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 big Little Car - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By Pepe - November 12 - 3:53 am

  Purchased a new Prius 06, love it, I am 6ft 5in and 300 lbs fit better then the Accord, Civic, Camry or Corolla. Excellent features, fit and finish, was really surprised on the passing power. I was driving a Chevy 1500 HD with 300 hp engine so was used to power. But this vehicle did just great. Drove it back had to go up the Grapevine in CA, no problem maintained 70MPH. Just love all the technical features, i.e. rear view camera, Bluetooth, navigation system, power info.

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  The first 260 miles - 2002 Toyota Avalon
  By HERB - November 12 - 1:30 am

  The car is excellant.It has a very nice ride and the interior looks an feels great. I have every thing I want on it. I will be very happy with it if it holds up to all the raves.

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  They dont make them like this anymore. - 2000 Toyota Avalon
  By ncguy33 - November 12 - 1:06 am

  Bought this car used with 126000 miles on it. Now a few miles from 200000, I havnt had to do anything but oil changes to it. These 2000-2004 model Avalons are the last of the great Toyotas. The newer Toyotas quality cannot compare. Theres no better used sedan out there, bar none.. from the comfort and the gas mileage to the realiability.

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  Disappointed - 2009 Toyota 4Runner
  By zazoux - November 11 - 9:33 pm

  I could not agree more with Jeefs review: something is seriously wrong with the transmission. When I get off the gas, the car shifts down, and instead of coasting along, the increased rpm slows it down. It actually shifts into first gear at as much as 14 mph, leading to a jerky bounce when you re-accelerate, only to immediately notice its mistake and shift into the (also very short) second gear. Bottom line, this nervous transmission actually makes the car quite annoying to drive. Other gripes: The car is overall too smart for its own good: it wont let you turn off the air intake when in defog mode (think school bus). Also annoying: the 4WD does not engage (or disengage) when you need it.

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  Better than I expected - 2008 Toyota Sequoia
  By Kaybee - November 11 - 7:23 pm

  I traded in a 2005 Honda Odyssey for the Sequoia as my wife tired of driving a minivan. I researched this purchase for almost six months and determined that the Sequoia was the best vehicle, for our needs, on the market. After purchasing, I couldnt have been more right. What we lost in fuel efficiency we certainly gained in vehicle enjoyment. Our fully loaded Limited has a fantastic ride and plenty of bells and whistles. The backup camera, sound system (although would like to have a 6 disc changer vs. the available 4 disc option), moonroof and Bluetooth are awesome. The second and third rows have a tremendous amount of room for our four kids.

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  Hawaiian Tundra - 2006 Toyota Tundra
  By Jon Cannella - November 11 - 7:00 pm

  I love my Tundra. this is my favorite truck by far. I have owned other makes and models and this is my best one yet. I have no problem with the towing issues, and I tow 2 Motorcycles and carry 2 in the bed with 4 adult passengers every weekend. I use my truck every day and i love it. to me the other brands were too flamboyant and not enough attention on craftmanship. I will drive my Tundra for many years and be proud of it.

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  Everything Good Except Interior Quality - 2010 Toyota Camry
  By Jason - November 11 - 4:43 pm

  I wanted a vehicle that was reliable, mildly sporty, and good-looking. The first thing that came to mind was the Accord, but I didnt find it visually appealing, and it was a bit large for me. I liked the previous generation Accord better. So the next best choice was the Camry SE. Considering Toyotas reputation for quality and reliability, this seemed to be a good choice. The car handles well and the suspension is firm, but not too harsh. So far (at 3,600 miles), Ive had no major issues. However, the interior is plagued with intermittent minor ticking/clicking/rattling sounds whenever Im on less than perfect pavement. The interior fit and finish is also disappointing.

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  Bulletproof - 1999 Toyota 4Runner
  By texas cagematch - November 11 - 2:00 pm

  Bought 7 years ago with 118k from a wholesaler. It now has 172k and still drives almost as good as new. Had to replace air conditioner at about 150k mi. for $1,000. The power antenna stopped working ($150 fix). The paint is very good, cloth interior is very durable, never any leak of any kind, I paid $9,500 for it 7 years ago and its still worth $6-7k. Are you kidding me? When I detail it - it literally looks brand new. Decent gas mileage for an SUV, 17 hwy. Still got at least another 100k left in it. Best SUV ever built.

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  Awsome car - 1997 Toyota Celica
  By VORCON - November 11 - 10:00 am

  it IS QUICK, RELIABLE, LOOKS GOOD

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  Great Spyder - 2000 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By MR2Man - November 11 - 10:00 am

  I purchased this car new. I love it! One of my other cars is a Sequoia. Who needs to carry anything? This is a daily driver and I love it more than the 79 vett I used to drive or store in the garage. I have had nothing go wrong with this car and dealer in Vancouver, Wa has been excellent with routine maintenance. Best car I have owned.