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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  Cramped design - 2001 Toyota Corolla
  By Rich Speaker - February 18 - 2:00 am

  This was my second Toyota. My first was a Tercel and lasted me twelve years. Ive had this one for two months and I gave up and traded up to the 2003 model. The front was cramped and difficult to get into. I am only 5 7 1/2" but I found that the seat would not go back far enough so that I could use the pedals without turning my feet in uncomfortable ways. In addition the suspension was very flimsy. It would bottom out on simple bumps. Otherwise it was a Toyota. It handled well and was well made.

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  Eds Thoughts - 2004 Toyota Avalon
  By eowens0421 - February 18 - 2:00 am

  This is a great car. It has power and pep and is very confortable. The only problem I have is the exterior design as the car looks too long with a high rear end. The front looks good as does the trunk area but do something to make the car look so long.

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  Best Mid-Sized SUV - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By cmaj - February 18 - 2:00 am

  After six months, even more impressed now than when I first drove it off the lot. Noticed an extremely worded post regarding the sulfer smell. With the rear window down during hard starts (hard to resist with the V8 models), residual exhaust can enter the cabin. The effect is very short and vents out quickly. It is not a serious problem, very common to other similar vehicles with rear windows that lower. (a bigger concern if heavy loads are in tow and vehicle is being driven very hard. If so, simply keep the window up!) Only issue involved rattles from sunroof - dealer 100% corrected in 1.5 hours using the TSB from Toyota.

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  I LOVE my Highlander! - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By Love - February 18 - 2:00 am

  I needed a car I can step UP into...this was a great answer to what I needed. I was done with mini vans! This is fun to drive, has great mileage, and is just a great looking cars! Thanks

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  my 2003 toyota highlander - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By melvin daniels - February 18 - 2:00 am

  this vehicle is very fun to drive. It has good pick up and drive like a deram.

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  Highlander/2003 - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By Patricia A. Vitela - February 18 - 2:00 am

  We graduated from a Toyota Limited 4Runner to the Highlander last month. The ride is smooth, the seating is comfortable, the look of the auto is handsome and classy. We love it! Our 98 4Runner drove and felt like a truck and it was good for these country dirt roads. But now we are in for comfort.

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  2007 Prius: so glad I got it - 2007 Toyota Prius
  By Himatee - February 18 - 12:00 am

  Its not just about the mileage, its about knowing that you are doing as much as you can to minimize your global footprint. Its about knowing that you are willing to sacrifice a tiny bit of speed and comfort for the greater good. But enough about that. Its got great handling, light and quick, very responsive. It has very high tech features, love the smart key and screen features. Could not live without the bluetooth that talks right out of my speakers. And its getting about 49 mpg for me. I love this car - it makes my roundtrip 60-mile daily commute to work a pleasure, instead of a chore.

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  2005 SE 33000 miles of experience - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By Ray - February 17 - 9:50 pm

  I have been extremely happy with the V-8s performance capability. I get about 21 MPG overall per the onboard computer using regular. However, I have seen a slight drop since ethanol has been added to the local gasoline mixture. The only problem I have had was the dealer did not lower the spare tires pressure to match the 32 lbs in the wheels on the ground. It took a while to figure this out.

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  Best of All Worlds - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Greg - February 17 - 5:13 pm

  Great Zippy Vehicle...It is so fun to drive. I have the Evergreen Metallic that looks so sharp and the sunroof that comes in handy for ventilation. The RAV meets all of my expectations, and I have only 5500 miles on it, so my fuel economy should increase soon. It averages about 24 mpg now, and I read other reviews that rate it slightly higher. All of the features seem to be well thought out, and I also have the side curtain air bags that adds to my confidence in case of an accident.

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  2003 SR5 4WD V6 - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By Ed Rooney - February 17 - 9:03 am

  I bought this car new in 2003 to be our family truckster. While it had a rattle here and there, it was always reliable and well-mannered on the road through 125,000 miles. Pretty early on in had an ABS problem, which was quickly fixed under warranty. No problems since. Good cargo space and lots of room for rear-passengers. I could just fit 2 kids in boosters and a grandmother in the backseat. I moved up to a BMW 5-series, and less than a month later I am considering moving back to a 4runner.