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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  AWESOME - 2004 Toyota Sequoia
  By DONNA - December 6 - 10:00 am

  THIS IS A GREAT AUTOMOBILE.

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  very satisfied - 2003 Toyota Avalon
  By markz1016 - December 6 - 10:00 am

  a great car - did 2 5 hour trips back to back- real smooth and cofortable. only 6000 miles to date. one oil change and rotate the tires. all for under 50.00

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  Good Runner - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By Geoff S - December 6 - 10:00 am

  A good running solid to the road feel vehicle with quite reasonable fuel economy. Why is there no power seat on the passenger side? No defect complaints. Driven a # of different Crossover type vehicles and this one beats them all in comfort and ride. The Big three needs to match this quality.

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  Excellent - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By JBOND - December 6 - 10:00 am

  I drove Odyssey: Very old design, needs redesign badly MPV: Good design and handling, falls short of space & power Caravan: Major reliability issues Quest: Center POD is ugly

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  Toyota Highlander - 2006 Toyota Highlander
  By PatH - December 6 - 12:23 am

  I done a lot of research for about 2 months before I purchased a Toyota Highlander. My Chevrolet Trailblazer was wrecked. I decided to go with the Highlander after good remarks on Edmunds.com. I wanted something roomy that got good gas mileage. Love the sunroof & JBL radio system. No one is more picky than I am & I highly recommend this vehicle. Exterior is not as sporty looking as my Trailblazer, but it works fine.

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  Toyota Delivers! - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Jorge - December 5 - 8:56 am

  As always, you can see and feel the oustanding workmanship in Toyota cars, and the redesigned Avalon is no exception. Great ride, both in comfort and road handling. Agree with the reviewer who said the luxury of a Lexus without the high price tag. The JBL 12 speaker sound system is impresive and so is the engine - 268 HP!, better than the 255 HP Maxima I replaced. Also, I cant believe this high horse power engine can be satisfied with regular unleaded gas. WOW! Talk about efficiency and good MPG.

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  Love our Sequoia! - 2008 Toyota Sequoia
  By Sequoia Rocks - December 5 - 3:20 am

  So, let me start by saying we have a 2004 Toyota 4Runner, with 130,000 miles. We have NEVER had any issues with it and it drives like the day we drove it off the new car lot. Since then, weve had 3 girls and grown to a family of 5 and needed something new. So, we made a mistake. We bought a Acura MDX. Sold it. Bought a Cadillac Escalade. Sold it. Finally came back to our first love Toyota and found the Sequoia used with 44k. In short, this thing is now a member of the family. Yes, Toyota hit a rough spot, but they are still Toyota. They will recover and the 2008 Toyota Sequoia has exceeded ALL expectations. Not enough time to list all the things we love. Find one used, buy it.

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  My FJ - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By John - December 5 - 1:30 am

  My first Toyota was a 72 FJ40 after 200,000 miles it was time for a 4runner in 96 and then the new FJ Cruiser in 07, what a great machine. Moab, no problem, city driving awesome. I did change out the lame stereo for a Pioneer nav unit MTX amps, speakers and a much needed back-up camera. I hope to get 200,000 miles with the FJ. I had to replace the windshield after taking a big rock, $1100, boy are they proud of it.

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  Completely Satisfied - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Dave - December 4 - 10:56 pm

  Awesome acceleration! Quiet ride. No squeaks or rattles after 8000 miles. No drive problems like some say they are having, i.e., hesitation or surging.

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  Past my expectations - 2006 Toyota Matrix
  By really surprised - December 4 - 10:26 pm

  Bought to save gas on average 32 miles to a gallon, like the 6 speed transmission, family loves loves interior layout. First Toyota ever purchased dealer and car still surprises me with the level of excellence shown. I usually drive a crew f250 super duty, I can park this Matrix any where! It handles great around turns and very quite till the moon roof opens.