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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  Typical Toyota, awesome! - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By gunner - March 8 - 2:00 am

  Taught chasis, quiet engine with a nice v6 growl under full throttle, nimble handling, smooth powertrain youd never guess it was AWD. Flawless build quality, very nice cloth seating fabric and excellent color selections. The center console is oddly designed and frustrating to use its underside storage shelf while driving.

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  Fun little zippy car with pep - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By danregency - March 8 - 2:00 am

  I love this car! I love to drive it. It is my commuter car. I have a Toyota Tocoma. This car is affordable, great on gas and is smooth and comfortable to drive

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  No Regrets - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By sabari - March 8 - 2:00 am

  After test driving most of the other competing Japanese cars I decided to settle for Corolla LE considering the Quality, Economy, Resale value, Technology & the Design. Last but not the least the price which you pay to get all the above factors matching nearer to your satisfaction.

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  A little luxury car... - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By OMD - March 8 - 2:00 am

  Considered owning Subaru Forester, couldnt justify spending 23K and up, even though AWD is great. Chose Corolla because it fits my budget, had more comfortable ride & felt more luxurious than Civic. Automatic plenty peppy, but engine quite noisy under hard accelaration. Otherwise pretty quiet in the cabin. Workmanship is superb - you feel like a million bucks - no rattles, loose panels - everything works like a charm. The 6-speaker CD/Radio/Cassette system is superb. Got this baby at dealer invoice but worth every penny even at MSRP.

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  BEST CAR I EVER OWNED - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By JOEL SANCHEZ - March 8 - 2:00 am

  I WOULD HAVE TO SAY MY BEST EXPERIENCE WITH THIS CAR WAS BUYING THIS CAR I COULDENT BE ANY HAPPIER WITH IT.

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  JUSTA PERFECT CAR - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By SKYSLASH - March 8 - 2:00 am

  I am a long time toyota buyer,starting way back in 1975 with a toyota pick up. I have owned 5 Toyotas over the years,and I like them so much, that thi s time ,I bought two 2003 Corollas. I have a teen age son who is even now shopping for his own toyota.I wouldnt trust any other vehicle for his safety. nuff said.

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  Best in Class - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By EntsPal - March 8 - 2:00 am

  Purchased this vehicle for son going off to college. Found a car coming off a business lease with only 5K and a great price. Final decision was between Elantra and Corolla. Corolla design in and out and features won me over - although it was a tough choice!

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  not a mini-van - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By ontariowayne - March 8 - 2:00 am

  Looked at every vehicle on the market since we did not want a mini-van. My wife and I both born and raised with cars with 5-spd sticks. We both hate automatics and minis. Until now. only 1500 km and love it. Every possible feature is on this van that a person needs/wants.

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  The Rattler - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By LADYMAKEUP - March 8 - 2:00 am

  This is a wonderful car if you dont mind hearing noises every so often. The car drove great, but I took it back to the dealer 3 times and said somethings rattling and they told me I had sensitive ears. I had to have the rotors replaced after making 5 payments and Im not hard on my brakes. Its very roomy. I lived out of the trunk. I had a closet away from home. Like the fact that it had a full size tire, but the tires werent so good in wet conditions.

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  2005 Highlander - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By Steve Bucher - March 8 - 1:20 am

  After one year and 16,000 miles, our Highlander has been everything we expected. Great ride, good fuel economy, and excellent utility. No mechanical problems whatsoever.