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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  Over 3 years and Im still giddy - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By Zippy - December 19 - 4:13 pm

  I test drove the Civic and the Corolla, and the Corolla was faster, tighter and got better mileage. I still wanted something quicker and tried the XRS. It was WELL worth the extra money. I LOVE driving this car! That said, the power curve is not at all smooth and Ive adjusted how I drive to compensate. You almost have to plan ahead. I put a graphite gear shifter knob on it which really improved my ability to "feel" the gears and shift with accuracy. The car pushes a little around corners, but I guess thats safer than the alternative. I didnt know it only took premium until after two tanks of regular. I dont like paying more for gas, but its still worth it.

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  SR5 with third row seating - 2010 Toyota 4Runner
  By Morph - December 19 - 1:56 pm

  So far the only issue is a little steering wheel wobble at 60 MPH. Possible wheel alignment issue. Everything else about the SR5 is fantastic. Love the fact that rear window rolls down and all other windows including the ones in back seat go all the way down. Great in snow and seat comfort is great. The little moon light that illuminates the front gearshift area is a great feature.Reclining rear seats and satellite radio, as well as blue tooth phone are some of my favorite features. In metallic gray the chrome really stands out. Third seat is preferred over the goofy roll out tray. Who ever came up with that feature should be shot. Overall very pleased with the purchase!

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  I love my Prius - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By Noel Nesbitt - December 19 - 1:26 pm

  Since the first day I picked up my new car, I have thoroughly enjoyed it. It handles well, its comfortable, it is unique, it has pazazz and each time I fuel up I smile!

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  buy this car - 1997 Toyota Celica
  By blah2 - December 19 - 10:00 am

  this is a great first car , its small and doesnt fit many people so its harder for a teenager to break the law. its reliable and easy to maintain. with only 105 hp stock it can be modified, however, it may be expensive because 1) its a toyota, and 2)its a front wheel drive so the transmission is in the front(the reason there is so much trunk space). even with over 120,000mi, it is reliable.

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  2004 Land Cruiser - 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By robjoe - December 19 - 10:00 am

  Purchased the 2004 Land Cruiser as a replacement for my 2000 4-Runner. Compared the Land Cruiser to models from Nissan, Infiniti, Lexus, Honda, Acura and vehicles within the Toyota family. Chose the Land Cruiser based on a multitude of consumer and car publication reviews, data contained within the NHTSAÂ’s website and on the features that this SUV offers. Impression so far is extremely positive. ItÂ’s a large SUV that rides like a well-refined sedan

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  My Echo... - 2000 Toyota Echo
  By Scott... - December 19 - 10:00 am

  This is a decent little car, it gets great gas mileage even after four years. I commute about 2hrs each way, 2/3 of my drive is in traffic, heavy traffic and I still get around 33- 34mpg. The other 1/3 of the time, I am going well over 80mph. This car does have a governer on it that kills the power around 115mph which is pretty fast for such a small car. The first 80K miles, I have been doing the tune-ups myself. Everything is very easy to do on this car, I think any girl could even do a full tune-up on it. The only thing I really dislike about the car is every 35k miles, I need new brakes.

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  Hard To Let Go Of! - 1994 Toyota Camry
  By AustinCamryOwner - December 19 - 10:00 am

  Weve owned this black coupe since it was a year old, and the reliability has been astounding. Simply put, it has never left my wife stranded and broken down - ever. And maintenence has been just the minimum required. While the 4 cylinder isnt particulary sporty in nature, this car wasnt purchased for that purpose... it was purchased for comfort, decent style and reliability, and it has delivered all 3 exactly as expected along with great fuel mileage.

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  more horse pw would be just pertfect - 2004 Toyota Matrix
  By hth - December 19 - 10:00 am

  Everything is great about this car that my wife is having a lot of fun driving it. Comfort, reliability, easy handling, roomy front and rear, the seats position is higher than the average of any sedan out there and would ideally fit any type of drivers/passengers (short to tall).

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  I was willing to sacrifive perormance... - 2004 Toyota Matrix
  By sol-kat - December 19 - 10:00 am

  For efficiency. But arguably the Matrix has neither. Not only do I miss the torque of a 6- cylinder, but I miss the range of a larger gas tank. I am averaging only 31 miles per gallon and 325 miles per tank. The Matrix is stripped down to a price point. The fact that no cargo mat is provided, doesnt mean that one isnt needed. I have carried the usual items in the rear--skis, tools, groceries-- but it is clear that Toyota did not design the cargo area for wear and tear. The lack of an integrated roof rack is disappointing since the cargo area is so flimsy.

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  Luxury on a Dime - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Goldie Dagger - December 19 - 10:00 am

  The Solara must have been one of the most underrated cars there is. You have to go for the full SLE class to enjoy the full benefit. But I am just shocked at the value I got for such a low price. This is a semi-luxury car at a mid-price range. Anything else you get for the same feature and smoothness with a different brand will cost you at least an extra $10K. The car is an absolute beauty inside and out. There is room for everyone, front or back, and the leather quality is top notch. The engine is Lexus-like (is it?) smooth but runs like a cheetah. This is yet another major quality accomplishment Toyota provides.