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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  Sequoia Review from San Antonio - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By TMDSA - October 7 - 2:00 am

  Great performance for a large SUV. It drives like a car. Very smooth ride, quiet, and powerful. Interior design is excellent and the sound system is also excellent.

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  Amazingly reliable - 2000 Toyota Echo
  By n1yqh - October 7 - 2:00 am

  Ive had this car for 4 years, just hit 72,000 miles, and love it. Ive used it for everything from in-town commuting (tight turning radius and tiny spots it can fit into are key) to driving from Boston to San Fransisco nonstop (the front passenger seat makes a suprisingly comfy bed). Obviously, the 42-44mpg (highway) is great. It has more than adequate acceleration, and managed the mountains on I-80 just fine at 75-80mph (although some downshifting was needed). The best part for me is that since I do routine maintaince myself, and it hasnt needed any repairs AT ALL except for replacing a burned-out taillight bulb, its been dirt cheap to operate.

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  small outside BIG INSIDE - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By ajay2 - October 7 - 2:00 am

  Great car. Inexpensive to operate. Costly extras. All made in Japan. Great tire wear.No clock.

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  point A to B.. - 1996 Toyota Camry
  By tirthankar_b - October 7 - 2:00 am

  With a 4 cylinder engine, performance is reasonably good unless ur with 5 and the ac on. its very comfortable but there is a lot of roll during cornering. i am driving an used one in average condition, but it is very reliable. the engine works very well with the transmission. not so fuel efficient, gived me 19-21 mpg in the city. 24-26 on the highway.

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  personal - 2000 Toyota Celica
  By St3phani3 - October 7 - 2:00 am

  This car is great! it took me awhile to actually buy one i was worried about the whole import thing with what some people say they arent dependable but after ALOT of research i bought it and i love it! It is a fun and very dependable car and alot more people complement my car and tell me what a great decision i made.

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  2000 TACOMA EXT. CAB V-6 - 2000 Toyota Tacoma
  By MIKEEMAN - October 7 - 2:00 am

  MY EXPERIENCE WITH MY TRUCK HAS BEEN GREAT. OTHER THAN THE NEAR 100,000 MILE CLUTCH REPLACEMENT EVERYONE SHOULD EXPECT IT HASNT LEFT ME STRANDED. 4 WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM HAS YET TO LET ME DOWN. BUT THE ALTERNATOR IS IN A BAD PLACE FOR A 4 X 4. ITS LOW NEAR THE WHEEL WELL IN A SPOT MUD AND WATER REGULARLY GET SPLASHED IF YOU ACTUALLY USE THE 4WD IN THE WOODS OR THE LOCAL PLAY HOLE. JUST A SMALL OVERSIGHT.

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  great car - 2003 Toyota Camry Solara
  By solara - October 7 - 2:00 am

  Drives so smooth

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  Matrix Lover - 2004 Toyota Matrix
  By John Riley - October 7 - 2:00 am

  25000 miles. People still look at it and love it or hate it. We have carried wood, furniture, and love the flexibilty and still it is a small car,suv, truck etc.

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  Its normal - Really - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By jbr214 - October 7 - 2:00 am

  About 9 months ago I started to look for a new car and did the usual research. I had pretty much decided on getting a Passat. Then, I heard about the new version of the Prius. Truthfully I hadnt heard much about the old version. After doing my research on the new car, it did seem like it might be the first no compromise hybrid car. I liked the more powerful engine and the larger interior space. But, the thing that tipped the scale in favor of the Prius was the amount of high end features available for the car - smart entry and start, voice navigation system, blue tooth cell phone integration . . .

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  The Technology has arrived - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By Dickson - October 7 - 2:00 am

  Amazing space, power and gas milage. It feels like a normal car without sacrificing for great gas milage.