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:

• 

  Excellent car - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By Eugene Y Song - December 3 - 2:00 am

  It is a nice car but be careful to the dealer. THey can set a trap for you just because it is a nice car and you want to buy.

• 

  Love My 04 - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By BusyMom - December 3 - 2:00 am

  I just traded in my 03 Sienna for an 04. The 04 has so many more ammenities and is so much for versatile. I absolutely love the safety features especially the Curtain Air Bags down all three rows of seating. The 04 has a much better ride and a roomy interior. What a great van!! Everyone asks why would you trade an 03 for an 04.....drive one and compare the two...

• 

  Hard to beat a Camry - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By brianc - December 3 - 2:00 am

  Last Camry I bought in 1994 went 138,000 miles before I had any problems at all. My previous car was a 2001 Maxima, didnt care for the harsh ride, and the car didnt feel very tight. My new Camry is very smooth and its really something to get such good gas mileage out of a full size car.

• 

  Great car..good buy - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By Deedee - December 3 - 2:00 am

  A really smooth ride

• 

  Toyota Camry is an excellent buy! - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By Cynthia H. - December 3 - 2:00 am

  I have enjoyed driving my Toyota Camry XLE. Performance is excellent as well as interior comfort and design. The ride is quiet and it handles well on the road. The JBL sound system is very nice too!

• 

  Toyota delivers - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By brian penniall - December 3 - 12:26 am

  Owned 2 previous Camrys and was sick of the boringness, sluggish acceleration and performance, but loved their dependability and durability. I test drove Infinitis G35 and was pondering spending the extra $ for it when a friend and I stopped by the Toyota dealership just for a look-see. WOW! They have changed the Camry. In terms of bang-for-your-buck it blew away the overpriced G35. Acceleration and handling are excellent with good fuel efficiency. I opted not to get the Nav. system but other than that it has all the bells and whistles for under 30k. Transmission is a little different than previous Camrys (downshifts at strange times) but MPG and better accel. are worth the transmission.

• 

  Baby Yaris - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By barkpr - December 2 - 9:26 pm

  Ive had the car about a year now and the love affair continues. Got the 2 door hatchback. I still cannot believe that Toyota could put this style, comfort and reliability together at this price range. Every day its vroom when I start the engine, I actually feel like I am driving a much bigger car or even an suv when I am behind the wheel, great visibility and have been averaging about 38 miles per gallon. It is peppy as hell and my wife says it is cute. Highly recommend to all who want great dependability, great gas mileage and "cute" style at a great price.

• 

  Great for value and year! - 2001 Toyota Camry
  By Jarrod - December 2 - 9:10 pm

  My Camry is a 2001, and it feels like it could be a 2015. The interior is very, very quiet and the only noises coming into the cab are bumps on the road. Toyota did very well on their interior quality too! There is minimal wear on the front seats, even less on the rear, no dash cracks, no carpet rips. For a 14 year old car you get a lot of value, especially on a fully loaded xle.

• 

  I couldnt be happier! - 2007 Toyota Prius
  By T - December 2 - 10:50 am

  I traded in a 1998 Mercedes Benz ML320 for the 2007 Prius Touring edition in Seaside Pearl blue. (Touring has a bigger spoiler, bigger tires and tuned suspension.) I couldnt be happier! Fun to drive, has more pick up than I expected, very comfortable and reliable and, of course, the legendary gas mileage. All my friends made fun of it before they rode in it. Now they love it. I personally like the way it looks and drives. I had mine equipped with leather seats, navigation system, back up camera, JBL audio and Bluetooth. I love the fact that Im reducing my carbon footprint as they say, especially important here in smoggy southern California. Overall, great car!

• 

  Blast Factor 10! - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By RunnerFan - December 2 - 2:26 am

  The full time 4WD V8 is truly a sophisticated beast - but drives like a dream. The kick down power on this engine has to be experienced, as well as its quietness and smoothness. The 4R just gets better. This is my 4th since the primitive days of 1986. At 6ft 1" theres much more legroom and elbow room. What a machine!!!!!!!!!