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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  Items that need improving. - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By venza - February 17 - 3:33 am

  Just a few items i find that need improving. Controls for heater/ac. are very distracting to operate while driving. eye contact must be used to find them and this is a safety feature that needs corrected. Seats are very hard and on an extended drive your bottom gets very uncomfortable.

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  Prius beats all other hybrid sedans - 2007 Toyota Prius
  By mdavis1969 - February 17 - 1:33 am

  It is very unusual to find a car that you feel comfortable in the first day you start to drive it. The Prius is an exception. If you like advanced features like you may find expensive vehicles, and you want to be save money on fuel, the Prius is probably a good bet. I test drove the Prius and the Honda Civic. On my initial test drive, the Prius feels like a concept car. It is a little intimidating with all of the gadgets, displays, and unique things the Prius has. The Civic feels more like a normal car, but it does have the technological details the Prius does. In addition, the Civic depreciates in the real world much faster. The Prius is also much more fuel efficient. The Prius wins!

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  Remarkable truck! - 2004 Toyota Tundra
  By jsa - February 16 - 10:33 pm

  I picked up my 2004 Tundra Double Cab SR5 V8 3 weeks ago. It had 24k miles on it and is in excellent condition in and out. I was able to work the dealer over on the price, and got it for exactly what I was willing to pay. Two grand under KBB. I would like to share my initial impressions. First, the trucks ride is extraordinary. It is smooth and extremely quiet. It rides like a Lexus. The handling is nice, but somewhat loose. It is no effort to carry on a low conversation with backseat passengers at highway speed. Controls are in easy reach and the JBL stereo sounds great. Doors close with a solid thump that inspires a secure feeling. Best ext. styling in its class, IMO. Would buy again.

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  Matrix Driver - 2006 Toyota Matrix
  By flmthgrl - February 16 - 1:23 pm

  Great little car, handles well in snow. fun to drive, but can be a bit of a noisy ride. Wish AWD version got better mileage. Even though this car is small, it is very adaptable with fold-down seats, hatchback etc.

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  Not my favorite car - 2002 Toyota Sienna
  By Sunny1 - February 15 - 10:00 am

  Compared to my old Plymouth Voyager, I am very disappointed. There is hardly any trunk space. In order to fold the rear seats down, the headrests must first be removed. And then there is not sufficient under seat space to store them, so they take up space in my garage. Plus the headrests are so bulky that they interfere with my vision while backing out of a parking space. There is also not much space up front to store stuff. You cant put anything under the seats because of the seat mechanisms. And there is not much space between the front seats or between the rear and front seats. I do not plan to purchase the Sienna again.

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  2004 Toyota Corrola LE - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By ruler - February 15 - 10:00 am

  Like the gas mileage and power, and quiet highway driving.

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  Great car,but boring! - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By Haasyman - February 15 - 10:00 am

  Bought my 2004 Corolla Ce last year.It is better built then even what my beloved Civics were but i have to say that Civics are much more comfortable to drive and stylish,on that note my Corolla gives me much better highway performance as far as accleration goes than my civics ever did.Reliabilty has been the best of any car i ever had and it seems to get better every day.No surprises with this car ,good on highway,but boring,boring ,boring,inside and out.If its looks your after choose a Honda Civic or Mazda 3!

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  $17,288=mini-lexus&32 mpg. - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By abchanf - February 15 - 10:00 am

  Ive owned three Toyotas, one of which was a Camry bought new in 1991. All three were driven well over 130,000 miles.All three provided unbelievable comfort, reliability and fuel mileage.The 91 Camry was sold at 201,000 miles with the ONLY repairs to original parts being both front struts after 170,000!! Our 2004 Camry LE 4cyl. has just 5,000 miles on it, but it has no rattles, appears to be even better made, is averaging over 30 mpg. in mixed driving and rides as well or better than previous Lexus, Infinity and Cadillac luxury cars Ive driven. And the build quality, quietness, interior space and cargo area either match or exceed them as well.

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  Quaility built to last - 1999 Toyota 4Runner
  By Bumpertag Wag - February 13 - 10:00 am

  Originally purchased to downsize from my p/u and get more interior room. Sought a Toyota for there good looks and excellent quality. My wife drives it primarily but I enjoy it also, although being 63" makes headroom a slight issue. Also bought because of the excellent resale value, but dont plan on selling it any time soon! Good MPG for SUV. We routinely get 19 MPG around town (V6)

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  Yoda - 2003 Toyota Tacoma
  By dfhdhgdfh - February 13 - 10:00 am

  Very nice truck, needs more power they would not have the option for the blower if it was not a needed option. The various statements about the positioning of the clock is accurate. The only time the clock can be viewed is when your not in the drivers seat with your knee in front of it. Great truck though the clock is a minor detail.