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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  highlander is great - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By ellenw - February 18 - 10:00 am

  i love my suv it is the perfect size, pluse it will seat 7. it is really the perfect suv for a woman great style and it is easy to handle.

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  COROLLA - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By Samula83 - February 18 - 10:00 am

  great car. It really rides well. It is very sporty and great for teenagers, as well as great for just about everybody.

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  Best car of toyota - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By lot - February 18 - 10:00 am

  I had no problem.

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  Stephs Review - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By Stephanie9 - February 18 - 10:00 am

  The corolla is an awesome car. Ive never had any problems with it. I love it!

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  Great Car except for one Thing - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By rk_man99 - February 18 - 10:00 am

  I think that this car is very good. I think that is great for the driving that is done in the city.

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  Im glad we have it. - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By XZOUP - February 18 - 10:00 am

  We own a dodge ram 1500, that gets about 11 miles to the gallon. Our toyota corolla le is a life saver.

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  se camry2003 - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By mspris - February 18 - 10:00 am

  I have enjoyed this camry it is my first one and it wont be my last one to own either. I feel very safe in the car with my family. It has great pickup gas milege and really great options and features. The indash 6 disc changer is great you just load them in and you dont have this changer in your way. We load stuff in trunk with no problem large and spacious.

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  Highly Recommend - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By Kevin - February 18 - 8:03 am

  I bought this car at the end of August of 2005 and wasnt too sure what the XRS model was. After 4 years of owning it, I think its a pretty good daily driver. Its fun to drive and has enough power to keep up with flow of traffic. The 6 speed manual is what makes it different from the other models and the 2zz-ge motor revs up to 8200 rpm which makes a really fun to drive when the lift kicks in.

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  Comfy family vehicle for all events - 2009 Toyota Highlander
  By Jeffrey - February 18 - 12:53 am

  Bought for more than 7 months and like it more every day. Blind spots was a concern at first but big rear mirrors ease the worry. A great highway cruiser as my main purpose to buy. Drive is smooth but not sporty even good power V6. Leans quite a bit in sharp turn but secure with light steering, low road feel and average steering response. The keyless start and power hatch are great plus for every day use. Most materials used are good quality except some textured hard plastic. Better than FORD and GM comparable models. Truck space is tight when 3rd row seat is up, which is not split and has tight leg room. Center on the 2nd row is too small but outside seats are comfy.

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  First Truck - 2010 Toyota Tacoma
  By David - February 17 - 10:06 am

  This is the first truck Ive owned, but Ive always liked the looked of the Tacoma and trusted the reliability of Toyota. Due to a limited selection, I got the sport package and tow package which was more than I needed, but the truck has a beefy look. It rides well for a small truck and the 6M is fun to drive. Ive only had the truck for about a month and havent made any road trips, but as a daily commuter it is comfortable. I got the extended cab for the additional access, but like the other reviewer, I agree that the space would only work for a kid; however, its fine for small tools, groceries, etc. I considered the Nissan Frontier but I liked the and feel of the Toyota better.