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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  Great little car - 2002 Toyota Celica
  By ken - May 14 - 10:56 pm

  Im 65 and have owned this car for 3 years. I plan on keeping it for the rest of my life. It is really fun to drive, it has excellent brakes, handles great, gets good gas mileage,(32 mpg highway) and is super reliable, Ive had zero problems with it. The only changes Ive done on it are going to 16" performance tires and a low restriction air filter. It is plenty fast when you need to pass on 2 lane roads. High speed stability is outstanding. Im 63" so it is a little tight when I slide under the steering wheel, but the headroom is fine. My only complaints are what everyone else seems to mention in their reviews, not enough low end torque, rear visibility, and rear seat room.

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  The Best! - 2001 Toyota Tacoma
  By grbarnard - May 14 - 3:03 pm

  Bought at 21k, now 125k in 1 3/4 yrs. Excellent truck, beat on it and it keeps on going like the Energizer Bunny.

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  Rock Solid - 1994 Toyota 4Runner
  By Dwern - May 14 - 2:00 am

  I bought my 4Runner used four years ago with 63K miles. I bought an extended warranty when I bought the car and what a waste. I have had only had to put a new battery and starter in it in the last 4 years. Every mechanic I take it to says it is bulletproof, which I have found out as it is near 123K miles. We recently bought my wife a Mercedes ML320 and I still prefer to ride around in the 4Runner.

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  Camry Fuel Economy - Lower than Expected - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By JP15 - May 14 - 2:00 am

  On my 2003 Camry SE (V6) I am only experiencing only 17/18 MPG overall. This consist of combine city/highway driving.

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  Smoooooth Solara - 2002 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Chop100 - May 13 - 10:00 am

  I traded-in a 2000 Volvo S70 for the Solara. The Solara wasnt on my radar screen but the salesman suggested I try it and I was impressed from the get-go. It doesnt take corners like a sports car, but the overall performance with the new 157 hp 4 cyl is surprisingly good.

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  A great overall vehicle - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By zaxer - May 13 - 10:00 am

  As a VW loyalist, it was hard to look beyond the VW dealership when I started looking for my next vehicle. Yet, after looking through their offerings, I knew I had to fairly reconsider some of the competition. VWs have increased in price since reinvigoating the brand with the "New Beetle". The 2 models I seriously considered (Golf & Jetta) had cramped back seats and werent places I would choose to spend on a short road trip. Enter the Matrix, albeit funky looks (love it or hate it), the utility of the vehicle was a big seller. Nice leg room in the back seats for my average 60 height, mileage is good, comfortable seating position, all for a decent price.

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  4runners are not what they used to be - 2011 Toyota 4Runner
  By lillirs18 - May 12 - 8:58 am

  I have had the pleasure of owning 2 other 4runners before this one. One was a 2000 (leased but new) and the other I bought with 18,000 miles on it (2003) and had it until 118,000 miles when I decided to purchase a new 2011 model. While they did some nice improvements (love it being taller!) the quality isnt there anymore. I have had a rattling in the AC vent for 7 months (the dealership tried to fix it 5 times and still hasnt succeeded) and the paint chips so easily. And why would they keep the long antenna? I have been in touch with the dealership and Toyota customer service, and they just keep saying to take it to the dealership. Its a shame...

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  Great compact crew cab - 2001 Toyota Tacoma
  By cwochs - May 11 - 7:00 am

  Love my truck. Only way to go is get the V6 otherwise you are getting an underpowered vehicle (If you like it underpowered get the nissan frontier) Only complaint is lack of availability of ABS on a base V6. The dealership (as with most Toyota dealerships) was mediocre. Too bad the dealerships are not as dependable as the vehicle. One year old and not a single problem.

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  At 94k, its still like new - 2001 Toyota Prius
  By A very good Car - May 10 - 7:33 pm

  We bought in 2005 with 45K when I bought several new cars for my company at a Toyota dealership. I wanted a used Prius because I did not want my wife to get a new one and dislike it. She likes it because it is easy to drive in town and averages 45 MPG. I like it because I fill it up every three weeks. Recently, we got the "Triangle of Death" after replacing the 12V battery. Had it towed to the dealer and was informed that we needed a new traction battery. Bad news, $4,698.00 for the new battery & the good news is; Toyota picked up the tab including the towing. There are many expensive components on these cars and if they go south, you could pay but right now, its a great car to own.

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  Hoped For Better - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Mark - May 10 - 6:53 pm

  I find this vehicle to be a pig on fuel and underpowered at that. The car is fun to drive because of the conv. top but lacks in stereo quality and the navigation system has a mind of its own. At times the nav. is very annoying, but all in all a fun car. The tires are low profile on 17 wheels and they cut the moment you touch a curb.