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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  The test drive opened my senses! - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By J.R. - June 4 - 10:00 am

  I was originally looking for a Corolla S 5-speed, and waited a month with no luck. My salesmans nephew (also a salesman)suggested I test drive the XRS Matrix. I said, "OH no...the Matrix is DEFINITELY not me..." And he said, "Allow the car to speak for itself." I stepped inside and he pulled the car off the lot and ZOOOOOM! Then he let me drive it, and here I am now with a Indigo Ink Pearl (Blue) XRS Matrix! It actually has all the features Id ever want and more. Designers truly had versatility & performance in mind. I love this car =)

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  2002 Toyota Highlander - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By R. Gibson - June 4 - 10:00 am

  We have only had the Highlander for one week and have driven about 450 miles. This SUV is very smooth and quiet; very little wind noise and low levels of road noise even on concrete pavement. It handles very well with its tight turning radius and is easy to maneuver in a parking lot. Front seat comfort is excellent with the optional 8-way power seat. We traded in a 99 RAV 4 for the Highlander; there is no comparison between these two SUVs. So far, we could not be more pleased with this purchase

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  Automotive Excellence - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By Rambotx - June 4 - 10:00 am

  The Toyota Camry XLE provides the owner a wonderful driving experience. The fifth generation Camry design is stylish yet practical. It has a roomer interior that adds to the refined sense of the car. Everything inside is easy to master. The 2.4-liter, twin-cam powerplant with 157 horsepower provides smooth power. The interior is quite with little or no noise from the outside. Overall, it is a great value!

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  EURODATACAR - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Eurostar - June 4 - 6:53 am

  I got this car in Oct 06,, ever since just loving it, Im upgrading a lot of parts to this car, the car was built to be a tuner, lots of aftermarket parts for it. Its very easy and fun to drive, great performance and MPG for its class, and the best of all is that it looks very nice, stylish, European and sporty.

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  Sorry I bought this vehicle... - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Shannan - June 4 - 6:46 am

  I bought this vehicle on July 23, 2007. Here are the transmission problems Ive experienced: 2-3 second delay while accelerating. Re- calibration of the ECM has knocked that 2-3 second delay down to 1-2 seconds. Transmission is "confused" and CONTINUALLY shifts at speeds of 28 to 35, 38 to 42, and 45 to 51 MPH. At this rate, the Transmission will go out @ 37,000 miles (right after my Warranty expires!) It is in the shop now (4th time in 29 days) this time theyve had it for 5 days and counting. To the Poster from 08/14/2007, if I wanted to "use the shifter" to drive my car, I would have bought a manual...Im not whining, Im stating the facts. I, too, smell lemons.

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  Love my Matrix - 2004 Toyota Matrix
  By DramaQueen01 - June 4 - 6:40 am

  I love my Matrix and it is fun to drive. My son who is 19 was really impressed with the way it looks and drives, which surprised me. I didnt think it would be sporty enough for him. Handles great in the snow and rain. Visibility could be better as sometimes it is difficult to see something that is at the front/side of the vehicle when driving. But overall Its great to drive. Reliaiblity is A1.

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  Just my thoughts - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By neffster - June 4 - 1:23 am

  Where are the memory seats and mirrors??? Just one step away from perfection...

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  Stylish, sporty, & safe - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By saphyrefly - June 3 - 7:53 pm

  Ive only had my new 05 Corolla (S model, AT with extra value pkg) for a little over 24 hours now, but Im in love. Its an awesome compact car. Toyota has great reliability history. Its so easy and fun to drive. Gas mileage is great. Ive heard people complain of engine noise, but my car is nice & quiet. The interior is simple, but nice...and user-friendly. As for my cars sporty red exterior, I love it. The Corollas the way to go if youre looking for an all-around great compact sedan. The LE models were very nice, too, but the sporty S fits my taste better as a 22-year-old.

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  Great SUV - 2011 Toyota Highlander
  By jjm_jr - June 3 - 7:18 pm

  I bought my Highlander about 1 month ago, and its a dream to drive. I am running about 19 mpg, taking it easy on the throttle. On trips she is a dream. I previously drove a 08 FJ Cruiser and loved it, but had enough with the noise in the cabin. The Higjlander is a Fantastic SUV, as it feels more like a luxury car no more road noise either.

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  3 speed in highway stinks! - 1998 Toyota Corolla
  By martinafan - June 3 - 12:46 pm

  Bought it new now has 295,000 miles, replaced engine 6/09 after 292k miles.replaced alternator, fixed tranny once, interior not to Toyota standards, but it does get me to where I need to go without any fuss, good mpgs but the 3 speed w/o overdrive is horrible. If I replace this car with another one like it, got to be either a 4 speed or manual. Toyota should have done away with 3 speed when they redesigned car in 98. But base version was made to take place of discontinued Tercel. So VE has no clock, trunk release, adj. wheel, etc. Nevertheless very reliable car, was able to replace engine for about $1200 including labor, got one from a junked car with only 93k miles.