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:

• 

  Great Car! - 2009 Toyota Sienna
  By John - July 13 - 12:46 am

  Our 2009 Sienna is everything we had hoped for and then some. For the first 16,000 miles we have averaged 22 MPG - not bad for a big car that drives so easily. This is also the first car we have ever owned that has not needed a repair for some sort of flaw. It has been perfect in every respect and we are beginning to wonder if the 100K extended warranty was worth the extra cost.

• 

  Great Buy - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By Jamie81 - July 12 - 8:56 pm

  The 06 Corolla S is a very nice car for the price and for the gas milleage. This car is the perfect size. Not too big or too small. Seats in back are big and roomy.

• 

  Truck based SUV - 2001 Toyota 4Runner
  By Jimbo from Texas - July 12 - 10:00 am

  I have had only the best experience with my 4Runner. The only negative thing I can think of is the windshield fluid spray back. Whenever I have to use large amounts of windshield fluid to clean off dead bugs or mud, the fluid flows back underneath the mirror and onto the drivers side window . This causes reduced visibility of the mirror.

• 

  great car - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By edward zapata - July 12 - 10:00 am

  great car great quility great service this car is always on target when it comes to reliabilty

• 

  Excellent - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By anglstr22 - July 12 - 10:00 am

  My Corolla has never once given me any type of problem and has gotten me through one of the roughest winters in Colorado. It is an incredible car.

• 

  It has been a great car. - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By BobbyM - July 12 - 10:00 am

  Zero problems for the first 6 months.

• 

  Lunar Mist Metallic - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By rkrock - July 12 - 10:00 am

  Only has a couple of hundred miles on it, but so far I can see the improvements over my 2000 Camry V-6 LE. Great car -- this is my third Camry -- I was once an owner of an original 1983 Camry LE and the evolution of the car is nothing short of incredible.

• 

  Best low cost 4 cylinder family car - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By DAN - July 12 - 1:40 am

  The SE has a suspension that beats the Accord in sport handling and has a better ride. In addition, it offers safety features not offered on the Accord- traction control, stability control, and emergency brake assist.

• 

  I love my 2007 Camry Hybrid - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By stevenvillatoro - July 11 - 2:10 am

  I am switching from two cars (a Lexus SC 430 and a Honda Insight) into one car that combines both luxury and economy features. A fully loaded Camry Hybrid has an amazing list of standard features. Now, with 700 miles logged in three weeks, I have to say this car has exceeded every expectation. The Camry is solid, quiet, large, and giving me 39 MPG average with lots of horsepower. The stereo is excellent, love the NAV, Bluetooth, nice leather, and the Smart Key entry/ignition. Other owners Ive met are praising the Camry, too.

• 

  Great car - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By tom - July 10 - 10:20 pm

  I bought this car 2 weeks ago and it is a great car. Very solid. We have a 2002 camry and it is also a great car. The car was built in Japan and is very well put together. I would recommend this car to anyone. I was looking at an Accord, but this has more room in it and is actually quieter I think on the highway. Great Car!