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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  A Great Choice - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By JoeWino - January 31 - 10:00 am

  We have had 7 Toyota Cars over the years but this is our first Toyota SUV. Handles like a car. Great pick up. very nice features. I expect this one to be around our house a long time. got a great deal from the dealer. Bought it over the internet for 100 over invoice. Fully loaded. Wife is happy so what can I say. We still have a 96 Avalon that runs like the day I bought it only now it has 115,000 on it. The 99 Tacoma is my daughters now and it is still going strong. Great value and you get quite a bit for the money. Plus you get Toyota quality. Go buy one!

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  awesome car - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By jessy626 - January 31 - 10:00 am

  its an awesome and fun car to drive, definately my first dream car

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  Magnificent - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By Tatiana - January 31 - 10:00 am

  I had Toyotas all my life and Toyota is dependable, fun to drive and Quality cars and most important they are safe.

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  great car - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By shdlly7 - January 31 - 10:00 am

  the 2003 corolla has a more attractive body style than in recent years, but thats not what makes this a great car. It has great gas mileage and that helps me out because i drive 80 miles to work and only use up 1/8 of a tank. It has a very smooth ride. The interior in mine is dark grey fabric seating with chrome shift and handles. It just looks smooth.

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  corolla - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By amndancer - January 31 - 10:00 am

  So far my car has been wonderful, as was my last Corolla. The Corollas are very reliable and economical cars. I would reccomend this car to anyone.

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  I AM IMPRESSED - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By IMPRESSED - January 31 - 10:00 am

  I owned various vehicles in my life from Mercedes to GMC to Honda, but when I test drove the Toyota Camry, I was impressed by how quiet it was. The engine sounded smooth and the ride was just right. The interior of the leather covered XLE with wood trim definitely looked better than my 99 E430. I loved the sound system, the heated seats, the VSC and the eight airbags that came with the car that I was riding in. There were many other gadgets and cool things to explore in the Camry. I truly believe that if you want to get the bang for your buck and treat yourself to some affordable luxury then you should definitely consider looking at a Camry.

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  Solid - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By JP - January 31 - 4:36 am

  Very reliable, good-looking, solid car. V6 is quick (havent driven the 8), and it is a fairly comfortable car, even on long drives. After looking at a new 05 Explorer, chose the used 4Runner (w/13k), and have never looked back. This car runs the same as the day I first drove it. Mechanically and interior-wise everything is solid. Even the way the doors close - THUMP! - solid. Very smooth and confident drive. If you are looking for an all around solid SUV, then this is the one. But dont take my word for it, drive one yourself.

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  Matrix is a true quality Toyota - 2006 Toyota Matrix
  By Dave Swaney - January 31 - 2:26 am

  I have 45K on my Matrix, and I have done nothing but change the oil and repair curb collision damage. Nothing rattles, nothing wheezes. Im going to have to take it in at 50K just out of discipline. What a car.

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  Its been almost perfect - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By JB - January 31 - 1:36 am

  Unbelievable power and gas mileage for this size car. We always get well over 30 mpg on the highway. Quiet and smooth and has tons of leg room. Continues to look beautiful after 2+ years. No problems so far.

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  Long term owner - 2001 Toyota Corolla
  By tcle2001 - January 31 - 12:17 am

  I purchased a used LE in 2001 with 17k miles. I now have 170k miles on the odometer. The cost of ownership for this vehicle has been good despite my car suffering from many of the woes documented by others. The major concern is the engine. Despite by the book maintenance my engine expired at 146k miles. Premature piston ring wear leads to piston slap and eventually a broken wrist pin. I also have the continuous CEL. A note to other owners, if your fuel economy deteriorates, change the mass air flow sensor. It is a cheap and easy fix. I also had the broken door handle and the sagging headliner. At the end of the day it is cheap tranportation.