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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  224k (12-2-2011) on Clock and the engine still running like new. - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By superdjlgyboy - June 3 - 6:07 pm

  Best value for the mid SUV class. This car would not give any troubles if following all the maintenance schedules.(including O2 sensors and fuel injector cleaner and drive belt every 100K). :) Never call roadside assistance again after purchased this vehicle.

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  Great Vehicle - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By PL3828 - June 3 - 3:06 pm

  I am so impressed with the reliability and performance of my Toyota 4Runner that I dont think I will ever buy any brand other than Toyota. Its nice to know that every morning when I leave for work that I will not have to worry about my vehicle starting and getting me where I need to go in comfort and style. I have owned American cars in the past and they just cant touch Toyota in terms of reliability. Have driven over 45000 miles in less than two years and not had ANY problems. I drive about 55-60 miles per hour on the highway and average 25- 26 mpg.

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  First Toyota I have owned - 1999 Toyota Camry
  By Joyce - June 3 - 9:16 am

  This car is a wonderful piece of machinery. The handling in marvelous, along with the comfort. Many people see the car, and think it is new. I have nothing negative to say about this car.

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  Years and years of trouble-free driving - 1997 Toyota Camry
  By Pat - June 3 - 6:36 am

  Brakes, tires, gas and oil are all this car has needed for 10 years/150k miles. It just keeps going, so my only complaint is boredom. The car is the most dependable I have owned and gets you from point A to point B, without much excitement along the way. I eventually had some front-end and suspension work done so that I can keep it as a second car. It feels like it still has several more years in it.

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  2002 Toyota 4Runner Sport Edition - 2002 Toyota 4Runner
  By TMan - June 3 - 2:00 am

  This is a great SUV. I bought it brand new with only 3 miles on it. So now a year later w/ 22K miles it still runs just as good when I drove it off of the dealers lot. This I have to say is one of the best looking SUVs that is on the road. Every where I go I get nothing but compliments on it. It drives great, rides great, everything is great. Overall a BEST pick.

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  My Prius - 2003 Toyota Prius
  By cob111 - June 3 - 2:00 am

  great gas mileage. Fun to drive. Feel like I contributing to reducing dependency on foreign oil by driving

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  Your Basic Car using less mideast oil - 2002 Toyota Prius
  By jeremylopez - June 3 - 2:00 am

  The car has performed nearly flawlessly for me in the 14 months that I have owned it. Overall the design is very user friendly and the features work well. The car has comfortable seats and very good visibility. The engine is peppy enough to merge in heavy and fast moving traffic. I test drove the honda insight and was horrified by its performance. These was nothing when I hit the gas pedal. The Prius passes without a problem. The back seat is a bit squished. I highly recommend giving this car a chance. I live in Minnesota and the cold weather (today -10 F as I drove to work) has not been an issue for the car.

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  It saved us - 2002 Toyota Camry Solara
  By cyberplaid - June 3 - 2:00 am

  The sad story is that I no longer have this car. Totaled. It good news is that it saved our lives. Unbelievable construction/quiet/responsive/roomy and can take a 60 mph rear end hit. Felt only like a bumper car hit us in the back. Im replacing the 2002 with a 2003!!!

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  Dogs are much happier now... - 2000 Toyota 4Runner
  By imperfectly28 - June 3 - 2:00 am

  Go with the best and get a 4Runner. Get anything else and settle for less. We throw our dogs in the back and everyones happy. Toyotas run forever. I just sold my 92 Toyota pickup with 175,000 miles on it. I expect our 4Runner will prove just as reliable!

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  The Last Shall Be First - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By johng7 - June 3 - 2:00 am

  Im over 80 so I know this will be my last car purchase. The quality of this car is excellent. One complaint would be with the horsepower (128), since Ive always liked to step on it. The storage space is well thought out. The display needs a switch to light it up for daytime viewing. I am very happy with my purchase and would do it over again if I had to buy another car.