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:

• 

  Corolla S 2004 - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By Faisal Sheikh - July 23 - 10:00 am

  I bought my titanium metallic Corolla S brand new with the sports package. in May. Now after 4 months, looking back. lets just say I would never trade this car for anything. From the outside it looks so gorgeous. The performance of this car is incredible with 1.8L 130 HP with 127 foot-pounds of torque. Mine being an automatic, clocked a 0-100 KM in about 8.9 secs, whereas, a manual is known to clock a 0-100 KM in an incredible 7.9 secs. This car drives beautifully and drives so quietly even when going at 120 KM/h. For dollar-to- dollar value, there is simply no other car in its class that comes close to this.

• 

  looking to buy Echo - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By mandyjayne23 - July 23 - 10:00 am

  i was looking to buy an Echo got in this car test drove it all i got to say is it was well worth $1700 more than echo i love it and im not a car person i have had 3 jeeps love them too but the gas milage is out of this world 38 mpg and i live in the mountains

• 

  Camry Ratings - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By Gabriel Perez - July 23 - 10:00 am

  I feel very satisfied the my new Toyota Camry. It is more than I expected.

• 

  First and Last Toyota - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By Bake - July 23 - 10:00 am

  Where is that legendary Toyota quality every one talks about. The paint is chipping off this car faster than I can touch it up. The transmission is constantly confused between 45 - 60 mph. The windows, doors, dash etc make loud snap, crackle and pop noises. The brakes feel like they dont engage until the the brake pedal nearly hits the floor. The steering is numb at best. The list goes on. If your dead set on buying an import I recommend you buy a Honda, Nissan or Mazda. Even a Hyundai would be a better choice than a Toyota.

• 

  A very Surprising revelation - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By Sanddog - July 23 - 10:00 am

  After driving Hondas for almost 20 years, I had my mind focused on a Honda Odyssey. I was a little reluctant to consider a different brand. So, first, we went out and test drove the Honda Odyssey. One of my local Honda dealers was kind enough to allow us to keep one for a day. As expected, it was a very nice van and the dealer was willing to give a big discount. The next day, we went straight to the Toyota dealer. Unfortunately, they werent willing to let us keep one overnight and pricing was very firm. However, we took it on a long test drive and were amazed at the improvements! To make a long story short, we bought the Sienna XLE and love it.

• 

  Oh what a feeling! - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By lecrict - July 23 - 10:00 am

  I have had my new 2002 Camry for two years now.I enjoy the stereo system, power seat, and smooth operation of the V6. This car is well built. It has personality style. The tranny and engine are smooth and well contolled. Drives great and is completely reliable. Also feel very safe due to the larger size of the car and being surrounded by airbags.

• 

  Dream Truck - 2005 Toyota Tundra
  By Tundra - July 23 - 6:20 am

  This truck is unbelievable. Great power, pick up speed. Incredible amount of room without going overboard. I absolutely love this truck and I will tell anyone who will listen.

• 

  Good little car - 2000 Toyota Corolla
  By Delivery - July 22 - 8:26 am

  This is a reasonable car to own if you dont want something too big but not too small, as passanger space is quite appropriate. The newer model is even better. Fuel mileage is an obvious advantage (30-40 mpg). The stereo system is more impressive than I thought it would be and the ergonomics are well thought out, although the cup holder is poorly designed. Two really annoying things are the locks and light. You can never turn the lights off unless the engine is off and the car automatically locks even if not in gear.

• 

  I love my Tacoma! - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By boone88rr - July 21 - 11:36 pm

  Ive only had my truck for about a month now. Its fantastic. I thought it wouldnt be as exciting as driving my BMW but it is! Im still "breaking-in" the engine and the gas mileage improves everyday. I test drove the 4 cylinder and it had great power but as soon as I drove the V6, I couldnt go back. Its a rocket on the road and I cant wait to take it 4x4-ing on the beach and the 4 wheel drive will come in handy if we have another winter like the last one here in the Northeast. Its my first brand new car/truck so Ive definitely been babying it. My girlfriend is a little jealous. It wasnt named "2005 Truck of the Year" for nothing!

• 

  Highlander Limited - First 4K Miles - 2016 Toyota Highlander
  By R Tucker - July 21 - 8:20 pm

  Above average mechanical performance with excellent fit and finish inside and out. One of the best AWD vehicles I have driven in rain or snow and it tows my light kayak trailer (less than 750 lbs.) extremely well. Toyota finally got it right on the steering wheel feel. You now have decent feedback versus the numb, vague or non-existent feel of the past. However, the seats are uncomfortable for front and rear passengers as they are somewhat narrow and short. The drivers seat has a lot of adjustment options where the bottom can be extended and the seatback has an excellent lumbar adjustment which makes it a decent seat. If the same adjustments were available on the front passenger seat, there would be less complaints from my fellow passengers. The third row seat is only useful for very small children. The Limited should only offer second row captains seats as an option as is the case for lower trims. Likewise, the 19 inch wheels that come standard on this trim should be an option as they do not contribute to ride quality. In case you did not know, Chrome-tech means plastic. So those upgraded 19 inch wheels have plastic hub caps bonded to them and are not true alloy wheels. The same material is used on the roof rails. This was a quite disappointing discovery to be made on a vehicle that lists for almost $45K even if there may be some advantages to using this material. However, the bottom line is that this vehicle offers very good value at its price point and is a viable option compared to an Acura MDX AWD Tech as the interior dimensions are quiet similar.