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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  Great Truck!!! - 2000 Toyota 4Runner
  By BRIAN - February 1 - 3:50 am

  Looks great and is fun to drive around town. It does well off-road with the rear locker. Probably my favorite car so far.

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  Not all used cars are the same! - 1997 Toyota Camry
  By Celine Longman - January 31 - 2:00 am

  We have two Camrys. The other is a 93 XLE V6. They are both very reliable and problem free. However I think the 97-2000 have very poorly designed headlamps. I tried replacing bulbs without success. Its the receptacle itself. The 93 puts out 100% more light than this model. The 97 upper suspension mounts broke at 100,000 miles. The brakes are not that great, needs improvement. When tires are less than 50% tread, the car veers too much either way depending on the road grade. No problem with new tires. Hondas suspention have better tracking. Will not hesitate to buy Toyota over Honda....others out of the question.

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  Small Brake Issue - 2000 Toyota Tundra
  By Shadytrake - January 31 - 2:00 am

  Overall, this truck is a good buy. The only issue that I have had is with the brakes. I had to have all four replaced along with drums and such under warranty due to warping, glazing, and a severe shudder. They are now having the same problem except for the shudder which I assume will show up any day. This means I am only getting about 20,000 miles on the brakes, sigh...and since I tow horses, this creates a problem.

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  Great Little Car - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By AndyLG - January 31 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car for the mileage and style. I got the Radiant Red exterior, and coupled with aluminum wheels and the red gauges it reminds me of my old 1979 Honda CBX motorcycle, only more practical.

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  Good family car - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By jagman - January 30 - 7:20 pm

  The car is all the good things people say it is. I prefer the conservative styling to flashier models on the road. My car had two minor defects -- The rubber lining on one door was loose and needed to be pushed back into place by me. The plastic covering on the automatic transmission lever is loose and needs glue. When I drive over a serious pothole there is the slightest hint of the front door flexing. Not quite a rattle, but lets see in a couple years

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  Good, but not perfect. - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By W.Graff - January 29 - 5:23 pm

  Comfortable, good control layout, very smooth 4cyl. engine. Had trans. problem with rough 1/2 shift. Dealer replaced trans. Problem reappeared-traced to defective valve body & fixed. Paint on trunk rust-spotted in 6 months(repainted by dealer)! In mixed driving average 27MPG, but cant get above 30MPG highway.Car has been reliable since inital problems, however, it has developed a couple of rattles in the dash. (very un TOYOTA) PAINT CHIPS EXTREMELY EASILY!

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  So far Im pleased - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Nevets - January 29 - 4:43 pm

  While Ive only had the car for three weeks, so far it exceeds my expectations. The mileage is amazing, the seats are excellent and its comfortable for 5 as theres a lot of rear legroom, although not a great deal of rear headroom.The car has the navigation option, with smart key and has so many gadgets that I keep being amazed by what it will do.For the money, it offers a lot.

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  Uncomfortable but necessary - 2007 Toyota Corolla
  By GoodComute - January 28 - 2:43 pm

  I replaced my 2000 Pontiac Bonneville with a 2007 Toyota Corolla LE 5 spd. The only reason we went with a small car was because of the cost of gas, otherwise we would have never done it. The 2007 Corolla is horribly uncomfortable to drive. There is no support under the front part of your thighs, and the steering wheel is too far away. It seems impossible to adjust the seat to get into a comfortable driving posting where you can actually grab the steering wheel at 10 and 2. My wife owned an 89 Toyota Corolla and it seems like it has changed little since then except gotten more uncomfortable.

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  good, but w/ obvious flaws - 2005 Toyota Sequoia
  By peter - January 28 - 3:43 am

  Owned this for about 3 months. Tranny designed to release torque build up. Felt as though someone had tapped my back bumper at a stop light. Became really annoying after a short time. Also, valve noise was considered normal (says so even in manual). Ran premium fuel, but still could hear valve noise at times. These two items were enough to sell it after dealership said this was normal characteristics and working at factory specs.

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  2015 Tacoma Double Cab 4x4 Off Road - 2015 Toyota Tacoma
  By subarudavis - January 27 - 1:34 am

  I purchased this vehicle about a month ago and really enjoy it. The 4.0L v6 isnt going to win any races but gets you moving at a good pace and will last forever. The four wheel drive system works very well and has helped me conquer quite a few steep hills, wet grass, and light mud. As for fuel economy my first tank was 16.8 miles to the gallon with 50/50 non aggressive driving but every tank since has been between 18-19 with 60 percent highway but also with me taking it off road and doing quick starts which is pretty remarkable. It is comfortable and drives like a truck. I dont feel that the seat is too low nor are the breaks sponge like as some have claimed.