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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  2004 sienna - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By jm toy - October 14 - 10:00 am

  I love this van. I am so happy we got it. We have only owned Toyotas.They are the best cars on the market.

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  toyota sienna - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By lilsamblazin - October 14 - 10:00 am

  this van is one of the best minivan every build by and company

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  Transmission being replaced - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By LEMEN - October 14 - 10:00 am

  Weve had our Sienna for a month and noticed rough shifting shortly after bringing the car home. I didnt believe my wife when she mentioned it, but after driving it myself it wa clear this was not normal. I took it to our dealership and got the typical "I cant imagine there is anything wrong with your new van, the computer must be learning how you drive." He drove it, agreed with me. It is in their shop presently, he thought they would just hook it up to the diagnostic machine and tweek the computer and it would be back to normal...I had to call them and they told me they cant fix the problem and they are replacing the transmission.

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  Sienna 2004 AWD - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By michivan - October 14 - 10:00 am

  Great minivan with lots of safety features for the family. We really like the power sliding door and power hatch. We use the moonroof all the time and the folding down back row seat is a true "space-maker" The tight turning radius beats most of the other minivans at the school parking lot and lots of extra zip for passing /avoiding trouble on the freeway. The AWD is a superb performer and the reason to buy the car and the side airbags bring peace of mind.

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  Fun Car To Drive - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By adaun - October 14 - 10:00 am

  Bought my 2002 SE (w/ manual transmission) in 01/2003 brand new. Love the handling and good acceleration. Get a combined gas mileage of about 29 MPG (wish it couldve been higher) and 33-34 MPG on freeway (at a constant 70-80+ MPH). Not a true sports car but is good enough for me, especially w/ 16-in tires. I like my wifes 1997 Camry LE but this one is far better in terms of performance and gas mileage.

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  Love this car! - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By Jake - October 14 - 5:00 am

  So far, so good. Recently took this car to the East Coast and back from California and had absolutely no problems. The SE provides a smooth, extremely quiet ride, and the 4- cylinder provides all the power I need. The body has a sportier, more compact look than in years previous and I was immediately taken by its appearance when seeing it at the dealership-- didnt realize it was a Camry at first. Because of the miles put on the car in this recent trek across the country have had it serviced already...the Toyota dealerships Ive worked with have been courteous, professional, and attentive. Proud to be part of the Toyota family now.

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  We love our twins - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By Angela - October 14 - 4:10 am

  We actually own 2 06 Prii, changing over from a minivan and a 4Runner, we are loving the gas mileage. I expected to miss the cargo space but so far have not at all. Even after a wk long vacation. I avg about 45 and DH avg about 50. I tend to take shorter trips. This vehicle has changed the way we both drive having your mpg showing on the MFD makes you very conscious of what you are doing. We continually get asked about our cars and can say nothing bad about them. Oddly there are now 3 or 4 in my color in our area and we seem to have a commrodery even though I have never met these people. Highly recommended this car is great for people in all walks of life, college grad to retired.

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  Great car! - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By USMC - October 13 - 10:40 pm

  This is a great car! I am averaging 50 MPG in combined city / highway driving. The GPS navigation system is great. The stereo has good sound quality, the interior is large enough to seat adults in the back seats, and the acceleration is suprisingly good. Get the "package six" options package - it costs a few bucks but makes the driving experience great. The only negative is the seats (hard, no lumbar support, no electric controls), but a set of Wet Okole seat covers makes them comfortable and better looking.

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  Exactly what I wanted - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By tacoma200 - October 13 - 7:16 pm

  I wanted a simple, reliable, comfortable, economical auto. The Yaris is perfect for the job. Great looks, Toyota dependability, excellent fuel economy and I think it handles well. Im not comparing it to models with lots of options so my rating reflect this. I didnt want abs or electronic stability control (ESC). That doesnt take the place of a good driver.

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  Camry is OK for the price - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By Camry02 - October 13 - 5:36 am

  Owned 02 Camry since new - few problems prior to warranty expiration. Since warranty has expired, the seat belt doesnt retract properly and the driver door will not always unlock to get out! Have had 2 prior Camrys. Though mechanically dependable, I dont think the quality is what it used to be in the early 90s.