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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  TOYOTA CELICA BEATS THE COMPETITION - 2003 Toyota Celica
  By Leonard Mazerov - April 30 - 2:00 am

  I have given this car 9s and 10s in the survey. The only design items I find poor are: 1. The location of the drivers seat belt. 2. The rear spoiler interferes with drivers ability see out the back window.

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  Die hard Toyota owner - 2002 Toyota Corolla
  By Laufromsp - April 30 - 2:00 am

  I require three things out of a car-- 100% reliability, ice cold A/C, and a decent cup-holder. The Corolla turns out to be a bit cheaper than the Altima for basically the same features, so there you go. My Corolla LE is a class act, comfy, quiet, peppy, and I thought I was miscalculating when I consistently got between 32-38 mpg, during the Dallas summer WITH THE A/C ON! I wasnt miscalculating--this car gets better mileage than my friends gas-electric hybrid (28-32 mpg)! I did have to do a brake job at 22,000 miles. But Ive forgiven and forgotten--one mechanical problem in 3 Toyotas isnt a bad record.

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  Great Vehicle - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By chendogg - April 30 - 2:00 am

  This is my first car and it has been great. There is adaquate power and the handling is great, considering a 16 year old driver owns it. This vehicle could use an optional subwoffer, otherwise it is an excellent vehicle.

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  best suv! - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By dotron - April 30 - 2:00 am

  after extensive searching, we found THE best suv for the money. roomy and comfy, but drives like a dream. solid yet smooth. not bad on gas. toyota reliability and re-sale. a perfect big family tripper that thinks its a sports car!

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  I love my new Toyota - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By jens - April 30 - 2:00 am

  I love the sliding back window (so does my great dane) This suv is fun to drive and nice to look at.

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  Excellent Truck - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By PeterS - April 30 - 2:00 am

  A truly great sport ute. Size is plenty big but not too big. Acceleration with the V8 is beeter than could be expected in a truck this size. The handling, espcially in corners, is also excellent for a truck its size. The only complaint is gas mileage, but with a truck like this you should know that will stink.

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  relief to have a reliable car - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By RVincent10 - April 30 - 2:00 am

  this vehicle is a wonderful blend of car and suv. having had a 97 ford explr xlt, there is no comparison. the ford was unreliable and required numerous repairs. once it died in busy traffic with an emissions failure. It also had a squeak and numerous rattles ... My 00 honda also has a rattle over bumps.. the highlander had a rattle when the sunroof was open, but once the luggage rack was adjusted and tightened it was gone. the highlander has better handling than the ford. Although it seems to roll abit on turns, if you push it and turn at a higher speed, it grips the road firmly and doesnt tilt much more than it did at lower speeds.

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  2003 Highlander - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By JEF - April 30 - 2:00 am

  After researching this vehicle online for many months, it was time to test drive one. We test drove an AWD, V6 with Sunroof and roof Rack System. The engine was very quiet for a V6 and had plenty of power as I took it on the highway. On the return trip, it was my wifes turn to drive. She liked that fact that she didnt need a ladder to enter the vehicle. The steering was responsive and the suspension was good on the frost heave encrusted roads. We had two of our children with us (15, 11 ) and they were comfortable in the back seats. The youngest trying every knob and button he could find! All in all, a pleasure to drive and is very quiet.

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  I Love It - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By cmwoosley - April 30 - 2:00 am

  I test drove several small to mid-size vehicles before purchasing this one. I previously owned a 1999 Mitsubishi Galant. Boy I really missed the boat with that one. The Corolla drive and ride much smoother and there is a noticeable difference in quality. If I had to do it over again, Id have bought a Toyota in 1999.

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  fun to drive - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By bronze maxell - April 30 - 2:00 am

  this is my familys 3rd camry, still owning the 1st 2, and one lexus suv, all runs great. This SE has soft clutch, soft steering, soft ride, just a little stiffer than normal, good corning, fun to drive, spacious interier and trunk, feels quicker acceleration than my v6 auto. the only thing i dont like is the radio control volume button is all the way at the top of the center dash, kinda hard to reach while you sitting back and driving.