV-Hater" crowd. I had to take a deep breath and get over my bias when I saw the Highlander. It is a beautiful (dare I say macho?) design and drives wonderfully. I seriously recommend people look at the 4 cylinder. At least with front wheel drive it is plenty zippy, no problem with getting on the highway or going well over the speed limit. I am getting about 20 miles/gallon in family driving. I was getting about 23 in the Ford Focus SE wagon I traded in. Give it a look.

• 

  Not too shabby - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By karatekid099 - August 3 - 2:00 am

  My dad got this car for me for about 1k under invoice, which makes this car an absolute steal. Got the sport plus package, adding good looks. Performance isnt spectacular but it is suitable for everyday use. The interior appealed to me much more than the Sentra did to me. Overall, its not too shabby.

• 

  My SEV6 - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By Tull - August 3 - 2:00 am

  I have not been disappointed with anything. This car has plenty of torgue for the "get up and go" not just who has the most horses. The transmission shifted smoothly in all conditions. I could not agree more about the 16" tires in the snow! I had to buy a set of "ContiExtremeContact" all season tires instead of the 3 season stock tires at Tirerack.com. The Accord V6 has wider and lower profile 17" tires which means that they will be cost a lot of $$ to replace them. I also liked my factory spoiler that wasnt an add on so you didnt see that stupid brake light in the back of the window. The car came fully loaded with everything.

• 

  My TRD.. - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By Rick Respicio - August 2 - 8:00 pm

  Maybe you’re wondering why such an odd- looking SUV became my next toy after driving a 2006 Range Rover Sport Supercharged. Rather than choosing another luxury SUV, I went for something different – the total opposite! A bare bones waterproofed scuba suit-covered seating, Rubbermaid flooring w/ all-weather cargo mats & an interior w/ a harmonious blend of nylon, plastic, rubber & metal. Only 3,200 TRD units were made & I was fortunate enough to have #100. I was always fond of the Toyota Racing Development (TRD) team since childhood & this was one way of driving one of their latest creations, just wished I could do it at the Baja but nevertheless, it is fun to drive anywhere.

• 

  2005 Toyota XLS - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By susanne sullivan - August 2 - 7:00 pm

  This is the first Toyota I have owned. I am extremely pleased with the car-the ride is smooth, the engine is quiet yet powerful and without problems. My family is tall, ranging from 510" to 6 6" and everyone has commented on the generous leg room in the back seat without having to sacrifice leg space in the front.

• 

  True Believer - 2000 Toyota Tundra
  By only drivin tundras - August 2 - 4:16 pm

  I bought my Tundra in mid 2002 with 44K miles. Drove it approx 35K per year pushing oil changes to every 10K. Replaced one set of front rotors, one fuel pump (it was blowing the EFI 1 fuse) and one set of spark plugs. It was an outstanding truck. I say was because it was totaled in an accident with 206K. Had it not met an early demise I believe it would have easily rolled 300K plus. I missed it so much I replaced it with another one with a young 148K on it.

• 

  Excellent vehicle - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Christine - August 2 - 5:00 am

  I have been pleased with my Rav4 since buying it in May. The gas mileage is very reasonable and I am certian that having a 4WD vehicle will come in handy for New York winters.

• 

  Best sub-compact car on the market - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Joan - August 1 - 4:30 pm

  We love our Yaris! It consistently gets between 37-42 mpg. It is comfortable on long trips and has plenty of zip going up and down hills and for passing. Both of us are tall and have plenty of space inside with the automatic transmission. Back-seat passengers are surprised with the comfort and leg room. With the hatchback, were able to carry large items with no difficulty. Our Yaris is our favorite all-time car!

• 

  Nothing But Quality - 1999 Toyota Camry
  By Jake Benn - August 1 - 9:23 am

  My dad bought this car with 10,000 on it back in 2003 and then put 212,000 miles on it. We took care of the basics and it still runs exactly like new maybe better. I got it and put some performance parts on (cold air intake, racing plugs, new struts etc.) This car has never let either of us down and if the odometer did not say it had 218,000 miles on it, no one driving it or riding in it would think any thing else but it was a new car.

• 

  Matrix 08--so far so good - 2008 Toyota Matrix
  By matrixdriver - August 1 - 4:13 am

  I needed the most fuel efficient car I could find that could still carry a bunch of stuff. There were some good hybrid options, but they were too pricey and Im unsure about the battery technology. So, I checked out the Matrix, Fit, and Mazda 3. They are all good cars that would have worked, but I went with the Matrix because I got a pretty good price, got a long warranty, and it had all the features I needed. Had a little more space than the Fit and was more comfortable in the driving position. I was also hoping to have something very reliable, and Toyota along with the Corolla this is based on, seemed perfect. 23,000 miles in it still seems like the right choice.