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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  Just try to pass me! - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
  By mi_trang_thui - April 17 - 10:00 am

  Wow! Ive finally found a car that I feel comfortable and relaxed in! I do more driving than the average person and most of it is in the city. Ive had Mazdas, VWs, Chryslers and several others. I very much appreciate the stability and comfort of my SLE. The leather is nice and the stereo is fun to crank. So far no mechanical problems and I have a feeling it will stay that way for some time.

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  Excellent choice - 1996 Toyota Camry
  By wonderman - April 17 - 10:00 am

  My 1996 camry has definitely been the best car I have ever bought. Even though the 4 cyl. could use more power, everything else is perfect. I have 96,000 miles on my camry and it still runs like the day I bought it. No major mechanical problems, just normal wear and tear. PERFECT CAR!!!!!

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  Best Minivan-for now - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By tghow - April 17 - 10:00 am

  I bought the 2004 Sienna because it had everything I was looking for in a minivan, including all-wheel drive. The ride is very smooth as is the engine. (I believe this is the same engine & drivetrain used in the new Lexus RX330) It has very good handling and acceleration for a vehicle this large. Ergonomically, it is very well designed. The controls (and there are a lot of them) are easy to use without taking your eyes off the road. There are a lot of nice minivans out there right now; but for the combination of performance, features, and reliability, the Sienna is hard to beat.

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  As good as it gets - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By RonFromOregon - April 17 - 10:00 am

  My wife swore that shed never own a minivan and that this would be MY vehicle. Now shes taking it away from me. Everything on the Sienna exudes quality. Its comfortable and powerful. - Parking assist sonar works great - Sound system is excellent. - The Sienna is VERY quiet. - Comfortable arm rests (Im picky about this) - Fantastic visibility. - The conversation mirror works great. I can finally watch my daughter in the back without adjusting my rear-view mirror. - The DVD player is fantastic. It turns screaming girls into quiet ladies. - The Sienna comes with two household 110v outlets - great feature.

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  Best in Business - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By Ravee Bhambri - April 17 - 10:00 am

  I love this Van , thinking of buying Honda Odyssey last year , ThankGod I waited and bought this Van . I traded in my 2001 4runner and I am happy with my decision of buying Sienna 04. Roomy, more power , reliable and looks nice. My family and I love it. Keep up the Good work Toyota. Highly Recommended

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  Green Beauty - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By patrick - April 16 - 8:56 pm

  My wife would not give up her matrix XRS without a nose bashing bleeding fight. Guile and love on my part got her to try out the Venza and it was love on first sight. If you travel two or three long trips a year yet need conveyance that wont tire both your wallet and patience and combine camping with urban driving, while keeping the kids happy, then this is the car for you. My wife was never one to enjoy attention but even she likes the looks she is getting. and the kids look up through the roof in the rear and all you hear is silence. Need I say more. All you parents out there at least give it a look over, this car (suv?) does not need a salesman.

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  Glad we waited! - 2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Andy - April 16 - 6:58 pm

  This is my wifes car. She drives mostly local and we wanted an SUV that is fuel efficient, good size, comfortable and has good power. We started looking about 2 years ago. We looked at the Subaru Outlook 3.5R, Honda Pilot and the Highlander. We picked the Highlander, but unfortunately, 1 to 2 years ago, it was only offered in the Limited and above trim which meant it was going to cost about 50k. When the 2017 Highlander Hybrid got released, I was really glad that they now offer it in a lower trim. I searched for a while, but finally found a dealership in LA, CA that was willing to order the SUV in exact interior and exterior color and accessories and they gave me a discount off MSRP. There were absolutely no Hybrid XLE in stock in San Diego. We are very happy with our SUV and very glad that we waited. Great gas mileage, very comfortable, outstanding stereo and love the Toyota Safety Sense package!

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  Beauty, Safety and Function - 2000 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Ohio Silver - April 16 - 5:23 pm

  This Car drives like a dream

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  Sienna AWD LE observations - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By dddishi - April 16 - 4:03 pm

  My new Sienna AWD LE replaces my 6-yr old Pontiac Montana. What a difference! The Sienna is incredibly quiet, extremely sure-footed and perhaps the best built minivan Ive ever seen. I opted for the AWD version... cant wait for the snow here in the Northeast. Upgraded sound system is a tremendous improvement over GMs top-of-the-line audio. The LE version includes features which youd have to pay extra for in most other minivans. Adding the AWD option includes important things like 4 wheel disk, stability control, 17in. wheels, etc. 2nd row passenger windows actually work like a sedan! Rear seats retract neatly into floor, leaving plenty of room for dogs. 2nd row seats flip forward.

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  Avalon - 2001 Toyota Avalon
  By Chirpy - April 16 - 1:53 pm

  Great car! Lots of space inside and big trunk