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:

• 

  My First Car - 1996 Toyota Camry
  By Firefightersgrl - July 14 - 2:00 am

  This was my first car and I have to say I was pleased with it. It ran well and always got me where I needed to go. A lot of room to and easy to maintain. The gas milage is great. I would drive at least 30 miles a day (thats a lot for a highschool senior) and I would only have to fill up every other week for $20. It was totalled when I was hit in the side, but it took a lot of impact and I came out completely safe.

• 

  4 Runner for Reliability - 1999 Toyota 4Runner
  By Tamela - July 14 - 2:00 am

  great for long trips, vehicle is heavy and holds to the road well. In town it is a little cumbersome to handle because of its size, I wish the interior was just a little larger. If you are looking for gas mileage the 4 runner would not be for you. Comfort is great and I will continue to own one for the reliability.

• 

  Very Good, With Some Reservations - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By Jim Walters - July 14 - 2:00 am

  Summary: Great economy, solid but unexceptional performance, comfortable, streamlining forced some compromises in rear headroom and visibility, annoying problem with fuel gauge. Overall recommendation is BUY. Ive had it for about 4 weeks now. I get about 45 mpg in mostly highway driving. Thats great for a mid-size, but well below EPA estimates. Accelleration and handling are good, but its no BMW. Smooth ride and very quiet, except under hard accelleration. Cargo space seems good, but I havent had to use it yet. The hood slopes so steeply that you cant see the front end. You just have to know the car stops 3 feet past the windshield.

• 

  Outstanding beach car - 2001 Toyota RAV4
  By justyn - July 14 - 2:00 am

  I traded my 2000 Honda Civic in on this one in Dec of 2000 for the new rav4. I was highly impressed before I even bought it, especially with the way cool interior design. Afte buying, this car has blown me away with its reliability: I currently have 107,000 miles over 3 yrs, kept up with oil and maintenance, and the only problem I have had is replacing the brake pads twice total. Nothing else has gone wrong, and it has been unthinkably dependable. When you take out the back 2 seats, youve got more storage room than a Land Cruiser. Outstanding overall

• 

  Good Rig - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By tommasini - July 14 - 2:00 am

  Good looks...Excellent handling...Below average performance

• 

  Great job Toyota!!!!!!! - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Walt26 - July 14 - 2:00 am

  This is my first toyota car. I use to drive all american cars. This car is very good looking especially the lexus like rear end!! It drives very smooth and i was very satisfied with it so far. No problems so far. I almost purchased a Mazda 6 but then i fell in love with the solara. looks and drives way better! i never thought i would buy one cause the old ones looked like chick cars. Also i was not about to buy a ford quality car. Hope that this will be a good experience with toyota. Love the car interior looks good and so does the outside keep up the good work toyota

• 

  Excellent - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By econo - July 14 - 2:00 am

  I am very satisfied with my purchase. The ride is great. Handling is great with plenty of power. Very well thought out. My second 4R. This is a great car. Xreas, downhill assist, moon roof, hood scoop, 6 window sprays, low wiper fluid, reminder to change oil, Tran. fluid, low oil, tire pressure, special air bag, seat belt pre tensions, oil filter on top of motor, great visibility, anti skid, no difficulty steering in tight spots

• 

  2004 Highlander - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By chrisnolga - July 14 - 2:00 am

  As a first time Toyota buyer, I was very impressed with the Highlander. It replaced a 02 Santa Fe and cost about 60% more, but was worth it. The car is still very new, but after taking it on a cross-country cruise, I am impressed by the comfortable seats and secure ride. The Highlander handles the freeway as well as windy back country roads. Didnt take it off road yet. The only real issue I have is that the moon roof control takes too much concentration to get the glass closed properly. Otherwise, it is a fantastic vehicle, with plenty of power and secure handling. Gas mileage is poor- only 20 MPG freeway.

• 

  Solid but Boring - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By RuggerBugger - July 14 - 2:00 am

  Ive had the car for 4 months now and have driven a little over 10,000 miles. There is a good solid feel to the car and the gas mileage is excellent. However, the car has a few shortcomings - primarily the tippy, over-high feeling on the road, the lack of performance with an automatic, and the lack of front seat leg room. Also, when adjusting the drivers seat to the rearmost position, the steering wheel is far away, necessitating an "arms out" position.

• 

  Gogeos design. - 2016 Toyota Corolla
  By Adel A - July 14 - 12:09 am

  Driver position: All is an exeptional design, but small itmes that may need more attention. The driver seat may need lumber support, Arm rest to have better material and large enought. In general the councel area need some work, lift up the gear area to the arm rest level. The radio location to be tilted and little closer to driver position. The lighting of the air control (blue light) to be a neon light which straight across not to notice diferent bulb as old fasion bulb light. Also the dashboard the temp gauge should be neon background lighting or upto date tech lighting. It is outdated lifhting and touch.