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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  My Review - 2000 Toyota Celica
  By DanDanToyotaMan - September 3 - 2:00 am

  I have an automatic... wish I bought a stick because the acceleration on the automatic is horrible. But overall the car is excellent, fast, handling is awsome, and breaking is incredible!

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  Sleek, Fast, and Fun - 2000 Toyota Celica
  By nojoraccoc - September 3 - 2:00 am

  Going from a 1999 Audi A4 2.8 Quattro, to a 2000 Jeep Wrangler SE, then to the 2000 Celica GTS brings lessons learned in car types, engineering, and style. In a nutshell, the Celica GTS blends 80% Luxury, 90% Performance, 75% Utility, and 95% Economy into one good looking package! Only complaint: Toyota engineered the Celica GTS to travel at either 65 or 75, but not 70 MPH on highway roads. At about 3100 RPM, the exhaust howls, making a 6 hour trip rather tiring. City driving with a mix of highway travel brings roughly 27 miles per gallon at the pump. Much better than my 21 in the A4 and 16.5 in the Wrangler.

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  Very Pleased w/Sequouia - 2001 Toyota Sequoia
  By dm - September 3 - 2:00 am

  Purchased this vehicle sight unseen. Very pleased with it. See "Suggested Improvements" for three crucial suggestions. (Also, wheres the TRD supercharger kit!?)

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  Toyota Quality!! - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By NCToyotaowner - September 2 - 10:56 pm

  My wife and I just picked up our 2008 Highlander Limited last week (the first day they arrived). Weve owned 2 Lexus and a Toyota 4Runner and love the Toyota brand. In fact, we found out about the new Highlander while I was buying my 2007 Tacoma earlier this month. This SUV is absolutely the best SUV weve owned and weve had a Hummer H2, Lexus RX 330 and Toyota 4Runner. It drives like a dream the new design is outstanding.

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  Worth the wait - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By Charmie - September 2 - 6:13 pm

  Had to wait SEVERAL months for the Sport with SIDE IMPACT Air bags. Rolled off the lot with 5 miles on it! It is in a class by itself. Clean lines, crisp interior. TONS of places to out things. And the burgandy color! The responses while driving are fantastic. STOPS on a dime for deer crossing!

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  Amazing little car! Best commuter car - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By Kristina Brazeal - September 2 - 2:26 pm

  I love this car. Its been great, dependable, reliable all its days.

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  Refined & reliable - 2011 Toyota Highlander
  By John Doskoch - September 2 - 2:00 am

  We splurged on the 4WD Limited and glad we did! This made in USA SUV is a pleasure to drive; a quiet, comfortable ride with ample power on demand. Toyota makes a great V6 engine. Really like the new front end design. Limited features at the top of my list include Smart Key keyless entry, push button start, JBL stereo w/XM, heated seats, back up camera. Find the MPG display gauge useful too. MPG has been about 20 on first 2 tanks - good but could be better. Snow is here and I can hardly tell! Drives very securely through snow and slush. Havent had to engage the "snow" mode yet. This is a great family vehicle. Kids ask all the time to drive in it.

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  Excellent buy - 2011 Toyota Sienna
  By nice van - September 2 - 2:00 am

  Bought our van in April and have 8k on it. Build quality is excellent and we have had absolutely no problems. We have 3 young children and avoided a minivan at all costs, but love the functionality of this van. It has made our lives easier. Interior is a very nice place to spend time, and it is by far the best looking minivan. The new Honda does not even compare and we looked when it came out. Great gas mileage especially considering the power this van has. Major bang for the buck if you avoid silly and pricey options.

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  toyota corollaS 2009 - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By erica fisher - September 2 - 2:00 am

  I always get excellent customer service at colonial Toyota when I bring my car in for service. I have never owned a Toyota before, and it wont be my last! I would recommend the car and service at colonial Toyota.

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  Im loving my new Camry! - 2010 Toyota Camry
  By beautifulrx3 - September 2 - 2:00 am

  I used to have a 1996 light blue camry which I loved. It was a great car. Alas, I gave it to my grandmother and it is still running strong. Decided to purchase a new Camry. This car drives like a dream! Its a pretty gray metallic color. Its great on gas also. Ive had for two weeks now havent had to fill the tank. I can plug my Ipod touch into the Aux and play all my songs! Its about 30 degrees here so my seat warmer is getting a lot of action. The trunk is big and roomy. The seats are comfortable and cozy. My windows are tinted, so when Im riding through town, I feel like a star..Im not kidding! I am so glad I invested in another toyota. They really are great cars.