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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  our first new toyota - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By ed gavin - February 9 - 2:00 pm

  we are very satisfied with our purchase.this is our first toyota .we have allways had fords .we heard this would be good on gas mileage and so far it has been .i do miss my key code on the entry side .the driving is great ,it handles steady and rides quiet & the pick has a quick response ... thanks toyota ..

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  Disappointed - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By Joey C. - February 9 - 10:43 am

  I bought a Toyota because Id heard good things about them. I can only hope theyre reliability exceeds build quality. At 54,000 or so miles there began a pronounced rattling under the dash. By 56000 or so miles, there were more along with rattling in the rear of the cabin. The car I traded in was a Mitsubishi Eclipse with 310688 miles. The Toyota has more rattles at 56000 miles than the Eclipse with over 310,000. I did contact Toyota about this. By how their response read, they couldnt help because my car wasnt a Certified Pre-Owned. My next vehicle WONT be a Toyota.

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  So long as it doesnt rain.... - 1999 Toyota Tacoma
  By AndyTommo - February 8 - 10:00 am

  Truck is 1 of the better looking ones out there, the V6 was quicker off the mark than most cars, BUT there lies the problem. This truck is horrendous as soon as the conditions turn anything but completely dry. Constant wheel spins, even when Ive been doing 30mph and tried to overtake someone; go round a corner and the things rear end spins out. HORRIBLE HANDLING IN RAIN/SNOW/ICE. To the extent that last weekend exiting a highway, the rear end fishtailed, truck span 360 and rolled over. I got out luckily, it held up well (Il give it that) but it shouldnt spin & roll in the first place. Who makes a truck like this without traction or even ABS??

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  Fun to Drive? - 2004 Toyota Sequoia
  By Jeff341 - February 8 - 10:00 am

  Looking through others ratings I could not believe so many 10 ratings for fun to drive. The Sequoia is a solid reliable car (mine has 65,000 miles) but is like driving a bus. The competition does a much better job of building a car that doesnt make driving almost a numbing event. Then again, we are talking a SUV here, a maybe that is what the public wants.

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  Great Car - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By Amy - February 6 - 11:43 am

  I was all ready a Toyota fan with my first two cars being Camrys.I love my Echo.I bought it off the lot new.This car has been great, I have not had a single problem with it.I love the spunk it has and I live in Atlanta, GA where there are hardly parking spaces but my Echo always finds room in tight spaces most cars cannot fit into.Also driving in traffic is great because of the space issue- it can weave easily when needed.I love the truck space and small compartments.Any improvement I have suggested is petty compared to the overall package.After reading eveyone elses reviews I will have to say that we all have the same little gripes but I know that I am glad to have made this my 1st new car.

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  Great Vehicle - 2002 Toyota 4Runner
  By PNA - February 5 - 1:33 pm

  I purchased the 2002 4 Runner Sport with added leather interior, and all the bolt on exterior goodies for my high school son in new 2002. I drove it during his first year in college since he could not have a car on campus. I thought it was great; very honest vehicle. I have owned five Toyotas and this is the best for reliability. The vehicle now has 66,000 miles, never had anything wrong, not even a rattle. Just normal maintenance. The best news, he is purchasing a new car and he is giving the 4 Runner to me. I am sure he will miss it.

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  4wd not much in the snow - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Atlantic Wave - February 5 - 9:53 am

  This is the first 4WD for me. I wanted it for Colorado winters. We had our first major storm and I got stuck twice on paved roads. I reread the owners manual because I thought I might be doing something wrong.

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  Corolla=RELIABLE - 1998 Toyota Corolla
  By Dave - February 2 - 7:06 am

  Bought this car brand new in 1998. First year it was incredibly smooth and quiet. Very surprising performance for a small car. Ours has the 5 speed, so mileage is GREAT. Recently (2005) I drove 412 miles on 10.67 gallons of gas. That is 38 MPG! This was not all interstate miles either. It was mixed, city and highway miles. That was pretty impressive considering the car just passed 138,000 miles. The AC is great, and so is the heat. The channel preset buttons on the radio are all falling off, which stinks. The cup holder in the rear seat was placed in a bad spot. The cloth seats are adequate and are durable. The interior panels are resistant to temp extremes (no cracking so far). Great car.

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  Good deal - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Toyota Fan - February 2 - 3:30 am

  I bought my car new and have put 132,000 miles on it. It has been a great car. This car is very reliable with very good gas mileage, ave 28-29 mpg (driving combo of 1/3 city and 2/3 freeway).

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  Great 1st Car - 1994 Toyota Corolla
  By Mel - February 2 - 1:56 am

  This car was pretty much my present for my 18th birthday. I browsed around for a car and found this at a dealer. I drove it and was instantly attached to it. Yeah, its not the fastest car on the road, but what I was looking for was there. Reliability. I live in the northeast, so there are things that are going to need changing (brake lines, exhaust system, stuff that rusts over time). Other than that, no mechanical problems to this very day. Very good car for a high school/college kid.