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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  Toyota 4 Runner SR5 2WD V8 Review - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By Martins in West, TX - November 25 - 10:00 am

  The new 4 Runner has a much more comfortable ride than the older models. No bouncing feeling on the road. The vehicle is very stable. The 3rd row seating is great for kids. Not enough foot room for adults. Telescoping Steering wheel would be great for SR5 but not offered unless you scale up to a sport or limited model. Sharp appearance. Plenty of room. The vehicle will tow well and towing hitch is standard. Be careful with towing hitch. Some models come with 7500 LB tow hitch and others come with 5000 LB hitch. The 7500 LB hitch comes with transmission cooler located inside the front grill.

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  A great vehicle - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By John A Albree - November 25 - 10:00 am

  Traded 2004 Avalon for this SUV. Smart move for me.

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  Kims car - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By cricketman - November 25 - 10:00 am

  Very dependable, and comfortable. Traded a 97 Buick Riviera, and the power is comperable, even with the loss of cubic inches, and cylinders, advances in design more than make up for it. I actually enjoy having 4 doors again, for ease of entry, and not having to move for in-laws that travel with us sometimes. Getting softer, or lazier as we get older. Highly recommend the Camry as a daily driver, and even a road car.

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  Just a great value.... - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By brt714 - November 25 - 10:00 am

  I just bought a 2005 Corolla LE after driving a 1992 Nissan pickup for almost 200,000 miles. I ran the Nissan as long as I could and have to admit it was the best vehicle I have ever owned. The only part I replaced on it was the starter. Not bad for almost 200,000 miles. The Corolla LE is very smooth and confortable and as all Japanese cars, is very solid and well- built. I was looking at Camrys, but with gas prices in the scary range I went with something a little more fuel- efficient and something with a lower monthly payment. I was showing it to a coworker and she thought it was a Camry

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  S-pectacular - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By evdawg22 - November 25 - 7:36 am

  I have the S type and with the peppy engine and all new body design I think this car is a bargain. I wish had known about the XRS before I bought the S.

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  Good truck - 2007 Toyota Tundra
  By Bill - November 24 - 5:03 pm

  First Toyota. Very quiet ride, handles great plenty of power for a 4.7 lit. engine, gas mileage 16 to17 mpg. Have cap on it, racks with tools inside.

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  Declining Reputation - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By San Jose - November 24 - 10:50 am

  I bought the Camry because of past reputation. That has gone completely down the drain for Toyota. Maybe they are using bad suppliers or are not engineering for superior reliability now. List of issues I and/or most 2007 owners had: Failed CV Joint 40k, uncorrectable dash rattle, poor tranny performance even with updated ECU flashes, failed brake components. The ride, comfort, and drive is as expected, however, the quality and reputation of yore are completely gone for the flagship Camry. Look at the Accord, they have none of these TSB problems! Big regret, should have waited for the new accord! Just paid $300 to fix the failed brake issue, feels like I own a Chevy!

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  Superb SUV - 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By crk - November 24 - 9:53 am

  This Land Cruiser is our 4th Toyota and I just cant say enough good things about this vehicle. We bought it with safety being our top priority and I feel very safe driving it; there are airbags everywhere and the car drives very stable. In turns, it does not feel top heavy and it accelerates well for the size of the vehicle. We have NEVER had any mechanical issues and that says a lot for a vehicle with some many extra luxury items; EXTREMELY reliable. I concur with the majority of the reviews, paying a few extra dollars in gas per tank is an insurance policy for reliability and safety!

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  Want my 2003 back! - 2010 Toyota Sequoia
  By 3kids1dog - November 24 - 9:13 am

  OK - I have to admit, this purchase was a compromise for me. I wasnt sold on the new HUGE interior, but to accommodate 3 kids + 1 dog we decided to take a chance on this beast, especially considering our love of our 2003 Limited Sequoia. Here are my complaints: 1 - ITS HUGE. Hard to park such an enormous vehicle, even though the turning radius has been greatly improved. 2 - The interior finish is below par. For $50K youd think youd get nice finishes, not cheap plastic everywhere. Seats are NOT comfortable. 3rd - I miss the cargo space in my 2003 Sequoia. The self storing 3rd row makes the cargo space "short" from floor to ceiling.

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  4running wild - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By Mark Maggio - November 23 - 1:50 pm

  I am now a converted Toyota owner. The feel of the vehicle is excellent and the quality and finish are top notch. It is a fun ride that handles like a champ in the snow and the mud. Driving has not been this fun in a long time.