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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  pinkfloyd - 2002 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By PINKFLOYD - May 18 - 2:00 am

  The truck will go anywhere. Fishing trip to northern canada with boat, 3 kids, and grandfather. Preformed flawlessly. Wife hit deer, not problem, would have been through the windshield of another vehicle. Ride quality and handling superb. Great on the beach and off road.

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  Affordable Dependability - 1997 Toyota Corolla
  By Jim40 - May 18 - 2:00 am

  Weve had this 1997 Corolla since December 1999. Its a well built, dependable car. Good styling, cranks every time, well-designed inside and out. Its easy to manuever in traffic and its very easy to park. We have no plans to sell it; well keep it for many years to come. We traded an 87 Ford Taurus for this car. The Taurus gave us nothing but trouble. It was always in the shop for mechanical repairs. Weve have never had to put the Corolla in the shop. Keep up the good work, Toyota!!

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  Overall good deal! - 2004 Toyota Matrix
  By JHend - May 18 - 2:00 am

  Bought my car in January and i cant wait to drive it everyday. Its a blast to drive and very comfortable. Pleanty of room and cargo and nice zip ot it.

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  Utility Made Cool ! - 2004 Toyota Matrix
  By Virginia Shoemaker - May 18 - 2:00 am

  The Matrix design caught my eye months ago because of how I feel it has European design. The interior looks like a hot sports car which gets a lot of peaks through my windows. The interior is comfortable and seems to maintain its look very well. Driving the car is like you are a part of the car itself as you make the turns. The car moves with every command. For utility, simply push the seats down and go !!

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  1999 4 runner SR5 4WD - 1999 Toyota 4Runner
  By mako_man73 - May 18 - 2:00 am

  Since I bought this SUV in 1999 I have had NO problems with it. I change the oil every 3K and it runs like the day I bought it. In 70+K miles I only changed the front brakes once. I did have to replace the catalitic converters because Jiffy Lube F-uped a fuel injector clening service but they were covered by warranty. now I only take it to the dealer for service.

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  Why buy another car? - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By Wayne Falda - May 18 - 2:00 am

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  Toyota Prius - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By NancyAnderson - May 18 - 2:00 am

  Bought the Prius in December, 2003. It is pure joy. Have put on over 18,000 miles in the past 5 weeks. We like everything about it except a slight sway when the wind is blowing. Love the abundance of storage compartments, including hidden ones. The car performs equally well on long upgrades as on level roads. The Navigation System is exciting. There is a learning curve, though. The keyless entry and start is wonderful. We also like the control buttons on the steering wheel. Also love the placement of the odometer, speedometer, etc. You do not have to take your eyes off the road to check the readouts.

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  2004 Prius - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By Michael Starrine - May 18 - 2:00 am

  I replaced a 2002 Infinity QX4 with the new Prius and figure that it saves me about $70- a week in fuwl costs. On top of that its really fun to drive. Has the #9 package and if I had any concern it would simply getting used to the vehicle being so light.I opted for the "Tideland Pearl" and would have preferred a darker interior. I put dark grey sheepskin seatcovers on it.

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  A GREAT Car - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By Happydinks - May 18 - 2:00 am

  Were loyal Toyota buyers - and were looking to replace a Tacoma. Saw this car, with the features and for the price and bought it after a 10 minute test drive. It is a great value for the money! Drives great - got the full blown package - so the safty factor of making calls through the car is wonderful. Since we like leather interior - were having the leather kit Toyota has come out with installed. Cargo area is as much as our RX300 - with double the gas mileage! This is an awesome car! Bought it the week before it was named Car of the Year - so only waited 8 weeks for it! Like the tax break too!

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  2004 Prius - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By Poofus1 - May 18 - 2:00 am

  My daughter had purchased one in November and was so happy with it I drove to a dealer in MD to buy it since NY/NJ dealers had none.