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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  Great Vehicle - 1999 Toyota Sienna
  By kericks - March 30 - 10:00 am

  Bought the van in 99 and have driven the pants off of it! It now has 92,000 miles on it, change the oil every 5 to 7.5K miles and it runs beautifully. Oil still light brown after all those miles, and doesnt use a drop of oil between changes. Took on long trip across Nevada, got 26 mpg driving between 75 and 80 mph! (Over 540 miles on one tank!) Only problem has been a broken rear latch (200 bucks to fix) and a slow drivers side window caused, we believe, after it was stolen and recovered. Could use more room behind rear seats, but seats are a dream to flip up or remove.

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  camry 96 - 1996 Toyota Camry
  By Smartstream - March 30 - 10:00 am

  One of the best reliable cars i have ever driven.

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  Cant Get More Car for Your Change - 1999 Toyota Corolla
  By sky9820 - March 30 - 10:00 am

  Cars being my hobby, I tested out the many models competing in this class. Although the Civic came the closest, it was a lot more expensive, the interior seemed a bit cheaper, and it was definitely not built for tall persons such as I. The Corolla felt much roomier. It came with the Gold Package and felt as close as you can get to a Lexus for change youd find in your couch (almost). Yes, there are cheaper models, but none compare in reliability or quality. Coupled with a manual transmission (automatic felt a bit sluggish) its the greatest value on the market (and retains it for a while as well).

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  Great looks with a cheap tag - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By allana0212 - March 30 - 10:00 am

  The car is good. It looks good in and out but the engine is kind of noisy compared to other new cars. The seats are comfortable though the fabric collects lints easily. With the engine, I believe it needs more power especially when you live in San Francisco. So far, Im satisfied with this car...it looks expensive though its not. I got it at $16,998 (with tax, etc. $18,700 )... with power windows/locks, security system, 6 speakers, alloy wheels, rear spoiler, and floor mats (Combination D).

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  Smooth Car - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By Leonardo - March 30 - 10:00 am

  Great car!

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  Fine car! - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By romo - March 30 - 10:00 am

  I think this car was built just for my needs, i cant ask for anything more. This car is quite, comfortable the 4 cyl engine feels like a v6.

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  Great car! - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By John - March 30 - 8:36 am

  By far the best car Ive ever owned. Style is beautiful and catches peoples eyes. Smooth ride.

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  Engine is worn out - 1996 Toyota Tacoma
  By christopherrum - March 30 - 8:24 am

  I bought this truck, have done front rotors, painted the truck and performed some routine maintenance. I am a mechanic by trade and expected this vehicle to hit 500,000 miles because of the reputation of Toyotas. I got it at 198,000 miles and changed some of the engine sensors, plugs wires and ignition coil trying to fix a power issue. Finally I found the engine is simply worn out, my compression is below the minium specification on two cylinders. The piston rings are worn out and the valves are worn as well. I have tried all kinds of chemicals including Zado. It runs well and crainks a bit long when cold but does run and is not noisy mechanically. Chemicals did help my transmission.

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  2004 Toyota Camry Le - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By Outstanding Vehicle - March 30 - 8:00 am

  Great car overall. Outstanding value for the entire vehicle. I was expected it to cost more, but it actually costed alot less. Still cant get over the fact that Ive had it for 2 years now and it still drives exactly like the day I got it. Its so smooth and quiet, easy to drive and comfortable. The overall car feels thousands more expensive than it actually is. Couldnt have made a better purchase dicision. I recommend this car to ANYONE.

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  Great Van - 2006 Toyota Sienna
  By angelaj1 - March 30 - 2:06 am

  We love our van. My only complaint is the tires, but the guy at Discount Tires explained to me that it is because the van is very front heavy. The back tires do fine. I have had to replace the tires on the front 3 times, and I am getting ready to replace the tires on the front. When I replace the move the older tires to the fron. and put the new ones on the back. So, so I will be on my 3rd set of tires. Other than that no complaint. We love it for road trips