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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  i love my toyota - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By jenay - August 30 - 2:00 am

  i love this truck becuase it has all the 4wd capabilities without the 4wd price and insurance costs. i get so many looks when im driving it, and it is just so fun to drive.

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  sport 4 runner -excellent choice - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By cassidy73 - August 30 - 2:00 am

  i love it. i feel safe and in control.. the truck handles like a smooth sports car..the room is big enought and quite effcient to tow all my gear. the radio sounds super.. last night it snowed, and it handled like a dream.

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  Toyota 4Runner - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By R. Chan - August 30 - 2:00 am

  I recently purchased a 4runner, and let me say it is by far the best SUV I have ever had. This is my 4th SUV, having a Blazer,Rodeo,and Explorer previously. To make this short, Ill take the 4runner over my Lexus GS 400 anyday!

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  Not a pretender SUV - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By Trout_Man - August 30 - 2:00 am

  Sweet on road, a beast off, for those who want extreme truck toughness w/o sacrificing feel and function. No clue whats up w/ Edmunds rating, but it does exactly what it was built for. Opt for the X-REAS system - Toyotas clever shock upgrade that removes 90% of the "truck" feel.If you want the absolute best vehicle for deep snow, heavy mud, old overgrown logging roads, or raw mtn. climbing, anywhere near this price range, this is it. Short of an H2, Land Rover or Land Cruiser. For better mileage, car frame, more storage, no truck ruggedness, & parts hanging down underneath (low clearance & fragile, but room for more storage above) there are better "SUVs".

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  My 2004 Corolla S - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By Throck - August 30 - 2:00 am

  I traded a 2002 Corolla which was ok but did not like. My 2004 Corolla is much peppier, smoother on shifts with automatic and has a tighter suspension. It is easy to drive on Interstate and accelerates well to merge into traffic. Engine is quieter than my old one and idles so smooth I have to check the Tach to see if it is still running--- The new remodled and engineered Corolla is a job well done by Toyota---TC

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  Keeps getting better - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By Joe Schmidt - August 30 - 2:00 am

  My last Camry was a 1993 which now has 290,000 miles on it and is driven by our son every day. Our 2004 only cost $700 more than the 93 and is a better car with substantially more content and improvements. We get 32-36 MPG and think this is the best car you can possibly buy in this price range. Its quieter and better riding than a new Accord which is its only competition in my opinion. How can you fault an automobile that is this comfortable and quiet while delivering such good MPG? Im not crazy about the style however all modern sedans have a generic look to them anyway.

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  Excellent car and minimal repair costs - 2002 Toyota Prius
  By Jacob - August 29 - 3:18 pm

  I have owned Prii all my life and have learned to work on them myself. The cars are immaculate in terms of just about everything. But do remember- this is a car from 2002 and will have different interior and what not from cars today. The first generation Prii are just about as good as you can get. Over the 2 I have had, I constantly average about 48 MPG. 44 @ 70+, 55 @ 55+, 55 @ 30-55 MPH. The headlights do SUCK on these! But that is nothing that cannot be fixed with about $30, Amazon, and something called XENON headlights that will light up the road. Costs $30 and takes about 20 minutes to set up. I want to make something clear to those who say the repair costs are tremendous: you are wrong! If the main hybrid battery were to fail, the cost is NOT $2000+. I repair 2000-2009 Prius hybrid batteries as a side job all the time. I personally buy working used batteries with less than 120k miles on the for between $200 and $500 and it takes less than an HOUR to replace yourself or if you find a shop, or if you chose to have someone replace it, then expect around $300 to install. On average I charge $700 to replace the hybrid battery completely- thats the cost of EVERYTHING. If you want a new battery and want Toyota to install it personally, then of course expect a couple thousand- what did you expect for a car that was $20,000 when it first came out? Thats like buying a brand new engine from GMC when your head gasket goes out. I mean seriously? Use your brain! Not only this, but the hybrid battery almost never fails entirely- it is usually a couple of cells which cost less than $40 and I charge less than $70 each to replace. Shop around at your local shop, replacing the battery is actually simple. For those of you who are willing to learn, look a video on youtube of how to change a prius hybrid battery. My first time took me 50 minutes. Takes about a full hour after you put extra features that will protect the newly installed battery. Not only this, but you can RECYCLE the bad battery for about $150 and thats the price I buy the bad batteries at(which can be repaired by simply replacing cells). I also drive this car on average around 40,000 miles a year because I travel so often. This is a review from someone who not only has 3 total cars that are 1st-3rd generation Prii and not a single other type of car and who works on them and learned by himself. For those who do not know, 1st generation= 1997-2003(1997-1999 Japan only), 2nd generation= 2004-200, 3rd generation= 2010-2015 :). And an extra note- I buy my Prii on Craigslist and generally get them with less than 140k miles for under $1,900.

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  1997 4Runner Fan - 1997 Toyota 4Runner
  By James - August 29 - 3:00 pm

  I purchased my 4Runner used with 44K on the odometer and have really enjoyed this ute with over 100K miles logged on it during my ownership. It is a great ride and I enjoy the five speed. Its my daily driver, but has seen complex off-road trails. Beyond regular oil changes, I replaced the clutch at 140K on the odometer as well as the oxygen sensors on the left bank of the V6 engine. The antenna is broken (second time) and I elected to get Sirius radio instead of paying a dealer $330 to repair this costly item. A spring-loaded clip on one cup holder is broken - dealer quote to repair is over $125. Ive decided to live with the broken clip versus paying a dealer to fix this item.

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  42,000 miles of smiles!!!! - 2011 Toyota Corolla
  By therollaman - August 29 - 1:44 pm

  I cant imagine these horrid reviews other than to think that its sour grapes Mazda and Honda owners trolling. I have over 40K miles of hard mileage calculations, and I have NEVER turned in less than 34 mpg. The lifetime average of my Corolla is a handsome 37.7 mpg (go to Fuelly.com where I post as The Rolla). Never have I had any serious issue with my Canadian-made Corolla. Gripes? OK, it gurgles softly sometimes once you just begin to move forward. The seat height adjuster sometimes gets pushed down getting into and out of the car. Maybe its a little boring to drive, but at a paltry $17,146 out the door, yeah try to hang with that, overpriced, 20 mpg Mazda zoom-zoom gas hog.

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  Very pleased - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Tadams - August 29 - 5:06 am

  I went from a 92 Camry XLS (4-cyl) to 2006 Rav4 4x4 Base 4-cyl. Needed cargo room to haul band equipment. Rides very smooth and quiet, not quite as smooth as the Camry but still very good for a small SUV. 24 mpg city, 29.5 hiway, both with AC on max. I think Toyota makes a very good 4 cyl engine.