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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  20,000 Miles in 5 Months - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By Sky - April 22 - 5:26 am

  Ive put 20,000 miles on my FJ in the last 5 months and have nothing but good things to say, no mechanical problems and it performs better than I could have imagined. I have taken it offroad on some of the most difficult 4WD roads in Colorado and it has performed as well as or better than my 97 Jeep Wrangler. I have been on multiple 10+ hour drives and it remained comfortable to sit in (although on a 5 hour trip 2 passengers in the back seat complained about the rear seats being uncomfortable). Biggest complaint is that for a professed offroad vehicle the front bumper can not accept a winch and I am replacing it with an after market steel bumper that will. Very happy!

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  Cute Little Car!! - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Amanda - April 22 - 5:13 am

  I have a 2007 Yaris Liftback automatic in Blazing Blue. I have only had the car about a week, but I am very pleased. It has great pick up and lots of "zoom". There is so much storage I dont know what to put in it. From what I can tell the back seat is pretty roomy too. (I think the doors have shrink-rays in them). The outside looks so small, but the interior is extremely spacious. Each day I am discovering more things - like the sun visor extenstions! The cd player can play mp3 cds and I still have to try out the auxillary audio jack.

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  I love my car! - 2007 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Tonya - April 22 - 4:16 am

  I have been waiting to buy this car for two years and I am not disappointed at all. It is everything I hoped it would be. I love driving my new car!

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  Transmissions in 1997 models - 1997 Toyota Camry
  By LewB - April 22 - 2:00 am

  This is the 5th Toyota that I have owned. I have always gotten at least 8 years of service from each. In this 1997 Camry, I have had to replace the power switch in the drivers door, and now my transmission is going. It is hard to believe that I am not going to get my usual 200,000 miles out of a Toyota.

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  nice truck-bad mileage, some quirks - 1995 Toyota 4Runner
  By benji_b1980 - April 22 - 2:00 am

  We like the truck- solidly built, definite four wheel drive capabilities as well. Your typical Toyota quality is apparent inside and out. When we first purchased it, we noticed how poor the fuel economy was-it avg. around 12-16 mpg,so we thought it needed a tune up. Not only did we give it a complete tune up with the best of everything, we installed a high performance air intake and muffler to help with the mileage and power. Well, it didnt help with the mileage, but it runs like a top and sounds pretty darn cool now too!

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  Need 4 wheel drive for inclement weather - 2002 Toyota Celica
  By Abebz0208 - April 22 - 2:00 am

  I was excited getting the Celica GT- S. People stopped me to tell me what agreat looking car. Then it snowed. This car handles poorly in inclement weather. It just doesnt hold the road. Trouble keeping car in lane when road has worn pavement tracks. Bottoms out on high drives and catxhes cement stopping blocks in parking lots. Cup fly out of cup holders.

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  Very Happy, a Few Minor Problems - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By Ozborn - April 22 - 2:00 am

  Overall I am very happy with this car, but I am only going to list the problems I have with it since mindlessly praising Toyota isnt very constructive. The problems are: 1)Suphur smell coming from the engine, I can get rid of it though by selecting recirculating air. Im not sure whether this is because of the gas I am buying or the Matrix. This only occurs when I am idling with the Matrix pointed up on a hill. 2)There is a intermittent sound of sand coming from the driver side dash. 3)High idle RPMs. Starting the Matrix even when it is above freezing can result in RPMs over 2000 for at least a minute, it also flucuates quite a bit for no reason.

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  great safe car - 2001 Toyota Tacoma
  By acf2001 - April 22 - 2:00 am

  husband totaled this truck one week ago, flipped in the air 2x and smashed it up front to back! Amazingly, he walked away from the site with only a cut on his finger and on his ear - we were amazed! We were very happy with the truck and hadnt had any problems until the wreck. The value of the vehicle held up well ( or insurance company very generous - whats the chance?). We are buying another just like it.

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  I love my sequoia! - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By trawe - April 22 - 2:00 am

  It is a large vehicle and if you need the space, this is the suv for you.

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  Amazing New Ride - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By mebeame - April 22 - 2:00 am

  I just picked up my new Limited V6 4Runner 4x4 and love it! I owned the previous model 4Runner and the difference is amazing. I also have had a Sequoia which I traded in for this new truck. The new 4Runner rides like a dream. Much softer ride than the previous model. The V6 is powerful enough to make the car quick off the line and better gas mileage than the V8. I love this car!