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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  96 4 Runner - 1996 Toyota 4Runner
  By jbmeng - May 31 - 10:00 am

  Purchased with 105k miles and have put on 120k additional with no significant repairs. Put new Michelin radials on when purchased and Im still running them. Been driving for 40 years and this is the best vehicle I have ever driven, new or used of 20 some odd that I have owned or leased.

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  Living up to the Toyota name - 1994 Toyota Corolla
  By cpm199 - May 31 - 10:00 am

  With just regular maintenance this car has been rock solid. Its certainly not a hot rod, but to its credit with the 5 speed manual transmission it is quite peppy. My wife and I are looking at starting our family soon and when we do we will say goodbye to our trusty Corolla in lieu of a, yet to be determined, SUV.

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  Love this car! - 2003 Toyota Prius
  By barryaz1 - May 31 - 10:00 am

  I bought the Prius because Im an environmentalist. I drive it because it really is a very enjoyable little car to drive in the city. Ive always had Hondas and I appreciate the tight, precise handling. The Prius is even a little better than our Honda Accord in that regard -- driving is almost effortless. The steering is very smooth. The ride is quiet. The drivers seat is positioned well and is quite comfortable. And of course, it helps when you can feel a little bit of pride in what you drive. If you support American energy independence and clean air, you should be in one of these.

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  Proven over 50,000 miles - 2001 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By cpl - May 31 - 10:00 am

  The most fun car weve ever owned. Its a quick and nimble ride, excellent in the SoCal canyons and amid the SUVs on the freeways. With the car so short and the wheelbase so long, its easy to park in in otherwise impossible spots, a real plus at the beach. The best of all worlds, its efficient around the city, romantic on a date, and fun on the open road.

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  Best For Price - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
  By gil geddes - May 31 - 10:00 am

  I enjoy this car as much as I enjoyed my SL mercedes. The car is reliable to the extend its never been back to the dealer since new.

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  Nice - 2000 Toyota Celica
  By pdiddy5 - May 31 - 10:00 am

  Great car - bought in 2000 first year out. 2 problems (radio, sunroof) that toyota took care of. Handles great, much better ride than RSX and less road noise. Quick, but not fast. Worst blind spot ever. Still have random people asking me about it at safeway.

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  Greatest thing on wheels - 2001 Toyota Sequoia
  By NG - May 31 - 10:00 am

  I got rid of a Lincoln Navigator to get this hunk of a SUV. If it were a man I would marry it.

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  One month experience..... - 2004 Toyota Matrix
  By Penyos - May 31 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car from Crown Toyota(CA) and I had problem with the lower compartment, becuz it will not closed. Come on! this car is brand new car and I never expected such this will happened to me. The customer service is completely disappointed!!! So dont waste your time and money at this dealer!

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  matrix - 2004 Toyota Matrix
  By francisco - May 31 - 10:00 am

  in one word: we love our matrix

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  Tundra V6 - 2001 Toyota Tundra
  By Tazdog - May 31 - 10:00 am

  I have had the truck almost 3 years now. Have had no problems of any kind. It is a very comfortable ride with plenty of power. I put a shell on it & experienced no performance drop off. Gas mileage actually improved by 1/2 mi. per gal.