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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  PRISE FOR SEQUOIA - 2004 Toyota Sequoia
  By mrgson - September 9 - 2:00 am

  This was choice between GMC Envoy,Isuzu Ascender and Toyota Sequoia. I selected the Sequoia for its value, tight contruction, reliability and smooth ride. I feel totally SAFE behind the wheel.

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  COMFORT FIRST - 2004 Toyota Avalon
  By JOHN WEBBER - September 9 - 2:00 am

  I have had 4 Buick Park Avenues. A friend said "sit in my new car" ( an Avalon). I couldnt believe the comfort of that front bucket seat. Then the dash board seemed very cool. Next I drove it; then I went and bought one. Any problems ? really only one; I am not used to a shorter hood. I also think the doors could shut with more authority; you have to slam it moderately hard.

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  Airbag Safety - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By Gnart - September 9 - 2:00 am

  Review must be much less than 700 characters so I focus on SAFETY. BIGGEST QUESTION IS SAFETY. We had a head-on crash at ~35mph. Front-end collapsed & totaled. Driver hit the steering column, NONE of the front/side airbags deployed. Seatbelts kept us from hitting the windshield. Airbags in the other vehicle worked. Put a call into Toyotas product safety, left our phone number but they didnt bother to call back – poor customer support. We loved the car until the accident. Now we hope the insurance company would total the car so that we can buy something else instead of driving in a death trap.

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  My First Mini-Van - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By MarkL - September 9 - 2:00 am

  Excellent and comfortable ride. Gets great mileage on the highway, but I find it guzzles in the city. My kids love the roll down sliding door windows. This is my first mini-van after driving subcompacts for 25 years so it is taking some getting used to. I still find it hard to park but it has a very tight turning circle. The split 3rd row seats are very handy for hauling stuff and kids. I dont know why no other minivan has this feature? This is the most comfortable vehicle I have owned. Is very smooth and quiet even at high highway speeds (75MPH)

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  Das Bot - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By Stunz - September 9 - 2:00 am

  Lots of room and places to store stuff. The Seina holds more than the Tacomas 6ft bed. I dont miss my Toyota Tacoma one bit. Very smooth and controled ride. Great fuel economy. Im averaging 22+ mpg and the motor is still breaking in (1500 miles). Its only going to get better.

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  great car for moms - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By young momma - September 9 - 2:00 am

  I didnt want to go to a mini van being young but the toyota has a nice body stlye that has moved away from your typical "mini van"!

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  Well Worth the Money - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By budzy1 - September 9 - 2:00 am

  My wife and I never thought that we would be in a mini-van, but here we are. We test drove several models. The new Sienna handles like a car with a ton of room on the inside. We are very happy with our purchase.

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  Best of the 2 - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By CommonSense - September 9 - 2:00 am

  The depreciation on the American vans is so steep that it is a far better value to buy any one of them used. With reliability also a concern, I went to the Honda dealer, and then the Toyota dealer, and took both for test rides. The next weekend I reversed the order, but again took them both out. Both times it was clear--the Seinna rides much quieter and nicer than the Honda. This confirms what Consumers Report concluded. Having owned it for a few months, and having put 4k on it, we couldnt be more pleased. One pleasant surprise--I bought an 8 seater simply because it happened to be in the color I like. And now we are glad that we did!

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  nice van - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By laurent - September 9 - 2:00 am

  this van is the best van out there aon the market today. incredible roominess and a wonderful ride .a great buy

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  Great mini 4x4 SUV with Power - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By Geoff H - September 8 - 1:33 am

  After owning the Lexus and Infinity SUVs I though the Rav4 was going to be a definite "downgrade". Well it was in price but not in functionality. The 4wd system is great. With 50/50 lock and downhill assist control it works great in the Utah "crawl" down busy ski resort canyons. The V6 performance is also a great benefit with plenty of passing accelleration power. The drive is light and nimble - great for in town driving but not as stable as the heavier full size SUVs. But the storage rocks - hidden bins under the fold flat floor, lots of nooks and crannys for sunglasses, etc. Drink holders for taller bottles. And the seating comfort is quite good too - I regularly drive it on 6 hour trip