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:

• 

  A great two door but feel like a sedan - 2000 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Fast Amy - November 9 - 10:00 am

  Solara is even better than my last car, which was a BMW 325i. Solara was very reliable. In the last 3 years, the only thing was that I have to replace all tires due to my stop & go traffice every day. A very good car for anyone who loves performance and value.

• 

  Buy ONE, You will not Regret - 2001 Toyota 4Runner
  By GF - November 9 - 10:00 am

  18 mpg ok but not the best, more than makes up for it with the exterior body style. More power need for hwy, for city it does well.

• 

  Oh What a Feeling - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By djccarter - November 9 - 10:00 am

  We bought near blind via the internet. I test drove one in 2001 when they came out and thought it was nice. My wife had never seen one, as we were living in Europe. The Toyota name was all that we truely had to bank on. We thought that was enough since we already own a Camry. WE WERE NOT DISAPPOINTED!

• 

  Once I Got Rid of the OEM Tires... - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By DenverBrian - November 9 - 10:00 am

  An excellent car from Toyota. Im a Camry vet from 92 and 96 (skipping the horribly de-contented 97-01 model), and after 18 months I am still in love with the car. Unfortunately, Toyota spoils the experience with inferior tires at the start - avoid the Bridgestone RE92s if you can. They lasted all of 30K miles. I now have Yokohamas and have an even quieter ride - and incredible wet and snow traction missing from the first 18 months. Another picky gripe is that the nav system is far too nannyish about not allowing the driver to use when in motion (although you can press touch-screen radio buttons to your hearts content at 80 mph).

• 

  Delightful Surprise - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By cwlgal - November 9 - 3:00 am

  I traded a 2004 Lexus ES 330 on the 2005 Avalon. The Avalon is larger, more powerful, and is demonstrating better fuel economy; without a doubt, its considerably faster. The Avalon is much more comfortable than the Lexus in both ride quality and seating. In my opinion, youre paying less money and getting more value. Also, you continue to be spoiled by Toyotas bullet-proof quality, whats not to like?

• 

  A Great Little SUV - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Christine - November 9 - 1:26 am

  I bought the RAV4 because I was looking for a SUV that could fit my dogs, carry stuff for the house, have 4WD for the snow and still get great gas mileage and my little coupe just wasnt cutting it anymore. I was looking at the CR-V and Highlander at first and wound up test-driving the RAV4. I was sold! It has all the room I could possibly need, handles like my little sporty coupe, has great pick-up for a 4 cylinder, gets mileage similar to a 4 cyl car and lots of awesome little extras like dual-zone climate control, storage space under the trunk, moonroof and alarm system. The dealership was a pleasure to deal with and I was glad to give them my business.

• 

  4Runner a Champ - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By PJayNY - November 8 - 8:03 pm

  I bought the Limited 4WD new and have not had any problems. Pacific Blue is a great color, but discontinued in 2006. Seems to drink a lot gas but not much different from a V6 performance car and probably as good as most mid sized SUVs. 6 CD changer is obsolete since the advent of the Ipod. A $500 portable navigation system probably works as well as the $1900 optionally installed navigation.

• 

  Absolute Best Car - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By Rena Farrelly - November 8 - 5:13 pm

  I enjoyed every minute of the 14 years with my 2003 4Runner. AWD is great in the snow and also on the beach. Strong acceleration; never felt top-heavy. A truly reliable and comfortable vehicle. If my son was older, Id save it for him, but weve got 9 years to go! Ill be shopping for a 4Runner for him when the time comes.

• 

  Nice Little Car - 2008 Toyota Corolla
  By missem2003 - November 8 - 8:20 am

  I purchased this car in December and have liked the overall interior and exterior look. I got the black/charcoal interior. It looks really nice and Im hoping that the clean-look lasts in comparison to beige/tan interiors. Im really happy with the look. The exterior color is Phantom Grey and its absolutely gorgeous! Its dark enough to cause some mystery but not too dark if you know what I mean. My car comes with slight factory tinting, though you may want to get a darker tinting for that special look. The fuel economy is pretty average. I think that the last time I looked a full tank lasted 280-miles give or take a couple of miles. Its pretty average, considering its a 2008.

• 

  Prius w/over 48,000 miles - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By ronnie873 - November 7 - 4:33 am

  I purchased a pre-owned Prius. It now has over 48,000 miles. My primary complaint is the exterior door material. If you barely hit the door, it leaves a mark or a ding (my car is white). Also, the interior is extremely difficult to keep clean. The armrests are very worn. The fabric seems cheap. Other than that, the car is great. I always average over 50 MPG. I routinely drive the car on the highway at speeds greater than 70 MPH and I still get great gas mileage. I traded in my Jeep (14 MPG) for the Prius and Im so glad I did. The car is quiet, smooth and a joy to drive.