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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  Nice and comfortable SUV - 2009 Toyota Highlander
  By HighInSeattle - July 19 - 10:43 am

  I purchased the 4cyl model instead of V6 since all V6 models in Seattle area come with AWD. I didnt want to pay extra for AWD and the fuel economy of 4cyl is better than V6. I was a bit apprehensive that the 4cyl may lack the punch, but I was so wrong. The 4cyl engine packs a lot of punch and is very smooth - except when accelerating or going uphill when it does growl a bit. I get 22 MPG in normal city driving and there are a lot of hills in my neighborhood. The interior is very comfortable and has ample space for 4 persons. This SUV drives and handles pretty well and feels very safe and solid. Reliability is 5 for now - I will provide an update after 6 months.

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  NEW SUV - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By crispycritter1 - July 19 - 10:00 am

  Just purchased my new SUV and got to say it have everything I want in it along with the looks and ride....finally found a SUV with the headroom etc I need. Terrific vehicle and I hope to have it for many years...

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  Very Good - With Minor Improvements - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By Sierra Steve - July 19 - 10:00 am

  My main gripes are as follows: the transmission downshifts really hard in the hills (I had a Chevy and a Ford that shifted cleaner) I hope they can address this issue. Im 62" and the ergonomics are generally great for the driver, except that they buried the clock at the bottom of the dash panel, and when they shifter is in drive it actually blocks the view of some of the HVAC controls. Its even worse for my wife who is 53". The drivers seat needs at least a 2 position memory switch, and it would be really nice if they had incorporated the stereo controls into the steering wheel pod. Other than that, Ill shut up - its a great vehicle!

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  Good Truck - 1997 Toyota T100
  By Kipg - July 19 - 10:00 am

  I have had minor troubles with this truck. I have 85k miles on it and it runs like a top. A few frustrations have been the exhaust crossover pipe and the antilock brakes. The crossover pipe bolts came loose and made a terrible noise that took awhile to find the source of. (OK now) The antilock brakes, well, I just dont like them in general. Nothing particularly bad about Toyotas. All I can say is that it is a very good feeling knowing that you have a Toyota when the miles start climbing over 60k.

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  Total reliability - 1997 Toyota T100
  By daleer - July 19 - 10:00 am

  My t-100 has 70,000 miles on it now and Ive never had to do any repairs at all. Thats right - not one problem in 70,000 miles and all I do is change the oil. Its a good looking and great truck overall (engine is a little underpowered with my suspension lift and big tires) but the reliability of this truck is what makes it awesome!

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  The Best mid-sized SUV on the Market - 2002 Toyota 4Runner
  By Bullet - July 19 - 10:00 am

  Overall Toyota dependability and styling convinced me that the 4Runner would be my next vehicle. After only 3 months I am convinced that I made the right choice.

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  new 2003 LC - 2003 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By nuchaus - July 19 - 10:00 am

  My second LC, replacing a 2001 X5. Impressed with interior comfort, especially seats. Smooth ride, ample power/acceleration. Complicated Nav system but integrated with Audio quite well. Quite glad to be back with the Land Cruiser brand. Definite bummer is the fuel consumption (not a surprise). Also, Toyota dealer a breeze to work with and quite an improvement over the BMW dealership I dealt with.

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  CELICA- FANTASTIC BUY! - 2003 Toyota Celica
  By Speedracer - July 19 - 10:00 am

  THE CELICA IS A GREAT CAR. IT HAS A GREAT PICKUP AND IS VERY ECONOMICAL ON GAS. IT GIVES YOU A SMOOTH RIDE. THE ONLY SET BACK ABOUT THE CELICA GT IS THAT THE BACK SEATS ARE A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE AND THE FRONT SEATS DONT CONTOUR AS MUCH AS THEY SHOULD. OTHER THAN THAT, I WOULDNT TRADE IT FOR THE WORLD!

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  CELICA- FANTASTIC BUY! - 2003 Toyota Celica
  By SPEEDRACER - July 19 - 10:00 am

  THE CELICA IS A GREAT CAR. IT HAS A GREAT PICKUP AND IS VERY ECONOMICAL ON GAS. IT GIVES YOU A SMOOTH RIDE. THE ONLY SET BACK ABOUT THE CELICA GT IS THAT THE BACK SEATS ARE A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE AND THE FRONT SEATS DONT CONTOUR AS MUCH AS THEY SHOULD. OTHER THAN THAT, I WOULDNT TRADE IT FOR THE WORLD!

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  Good car, but not perfect... - 1995 Toyota Camry
  By tra_2883 - July 19 - 10:00 am

  My 1995 Camry LE 4-cylinder has almost 82,000 miles but you wouldnt know it. The car still acts like a brand new one. Ive had this car since December of 2001, and it had 69,000 miles on it then and all my friends thought I got a brand new car. The car is underpowered with the 4-cylinder engine. In order to keep the car moving, you need to keep pretty heavy on the gas so fuel economy was not what I was hoping to get from such a small engine. Also, the suspension is very soft, which makes for a nice ride, but take it easy in the turns. Also, because of this, I cant tell you how many times Ive bottomed out on a dip in the road.