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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  Very Nice - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By Ben Williams - September 29 - 10:00 am

  They really rebuilt the corolla s. Its an awesome sports package with the feel of a family car. Very impressed

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  PLEASED - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By nutmeg - September 29 - 10:00 am

  Bought the SE 4-Cylinder in October 2001 when they were first available. Weve been very pleased overall with a few minor complaints but of course were very hard to please when it comes to spending 25 grand on a car! Test drove the Honda Accord & Nissan Altima & neither compared to the comfort & smooth ride of the re-designed Camry. For as much time as we spend in the car we decided that the Camry was definately worth the extra money.

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  "Youre Gonna Want One!" How True... - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By RWJ - September 29 - 10:00 am

  I went to a Toyota/Nissan dealership intending to give the new Altima a test drive but ended up test driving the Camary instead. The overall quality of the Camary is on a much higher level. When I closed the doors, for example, it was a solid sound not the rather "tinny" sound I heard from the Altima. The interior is well thought out and rather "handsome" for lack of a better description. The Camary drives and rides like a dream. Good pick up with the four cylinder and good milage too. I would highly recommend this vehicle to anyone looking for a top quality mid-sized sedan. Drive it and youll want one.

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  Tested by Vehicle Designer - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By Automible Scientist - September 29 - 10:00 am

  Money wise is American. Overall this Toyota Camry is the best in its class. Even some would say its over price. However, reliable is saving consumers money in the future and build up strongly resale value.

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  Best car ever..!! - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By honey - September 29 - 10:00 am

  This is the best car that i have ever driven. The drive is very smooth, and it looks and feels great... It sure is THE BEST SELLING CAR in the country..!!

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  Great car. I love it. - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Happy Camry Owner - September 29 - 2:10 am

  This car rocks. I love how the Camry looks and feels. The radio system sounds great. The drivers seat is really comfortable. When I push on the gas the car goes. I like the smooth ride and the smooth accelration.

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  Mercedes drove me to a new Toyota - 2016 Toyota Camry
  By RealtorNate - September 28 - 8:23 pm

  Let me just say I review this car having owned a little bit of everything. Ive previously had a similarly equipped Ford Fusion, and in between have owned a couple of Mercedes. While they are wonderful cars, I decided the $3000 maintenance a year on my S430 4Matic was getting old. I work in real estate and am on the road a lot and need something reliable and that wont leave me on the side of the road, or spending wasted days at the repair shop. My goal this was reliability. I initially didnt like this car when I first drive it. I compared it to a me Sonata, and also a Honda Accord Sport. I finally went for the Blue Streak Metallic Camry Special Edition. So far Ive only drive about 600 miles, but Im liking my experience. I was sold on the Camry for its reputation, resale value, and decent amount of features on this special edition. If Honda would offer push button start and a sunroof on the Accord Sport, I would own one. Surprisingly Ive not missed the power of a V8 yet. The 4 cylinder and 6 speed seem to work to provide the most power possible. Compared to the 2012 Fusion I owned and loved (mostly), the engine and transmission harmony make all the difference. The Fusion transmission always seemed to hunt for gears or hesitate. The Camry does quite well with barely noticeable shifts, and always seems to be in the needed gear. Coming from a Mercedes, the interior was a bit of adjustment. But I love it. The blue accents are refreshing and help liven up the black. Theres quite a bit of hard plastic inside, but I reason that it will be more durable in the long run and more easily cleaned. Infotainment options area straightforward and easy to use. Trunk is more spacious than the big Benz. The ride quality is decent, made a bit more harsh but the 18" rims. However the look of them is far worth the trade off. Overall Im pleased with my purchase. Ill be interested to see how well the interior holds up to wear, and if that Toyota reputation that I craved is as fullfilling as I hoped.

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  Great Reliable Car! - 1996 Toyota Corolla
  By Jessie - September 28 - 2:46 pm

  This has been a great car! I bought the car from my parents right out of high school. The car has been very reliable and gets great fuel mileage. This car has handled well on dirt roads and in town. For the most part I have only done the basic maintenance on the car: tires, oil changes, brakes. For the car having 230,000 miles on it, it has done really well. The only problems I have had are the lights for the air adjustment dont come on consistently and the rear struts just went out on it. I have been very happy with this car and am looking into other Toyota models to replace it.

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  Impressive - 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Superman - September 28 - 12:23 pm

  I have been driving my new 4WD hybrid Highlander Limited Edition with leather interior package for 3 weeks and love every bit of the experience. Filling the gas tank is just like refueling my regular car, but the performance screams luxury. I am still getting used to the super quiet electric engine, and I can actually hear Mozarts piano concertos quite well, thanks to the insulation.

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  Great reliable transportation - 2000 Toyota Camry Solara
  By A Edwards - September 27 - 8:00 pm

  Its the first Toyota I have owned, and the only brand I will continue to use.