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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  Long 4200 Mile Trip - 2006 Toyota Matrix
  By Dan - June 21 - 2:16 am

  Drove from AZ thru CO, KS to MO and then back thru AR, OK, and NM. Camped out in it a total of 6 nights. A blowup mattress will fit in back with the seats down and forward. Performed well in the CO mountains for the size of the engine. Able to maintain 65-70 mph on the 6-7% grades. Averaged 32- 33 mpg depending on the speed. Great for an AWD! Used the AC outlet to blowup the mattress, use my laptop, and charge our camera batteries. A definite plus! The seats were fairly comfortable for the long-hauls. An adjustable lumbar support would be nice. Has been reliable so far. The sunroof cover squeaked for awhile but the dealership fixed it. No really major complaints.

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  truck is great!!1 - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By vinny - June 21 - 2:00 am

  Ive tried them all the sequoia is far and wide the best!!

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  My Sequoia Saved My Wifes Life - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By wfegley - June 21 - 2:00 am

  We only had our Sequoia for 1700 miles. It was the nicest vehicle we ever owned. It was roomy, comfortable, quiet, and peppy enough to get on down the highway. Its most important feature was our crash test. A moron made a left turn in front of my wife at point blank range. My wife t-boned the moron at 40 mph. The morons vehicle turned into scrap metal. The Sequoias front end crumpled as it was suppose to, but the passenger compartment was not compromised. The seat belts and air bags kept my wife from sustaining any serious injuries. The paramedics told my wife that our Sequoia saved her life.

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  Most Disappointing New Toyota - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By dogman - June 21 - 2:00 am

  This is NOT a luxury vehicle! Toyota built this using the parts bin from their truck line. Several switches are not illuminated at night.(in a $46K vehicle!!!) The heating/AC controls suck. There is a large protrusion in the front Pass. foot area due to a stupid design. The vehicle is just too high. Overall quality is marginal. The new 4 Runner Interior is much nicer. VERY, very disappointing vehicle.

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  Most Disappointing New Toyota - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By Dogman - June 21 - 2:00 am

  This is NOT a luxury vehicle! Toyota built this using the parts bin from their truck line. Several switches are not illuminated at night.(in a $46K vehicle!!!) The heating/AC controls suck. There is a large protrusion in the front Pass. foot area due to a stupid design. The vehicle is just too high. Overall quality is marginal. The new 4 Runner Interior is much nicer. VERY, very disappointing vehicle.

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  I loved this car! - 1995 Toyota Corolla
  By SPE - June 21 - 2:00 am

  This is a great fun car! Fun to drive, easy to handle, comfortable, good gas mileage. It has very small blindspots. Protects driver well in a crash...believe me- I know.

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  one mans opinion - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By Jeffber - June 21 - 2:00 am

  This car is fun to drive and the looks with the sport package are better than all the other compact suvs. The seats could use lumbar support. The performance is ok for a 4 cylinder (it’s not a race car). The gas mileage is awesome. The ride and handling are great. I purchased this because I have 1 child and another on the way and the ranger extend cab wasn’t going to cut it; this suv is perfect for me. The legroom in the back is ok for kids but 4 adults riding in this car would not be comfortable.

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  best of both worlds - 2002 Toyota Tacoma
  By outlaw - June 21 - 2:00 am

  excellent pickup with room for four secure excellent quality a little pricey average mpg around town 18, 20 highway optional push button 4wd is nice feature in this truck

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  Im buying a What! - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By tony-TnT - June 21 - 2:00 am

  Yea, could you believe a 27 year-old bachelor owning a Camry....? My thoughts exactly. But I tell you what, after driving this beautiful Black SE Camry, Ill probably never buy anything else. (other than a lexus). From the looks, the drive, the reputation, and Toyotas established reliability factor, I was sold.(I promise the 1.9% financing had nothing to do with it)

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  Simply the best - 1999 Toyota Avalon
  By rowland - June 20 - 7:00 pm

  Purchased new in 1999, this car has been totally reliable. Have over 100,000 miles and uses no oil and engine is quiet. Had to replace the front struts at 70,000 (a common problem with Avalons-$600). Repaced front brake pads at 80,000, rear still good. Amazing. Easy to drive, quiet, roomy, and lots of power. Make sure you replace the timing belt at 90000 and car should run well for a long time. This is our fourth Toyota and one of the best.