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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  Excellent car for the money - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By firefighter - January 26 - 2:00 am

  Camry offers the best value for the money. It drives great and the new controls are laid out for easy access. The only gripe is about the std features. Any thing worthwhile is an option on this car. Even floor mats are an option. Do not think this car is cheap compared to a Passat or Volvo. If you add all the options up, the price will match or even exceed the std Passat.

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  2002 Camry XLE replaced an Avalon(1999) - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By P Schomer - January 26 - 2:00 am

  I chose this over the new Avalon due to price and basically this is the same car.

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  Another Solid Toyota - 2008 Toyota 4Runner
  By Quietrover - January 26 - 1:06 am

  This is our third Toyota (Tundra and Matrix) and have been just as impressed with the performance and quality save for a couple of small annoyances like the TPMS and the temp controls with a mind of their own. Very well behaved and comfy on and off road, tried to spin the tires on the dirt but couldnt due to traction control, just launched (scary). Head room is limited but will learn to live with it (Im only 510"). We will keep this rig for a very long time.

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  My favorite car Ive ever had - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By MN Mom - January 26 - 12:13 am

  I have two children (aged 4 and 6) and carpool often. We traded in the mini van and never looked back. Using the 3rd row for seating has been very easy, love how the 2nd row slides forward for access. The only thing I would change would be for the 3rd row to have the option of splitting in half. Other than that, a complete joy to drive.

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  My daily driver. - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By David Hicks - January 25 - 10:46 pm

  This is my fifth Toyota (third camry) that I have owned. This car has been very good without any problems except the factory audio system. The am/fm radio is very poor in quality, the windshield antenna does not pull in very many am or fm stations. The XM Satellite radio performs very poorly, the stations fade in and out because of the poorly designed and mount position of the XM antenna. The LCD display is a very dim green and almost unreadable during daylight conditions. The engine and five speed automatic transmission performs very good. Very comfortable ride and good fuel economy, 24 mpg around town 29 mpg on the road. I will buy another Camry, 2007 SE V6.

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  Wow! - 1993 Toyota Camry
  By Christa - January 25 - 9:50 pm

  I have a 1993 toyoda camry 4 door LE sedan and it is the best car ever. What other car is going to be running like brand new with 194,000 miles. This car is the best car ever. The only complaint I have is my paint job because it is fading but hey it is 13 years old.

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  camshaft - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By mselder - January 25 - 1:59 pm

  I have a toyota yaris and this car is good on gas and reliable. however it went from good to bad in no time. I use my car to commute to/from work and i drove 150 miles per day. I got a oil change on april 16th and the 23rd my camshaft broke with no clear reason why. there was evidence of oil burns and foul play i dont think. Im thinking that the camshaft was faulty and finally gave out or toyota yaris 2008 is no good after 84,000 miles. There have been many recall for yaris 2008. I seen many people complaining about break pads or something to that nature. but if you google recall there have be some recalls. My car should not be having my major engine problem especially before 120,ooo

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  FJ is Awesome! - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By DaveT - January 25 - 3:16 am

  This is a great eye cather and fun to drive!

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  Great Car - 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Jeff in PA - January 24 - 11:33 pm

  For people who want a full-sized car but also want to be environmentally responsible, this is for you. This is my first Toyota, and after owning it for a year and a half, I understand what others have been raving about. Driving around Pittsburgh where mountains abound, I can still get better than 40 mpg while having plenty of room for three passengers (three adults in the back is a little tight). Because the hills are steeper in town, I actually get slightly lower in-town mileage (low- to mid-30s; hybrids typically shine in town), but its still better than other vehicles Ive owned by 10+ mpg. I havent had a single mechanical issue and have only done standard preventative maintenance.

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  Bobs appraisal - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By Patricia Deinhart - January 24 - 8:46 pm

  Have had as high as 69 mpg and as low as 42 mpg Great car, handles nice, comfortable