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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  Expected Value - 1994 Toyota Camry
  By Scarface - August 25 - 10:00 am

  I purchased this 1994 Toyota Camry LE 4- cyl two years ago with 80,000 miles on it. Its been two years now of me owning the car and it has help up in the best way. The ride is smooth and everything works the way it should. I have had no problems with it. It now has 150,000 miles on it and is holding up like a worrior.

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  Fun, Sporty, Compact - 2005 Toyota Matrix
  By ETNPNYS - August 25 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I have done a LOT of research before purchasing this vehicle. We were sold on Toyota by the fact that her 97 Tercel has had no problems and just reached 90k miles. Their vehicles are just exceptional. This car is not the fastest on the road, but it is plenty fast. No other car on the market offers the versatility, performance, luxury, and low price.

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  Hanks Toy.Camry Review - 2000 Toyota Camry
  By Henry Mitchell - August 25 - 10:00 am

  My silver Camry CE is a great car. It now has 41,000 miles and is still very reliable. Have had no mechanical problems in 4 years. Have replaced the tires recently, and had regular service about every 3,000 miles and thats the only extra expense Ive had except gas, of course.

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  EXCELLENT - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By TOM LOCKWOOD - August 25 - 10:00 am

  SMOOTH RIDING SUV THAT DRIVES LIKE A CAR. OTHER THAN FUEL ECONOMY THE CAR IS A 10.

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  as good as civic & focus - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By 34yearoldkid - August 25 - 10:00 am

  my wife drives a bus for a living. on the weekend she works delvering dominos pizza. the toyota collora ce has got to be one of the best choices out there. adgile, quick, good on gas, it also looks sharp. some say it looks like a baby lexus. we paid $11,888 +tax and fees ect. this new car replaced our 1997 toyota corolla.

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  good car - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By carolyn sampong - August 25 - 10:00 am

  iI would love to have a toyota corolla for myself and i would love to have a very nice gas mileage and i would love to have something that is dependable

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  LOVE IT - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By snem - August 25 - 10:00 am

  Gas mileage is good. This car has a lot of extras for you money. We were looking for a car with alot of options for little money and we found it. Everything thing in the car is great. We just recently took a trip and we have 6 people in our family and had so much room.

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  Great Vehicle for the Money - 2009 Toyota Highlander
  By mmrpharmd - August 25 - 1:43 am

  I am a car buying addict, literally. I have owned a lot of different vehicles in the last 6 years including a CTS, BMW 330i, Jeep Grand Cherokee, RX 330, GS 300, infiniti G35 and now the highlander. I have to say the build quality is not a BMW but it ranks up there with the Lexus and better than Infiniti. I was definitely in the market for an SUV this go around and was seriously looking and comparing and researching so that I might keep this one longer than 2 years! I drove the Volvo XC60, MDX, RX 350, and Audi Q5. I loved the Highlander though and the price was the best. I have a loaded AWD with Nav for 36000. I could not see buying a comparably equipped RX for 11000 more! Good buy!

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  Nice truck. - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By john hall - August 24 - 10:46 pm

  Great truck. Fantastic acceleration for a truck in this price range. Gas mileage is pretty good considering engine size. If you want great gas mileage, be prepared to sacrifice performance and acceleration. I get 18-20 on the road, driving conservatively. A little less, driving aggressively. Give me acceleration and performance over gas mileage anyday. Glad I bought this truck.

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  Tundra: Built like a Rock! - 2003 Toyota Tundra
  By leezjosh - August 24 - 4:36 pm

  Bought my truck in August of 2003. Currently has 150,000 miles. It has NEVER refused to start or break down on the road. The only complaint is due to a worn rear bearing, which is somewhat due to wear and tear. Acceleration is very good, leaps ahead of the crowd at stoplights. Very comfy and ergonomically correct interior. Cloth is plushy. Exterior paint is too thin and chips easily. Bumper is not very strong compared to previous Chevy 1500 bumper (Front and Rear) but adequate.