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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  wish U.S. wouldve built this - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By scuba steve - October 14 - 10:00 am

  I hated to buy other than american but several friends have this and have had no problems towing or diving the beaches surf fishing. My other toyota truck is a 1989 with 155,000 miles and going strong with years of abuse behind her. hope I get that lucky with my new truck/SUV.

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  Great Looks, Great Handling, Great Deal - 2003 Toyota Celica
  By brainoid - October 14 - 10:00 am

  Purely subjective, I believe that the celica is the best looking car for its price range...even better when you add some (I mean ANY) body kit on it.

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  Slap CelicaGTS - 2002 Toyota Celica
  By celicagts is lying - October 14 - 10:00 am

  I have driven my 02GTS for six months now and everything works great except for the squeaking shift from 1st to 2nd. However overall, its a great car to drive.

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  its good - 2003 Toyota Camry Solara
  By jjgne - October 14 - 10:00 am

  its very nice car and also fun to drive.

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  Love this car - 2003 Toyota Camry Solara
  By edukder - October 14 - 10:00 am

  This car is GREAT. I love the way it feels and it can rock & roll if you need it to. The problems of the 2001 have all been worked out and this little honey is a real eye turner. I wouldt change for anything.

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  My first minivan experience - 2003 Toyota Sienna
  By minivanmom - October 14 - 10:00 am

  Well, we finally outgrew our mid-size car and had to purchase a minivan. We chose between a Honda Odyssey and a Toyota Sienna. We really liked the Odysseys magic seat, but realized that with five family members we couldnt afford to "lose" all three seats in the back. The Sienna offered an easy folding 50/50 split third seat which I have already used. Also, the Sienna had skid control as well as traction control - Odyssey only had traction control. Both minivans had great crash test ratings, but the Sienna had better reliability rating by Consumer Reports. My husband dreaded buying a minivan, but has been very pleased with the Sienna.

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  Its all good - 2003 Toyota Tundra
  By Cheeseman - October 14 - 10:00 am

  Ive driven many full sized trucks and for the money, this one beats them all. This truck has the smoothest ride even with the offroad package Ive experienced in a full size. The one thing that I would change is the room in the back, other than that, Ive found this truck to have plenty of power and great handling. The style fits a younger image than Chevy and the torque is higher than Ford (in a comparable truck.) I would definitely recommend this truck for those wanting power, reliability and style.

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  Love the Car - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By corolla2003 - October 14 - 10:00 am

  I got the new 03 for 16,300 - they had the car on the lot so I didnt feel the need to negotiate to the last dollar. It was worth every penny. Saves me a load of gas and has plenty of acceleration power. I would recommend this car to anyone who drives a lot (more than 20 miles a day) and to people who want a car thats manageable and never needs repairs (isnt that everybody??) Everyone go out and get a corolla~

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  Love my Tacoma! - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By Lee - October 14 - 12:30 am

  This is my first Tacoma. TRD Sport double-cab automatic with tech package (except no JBL). Gray with tonneau cover. Im in my early 50s and havent had a truck since my late 20s. Since then Ive driven small SUVs, but wanted to get back in a truck. I ordered it in late December and it arrived in early March and couldnt be happier. The first thing I noticed when driving it...is that is definitely a "truck" and feels very substantial which is exactly what I wanted. After ordering it, I read quite a few negative reviews and was a little worried. But Im not having any of the negative issues that some people have listed. No vibration issues, transmission behaves like most vehicles with a 6 speed...yes it tries to keep the RPM range a little low, but all vehicle manufacturers have to squeeze every mpg out they can. As long as you dont have a lead foot, it really isnt noticeable around town at all. On the interstate, it will shift down to 5th but every other vehicle I owned also shifted down going up a hill. No big deal. As far as gas mileage, I average around 20 mpg around town and 23-25 mpg on the highway. I was in a construction zone driving 55-60 mph and got 28 mpg. Definitely decreases the faster you go, but overall not bad. The negatives are minor. Im 5 8" and the side mirrors sort of create a blind spot at 4 way stops. I like using Google Maps with my iPhone better than the navigation system, and when Im listening to XM, the bluetooth speaker wont announce the turns. Those are two minor issues. Everything else is great! I mainly bought the truck based on reliability, looks, and resale value. So far, so good!

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  Best vehicle ever! - 1996 Toyota 4Runner
  By Ernie - October 13 - 10:10 pm

  This car has given me 211,000 miles and counting with minimal maintenance issues. The mileage includes brutal off-roading excursions and dozens of hunting trips. I have had the vehicle break down on me once in 13 years of ownership. You cannot ask for a more reliable vehicle.