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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  I can recommend 4 runner - 2002 Toyota 4Runner
  By P51DMustang - May 21 - 5:16 pm

  Bought this used 02. Its solid and very well built. Fun to drive and trouble free.

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  Little Annoyances - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By Little Annoyances - May 21 - 11:26 am

  Just took delivery. Great looking car and wonderful performance. Im told they are not available but it was an officials car and it came with the 18" inch alloy wheels [great looking] but the High Performance tires really transmit the slightest road irregularities. My fault for accepting them. Im used to a trip computer which is not available on this car. The nav system is more complex than my needs, yet there is no "simple" driving compass which my wife and have come to rely on. The mirrors dont fold away, and there is no memory option for the drivers seat positions. Small issues to be sure, but Ive had them on previous cars and Ill be sure they are on my next car.

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  Black Beauty - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By jgama - May 21 - 10:00 am

  Handled well on a 500 mile road trip. I wasnt stiff after the drive, I actually relaxed. seats, smoothness,and cruise control excellent. I was never caught between a slow truck and an approaching car. My Camry has guts!

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  Take It For What It Is - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By DCWebGeek - May 21 - 7:43 am

  The 2007 Camry is a great car. It is not meant to be a sports car. It is a sporty sedan. I recommend that you consider getting it in the V6 model because of the cars weight. The 4 cylinder just is not enough power. I love the way my V6 drives. The handling is great. The fuel efficiency of the vehicle is great. I saved so much on gas. If you are looking for a fun sedan, I recommend that you buy it.

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  No Problems and none expected - 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By thomasw828 - May 20 - 10:56 pm

  21 months later and 22k on the Camry, we have had no problems and no regrets. Average mileage is 35 in town and up to 41 on road. Another reviewer complained about body dings...Buy the body side moldings (we did)!!! These should be standard. The best time to buy is at the end of the month or in our case the end of the year, got an immediate 8% off sticker and a great $ for Lexus trade- in.

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  LOVE IT! - 2000 Toyota 4Runner
  By TRex - May 20 - 2:26 pm

  This is my second 4Runner, first one was a SR5 Sport, and now the Limited. In over 20K miles in one year the only things Ive replaced are the tires and the oil and filter. This is a real- deal truck/suv, not based on a car unibody design. Being tall makes the seats feel a bit short to me and with a lot of towing Id like more power, but for daily driving, camping, off-road, this thing is the best in its class! Up to MY2003, this is the last class of 4Runner made in Japan. That says something and the new body style is too "edgy." Love the 4Runner!!

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  Fun and versatile - 2005 Toyota Matrix
  By Dogdoc - May 20 - 4:36 am

  I retired a big SUV after 10 years and 160K miles to buy a new Matrix. It always gets noticed, and everybody likes the looks. I volunteer at a high school, and the kids have dubbed it "cool" and "so cute", about the highest praise available from teenagers. It seats five with good comfort (Ive taken some of those same kids on a two-hour trip, and they stayed cheerful in the back seat) and it has the cargo room needed by a homeowner and business owner making weekend trips to Lowes and Home Depot, and the plastic surface and abundant tiedowns and cubbies make the cargo area very useful. And it sure was nice to see the dials on the gas pump start with a "2" instead of a "4".

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  After One Month - 2010 Toyota 4Runner
  By higganum - May 19 - 12:26 pm

  We had a 2004 6 cyl 4WD SR5 which we were very pleased with-excellent performance and reliability. We decided to buy the new SR5 and have been driving it 4 weeks. First off, a review at this site describes it as "taller, wider, longer." It is not wider and longer enough to be noticeable-but believe me it is quite a bit taller. Dont buy this unless the woman/children in the family climb in so everyone is on board with the height-it is significantly higher than the previous model. The trade off is the improved off road clearance. The ride is great, acceleration satisfactory, perfect build quality. We started off with 18.5 mpg and our last tank was 21 mpg.

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  Gatorland Toyota sold me A great 2015 Prius - 2015 Toyota Prius
  By 2015prius - May 19 - 11:40 am

  Many people told me I would regret buying a Prius, and they are all wrong. I have gotten some really amazing mileage on my 2015 Toyota Prius Persona. Toyota makes excellent vehicles. My brother bought a Scion, and his is great also; of course its made by Toyota too. The only drawback is the dash is hard to clean because it is rough finished, everything else works flawlessly. Gatorland Toyota of Gainesville, Florida sold me this car at a great price too! People told me it would have no pep at all, boy they are wrong. You should go take one for a spin before you put it down. So many features, so great a price.

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  Love it.... - 2010 Toyota 4Runner
  By MooseCar - May 19 - 4:36 am

  Purchased for commute, hauling dogs, camping and minor offroading. Very impressed with how nice of a ride this vehicle offers on highway and back roads. One of the few SUVs on truck frame, but rides very nice. Ton of great options.