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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  And i never thought i would drive a mini - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By heshey - February 8 - 10:00 am

  Great family car. Dont let them sell you the exteded warranty.

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  New owner of import - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By Zotos - February 7 - 10:30 am

  Ive had the car a week and enjoy the ride very much. I traded up from a 99 Saturn SL1 that had 211,000 miles on it. The Camry is very comfortable and a great ride. I was a little disappointed in spending $60 for a fill-up after spending barely $30 before. But thats the price of a larger tank. Interior is straight forward, nothing fancy. Buttons logically placed.

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  Great Family Traveling Vehicle - 2008 Toyota Sequoia
  By Mike - February 7 - 7:10 am

  I have a 92 Camry that I bought new 16 yrs ago and a 99 Sienna I bought new 9 yrs ago so I expected the Sequoia to be another "quality" Toyota and, 1,100 miles into this new vehicle, I have not been disappointed. We have driven through the Appalachian mountains twice and it rides wonderfully. With three growing children and a lot of long trips planned we wanted something bigger than the Sienna for these trips. Over a 6-month period I evaluated the Navigator and Armada and had to go with the Sequoia due to my personal experience with Toyota quality the past 16 years. We look forward to getting at least ten years out of this vehicle.

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  1998 Rav4 L - 1998 Toyota RAV4
  By jackdave - February 5 - 8:16 pm

  Just needs Captn chair arms for both the Driver and Psgr.!

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  great car - 1998 Toyota Corolla
  By workinguy - February 5 - 10:00 am

  i am a very high-mileage driver. in the 8 months ive had my corolla, ive put 15000 miles on it. the ride is smooth, the engine is quiet, and the engine can give a little extra when you need it.

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  Good car, great value - 2013 Toyota Camry
  By roar02ram - February 5 - 8:49 am

  The title says it all - this car is an excellent value. It rides well, handles decently, is comfortable, has a few cool features, is sturdily constructed, gets acceptable fuel economy (particularly considering the performance), and is roomy. It does all of the important things well or well enough, with no major flaws and zero irritants. Plus, in SE V-6 trim, the engine supplies a few thrills and the car handles/steers well enough to keep up when you want to do more than commute. Bottomline, it aint a sports sedan, and it aint a luxury car, either. But for what the SE V-6 is and for what Toyota charges for it, it really is the best thing out there.

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  Jills 5-speed Matrix XRS - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By jill112 - February 4 - 7:56 am

  As a first-time Toyota owner, I was looking for a surrogate Honda Civic wagon. Im extemely disappointed in the quality--the transmission has already failed, requiring a $1300 repair. I had required maintenance performed ever since purchasing the car new, primarily by the dealership. While the car has a lot of potential, I will never buy another Toyota; anyone looking for a Matrix may want to avoid a 2003 manual transmission model.

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  Just 1110 miles so far. - 2017 Toyota Camry
  By Camry Owner - February 3 - 11:44 pm

  Just bought this car 3 weeks ago, now with 1110 miles when ABS, traction control and check brake light came on. Took it to dealer, chief technician insisted on "turning the rotor" since it showed signs of warpage due to heat. I insisted on replacement, along with new pads and brake control module which probably caused this problem. After demanding to speak to service manager, they decided to do as I asked and replaced all 4 rotos and pads on all 4 corners but, not the module. Now, Monday following repair, drove 30 yards to end of street, all the previous brake warning lights returned! So, off to dealership we go in the morning to see ehat else it the problem...cant be the brand new rotors or pads, only thing left is the brake control module that I insisted they replace in the first place. I was a Cadillac technician at dealership, I know how they work.

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  2006 Toyota Camry - 2006 Toyota Camry
  By Kym Longo - February 3 - 2:46 pm

  Went from a 1995 Nissan Maxima. Miss the power in the engine and the handling. The Camry makes up in ride and comfort. I drive around a lot in the Puget Sound Area and have to sit in traffic quite a bit, the comfort and manuverablility is great. Doesnt handle quite like the Maxima, but is comparable (cornering, driving with lots of water on the road). Not sure I would purchase another Camry.

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  Will it make it to 300K - 1999 Toyota Camry
  By chambers - February 2 - 8:13 pm

  Purchsed from a friend in 2002 with 90k miles on it. I just turned 222k. 2 timing belts, 1 water pump (easy change when doing timing belt so did it just to be safe), 1 tune up, new struts, few sets of brakes and tires, that is it. I cant kill this Camry no matter how hard I try. Is it boaring, yes. Is it slow, yes. Is it the most reliable car I have ever owned...hands down. IF you are looking for a car for your teenaged kids, look no farther. As much as I would like to move on, I am determined to drive the Camry until something major goes wrong with it. My luck I will be writting another update in 2 years when I have 270k on it. GM, take notes, this is how a car should be built!!!