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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  Bob - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By Bob - October 10 - 4:03 pm

  This car is an awesome vehicle that never breaks down. It is very durable and fun to drive. I really like the exterior design.

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  I like mine - 2005 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By MR2 - October 10 - 11:16 am

  Car looks great and is very fun to drive. The top is quick and easy for me to put up or down from the drivers seat in about 10 seconds. Toyota quality and reliability. Very short on storage, but hey,, its a sportscar!

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  04 XLS Review - Fairly good Bang 4 Buck - 2004 Toyota Avalon
  By Gem-n-I - October 10 - 9:36 am

  Ive purchased many cars new and after doing some research found a good priced 04 XLS. Paint is kinda cheap. Seats arent comfy as could be, Im 63. JBL premium sound, dual pwr seats w/ 2 memry, heated mirrs + auto dim R awesome. Seats lack thigh comfort 4 longer leg folks. Leather cheap. Replaced batry, win motor @ 30k, audio amp at 50k, drift improvement procedure at 55k, otherwise excellent reliability. Now (5/08) @ 100k and still runs like new. Friends/family say good 2go 200k - well c. Love using reg. fuel 25 mpg hwy 22 town. Get 28 hwy w/premium, cant justify exorbitant prices even for regular. Would recommend, and buy another 04 or older. Good car!

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  Superb w/ minor flaws - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By Nate1981 - October 10 - 7:56 am

  I purchased this car pre-owned with 36,000 miles on it. The car is loaded with every feature except fog lights and spoiler. The car glides over the road and is extremely quiet. This car is the most comfortable car I have ever driven. The V-6 is peppy, though not exciting. I average 27 MPG in mixed (mostly highway) driving. My only complaint is the transmission. In the first 2002 Camrys there is a flaw in the transmission that makes it stay in gear much longer than it should. It really makes the car awkward to drive, and the shifts are often harsh for the first 2-3 minutes of driving. After that, the tranny is smooth and responsive.

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  A little overrated in reliability - 1994 Toyota Camry
  By Jesse - October 10 - 7:20 am

  This car handled wonderfully, and drove extremely quiet. I never changed the transmission fluid, coolent, got a tune-up, or had to replace a belt...all I ever did was routinely change the oil about every 5-7k. Guess what failed? The piston rings. The oil pump conked out and destroyed the rings. Now, it is hardly worth fixing at a $2000 bill. If anything, I thought the transmission would have gone, not the thing I actually did take care of. Made it to 158,000 miles, though.

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  Great little SUV - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By gmorgan3 - October 10 - 2:49 am

  Purchased my Rav4 in Oct 2010 enjoy the car very much. Easy to drive and did very well in the snow during winter. I get an average of 23 mpg. In June 2011 I was rear ended while I was at a stop and the person was going 50 MPH and the car did so well in the accident. I was very impressed how well it took the hit from the other car.

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  Love my echo! - 2000 Toyota Echo
  By Karen - October 10 - 2:40 am

  I love this car! I got it the first year it was out. I had original tires on it until I replaced them a few weeks ago. So, that was 5 years and the only reason that I did it was that Michelin had a sale.

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  SR5 vs Limited - 2010 Toyota 4Runner
  By Chris - October 10 - 12:30 am

  As a small business owners we get a tax break if you purchase a vehicle over 6,000lbs. The 4Runner was at the top of the list at 6,300. The big question...SR5 or Limited (8-10K diff.). Our dealer received the Blizzard White SR5 first (4x4). The day it arrived we drove it and instantly loved it. It had so many standard features that we didnt consider the Limited after this (~$34K vs ~$42K). We purchased the vehicle the next day and have not regretted our decision in the least bit. It is a dream to drive, very comfortable, and fun. We added a remote starter and mud flaps as dealer accessories.

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  Not that Great - 2005 Toyota Celica
  By No More - October 9 - 9:33 pm

  I believe this car is not set to Toyotas Standards. The GT engine is too weak and pretty loud. The suspension is not great; a Hyundai Elantra has better suspension. The noise level inside the car is pretty loud. There are some squeaks and rattles. The interior is very small. This car was not what I expected from a Toyota. I previously owned a Honda Civic that was better than this car.

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  Traded up from 05 Prius - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By AFA - October 9 - 9:26 pm

  I know it seems strange to trade off the Prius for a Avalon Limited, after all there is no comparison in gas mileage, but it all comes down to personal needs. I am retired and the days of commuting to work are over. My wife and I do travel and drive long distances, consequently I prefer the power (especially for steep highway grades), comfort, stability and security the Avalon gives me. I definitely can do without the "Laser Cruise Control" & "Remote Engine start", saving about $1100. By the way the Prius is still a excellent car,for local and flat land driving. I have set my goal for a Prius 08 which I hope will have some improved features, but will still keep the Avalon.