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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  Great car - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By Kenneth Andersen - October 16 - 10:00 am

  Very reliable and predictable. On balance, its hard to beat.

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  camry - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By janet2k2 - October 16 - 10:00 am

  its a very reliable car. the car has never died unexpectedly or had any other mechanical malfunctions.

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  problems - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By sherman trayner - October 16 - 10:00 am

  I have a hesitation when excellarating from a standing position, also has a popping sound when steering wheel is turned, which is felt in the steering wheel. I have not had it back to dealer yet to be looked at. It dont seem to have the quality built in, as my 98 sienna

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  Great Family Vehicle - 2008 Toyota Sequoia
  By Jonathan - October 16 - 1:20 am

  I was interested in the Sequoia before the redesign, and after seeing the new 2008s it moved to top of my list. We got the Limited edition and added the dual headrest DVDs with 2nd Row bucket seats. I could not be more happy with this car. It is primarily my wifes and she goes on and on about how much she loves driving this car. It has an incredible turning radius for a car of its size and drives very quiet and smooth. For long trips, the ride, the navigation, and the rear DVDs make traveling with our 3 year old and 3 month old a breeze.

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  Grille design allows condenser damage - 2009 Toyota Sienna
  By Dave Shantz - October 15 - 9:23 pm

  I just found out my AC condenser leaked all the freon due to a stone impact. The openings in the front grille measure two inches by three- quarters of an inch. This design allows stones to impact the condenser directly behind the grille. The $1300 repair cost should be covered under warranty, but its NOT!!!! I bought a new car so that I wouldnt have to pay for these kind of repair costs. Buyer beware.

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  Well built - 2000 Toyota Sienna
  By will199104 - October 15 - 6:30 pm

  I bought my sienna in 2005 with 75K; 7 years later it now has 160K and is still running strong. In my opinion the sienna is rather homely when compared to other minivans, however it makes up for this with its excellent built quality and reliability. I have never had any problems with this van is the seven years that I owned it. It has excellent build quality both under the hood as well as in the body (very sturdy). It is not very fun to drive but I have yet to find a minivan that is. The sienna does have an excellent ride both on the highway as well as in the city. I am amazed at how well it has held up over the years.

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  08 Highlander Hybrid Ltd. w/ Nav - 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Bill of CA - October 15 - 11:10 am

  Coming out of a 00 Lexus RX300, I tend to compare the Highlander w/ that SUV. The driving position is not as comfortable as I cant rest my elbows on either armrests when Im driving. The rest of the SUV is good for hauling my family of 5 around town. DVD system w/ wireless headsets is great b/c I can listen to my music while the kids watch their Cartoons. The Nav works OK, but sometimes it sends me in circles. The 2nd row configuration is what sold me on this SUV; it gets you close to what a minivan can do. It misses the minivan in cargo space aft the 3rd row-its just enough for a folded Combi single stroller, but not much more. It makes up by getting better MPG than the minivan-at a cost.

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  Sips gas, limo like back seat, great family car! - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By blackpoint - October 14 - 10:08 am

  As a young family of 3 we wanted to get a car where the kids elbows dont touch which sparks arguments and they cant kick the front seats which drives me nutty. Low MPG SUVs were out and putting money into a dreadful minivan felt as good as paying federal taxes. We are in our 30s and this car seemed out of our age group but the Touring edition adds some youthful style and lets face it, still better looking than a minivan. The reclining rear seats are great for the kids. Smooth and quiet ride even at 90,000 miles and about 31 MPG on the highway. Rides equal to a newer vehicle but we only paid about $13,000. Not bad for a large family car with leather, heated seats, and a moonroof.

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  Great little trucklet - 2010 Toyota Highlander
  By Andynliz - October 14 - 10:03 am

  This thing is great. Drives smooth, quiet inside, huge power. It rolls somewhat on corners, but its tall, what do you expect?. The interior design is fantastic. It has plenty of room in the middle row and sufficient room for short adults in the 3rd row (though I wouldnt want to sit back there for a long road trip) and certainly big enough for kids. Also cool: the third row folds flat easily & the tonneau cover and insert from the middle row both stow in the car - no lost parts. The visibility out the back is limited, so backing up is fun, and the slab-like hood and front fenders make it difficult to see the corners.

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  Solid Vehicle, Some Issues at 78K - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By Jerry - October 14 - 10:00 am

  Our 2004 Rav 4 has been a very solid performer and been reliable until today. At 78,000 miles (we just learned) the steering unit is leaking, the front brakes need rotors turned and pads replaced (2nd time). Also the water pump is leaking. All told - it looks like Toyota will charge $1200 to get things fixed. These are the first issues weve had, so I cant complain too loudly. Savannah Toyota has exceptional service and sales staff - so we dont mind supporting their business.