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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  Best car in the world - 1992 Toyota Camry
  By ps3gamer - December 12 - 1:14 pm

  I bought this car over a year ago for $2,500, and it has been the best car I have ever owned. It had 113,000 miles on it when I bought it. Now it has about 135,000 miles on it, and it is still going strong. I have driven it all the way to Texas and back (from Alabama), and I would trust it to take me anywhere. I have only had to replace the front struts and an O2 sensor. Other than that, Ive only had to perform routine maintenance on it. Total amount of money spent on maintenance is less than $500. Ill take that over a monthly car payment any day. Rides great, is super comfortable, and I wouldnt trade it for most anything. And no, its not for sale. :)

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  First car I test drove, bought it, love it still - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By Dee - December 12 - 12:38 am

  Ive had my 2004 toyota corolla, for almost ten years now. Ive never had such a reliable car! I replaced the battery once, three years ago, and replaced my clutch. Other than that, regular (more or less) oil changes and new tires every couple of years and its been solid! Just got it repainted (got stuck behind a snow plow with the plow down....and no snow on the ground! Plus Sun damage), as opposed to getting into a New cat payment. So glad I did! Im sure at 160,000 miles, I still have a a few more years left in her! :)

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  Great car - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By steve - December 11 - 6:43 am

  I love driving this car I dont believe I will ever drive anything else. When time to trade I will get a new RAV4. It drives great, very reliable and looks great

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  Love my Toyota - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By DBrown - December 11 - 5:36 am

  After working for another Japanese auto manufacturer for 18 years I decided on a Toyota. The Highlander 4cyl was everything I was looking for as a single mom who still wanted to look good riding my teenage daughter around with her friends and easy on my pocketbook. The fuel economy is fantastic and the power of the 4cyl has not disappointed me yet. Under the hood is not even foreign to me as everything is clearly color coded so even I can add the necessary fluids. I love the automatic shift placement up higher which gives me more room for easy placement of personal items. Love my Toyota!

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  What do you want - 2003 Toyota Tundra
  By Ray Stvens - December 11 - 2:00 am

  It is still only 95% full-sized truck! I love it,my 3rd Toyota and would buy another! I really like thte smooth powerfull V8 I am averaging 17mpg on a tank full. I do take it off-road and it performs well,cant wait to replace the factory tires though with some good"diggers".I bought it for safe reliable transportation and to haul my snowmobiles,I believe it will do all that just fine for 200,000 miles like my last ones! One more thing..it will look good doing it.

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  Excellent Overall - 2004 Toyota Tundra
  By MMoore - December 11 - 2:00 am

  Ive only had my Limited Tundra for a few weeks now, but so far I love it! True, the gas mileage could be better, but the performance and ride are great. More options would be a plus. You cant get a sunroof AND seat heaters for some reason. I hate how you cant get factory options like leather, wood trim or rear seat entertainment systems because the port (GST) orders all of them without these options so they can sell and install their own aftermarket versions.

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  LIKE MY HIGHLANDER - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By BOB M. - December 11 - 2:00 am

  AFTER MONTHS OF LOOKING AROUND AND RESEARCH ON YOUR WEBSITE. I FELT CONFIDENT THAT THE HIGHLANDER WAS FOR ME. I DRIVES LIKE A CAR IS EASY TO HANDLE. THE SIZE IS ALSO GOOD FOR ME NOT TOO BIG. YOUR WEBSITE IS ABSOLUTELY GREAT HELPFUL AND INFORMATIVE.

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  The Best minivan Ive ever driven. - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By L-F-L - December 11 - 2:00 am

  My husband got this van as a "whole family" present during Christmas. I got to drive the Sienna during Christmas Day while there was barely any traffic and I must say that its ride is smooth and very car-like. (This is my first minivan since our Camry & ES300). Steering is tight and performance is pretty good. Fuel economy suprised us when is was up to 28MPG. Pretty good for a large car. I loved how luxurious the car was. Overall, Its the best minivan Ive ever driven.

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  2004 camry xle 4cyl - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By rgpharmd - December 11 - 2:00 am

  quiet, comfortable ride, easy to turn, very roomy inside, everything standard

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  Great Car - 2005 Toyota Matrix
  By Greg - December 11 - 12:46 am

  This may be the best car Ive ever owned. Very well designed from an ergonomic standpoint. I now have 147000 miles on it and havent spent a nickel on it for maintenance beyond the obvious (oil changes, brakes, tires and the like). I check my gas mileage at every fill-up, that being my "thing," and get 30mpg if I have been throwing caution to the wind, and upwards to 33 mpg if I slow down; most of my driving is on the highway. It isnt the quietest car I have been in but it is comfortable. I do find I have to be quite careful to look backwards for a blind spot. However in this age of craving hybrids, this is a great car with the standard internal combustion engine.