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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  Nice - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By T.Johnson - March 29 - 10:00 am

  A great Car. Extreemly quiet and roomy. Glides like on ice.

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  The Best!!! - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By UBHappy - March 29 - 10:00 am

  We are comparing the Sienna to the 02 Honda Odyssey EX-L which we traded in. The Sienna handles like the Ody, but the ride is more comfortable and the interior is much more quiet. Acceleration, braking and steering between the Sienna and Ody are very comparable, but the AWD and vehicle skid control on the Sienna makes this vehicle a champ on slick roads. We find the seats to be more comfortable in the Sienna than the Ody. The Sienna offers many more features that the more spartan Ody. The build quality on the Sienna is superb! We expect the reliability of the Sienna to be top- notch!

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  i love my car - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By bripmer - March 29 - 10:00 am

  i have put 34k miles on my car this year and i still love it. I really wish i bought the v6

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  Our best car ever - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By drp camry - March 29 - 10:00 am

  After nearly one year and near 18,000 miles this is the first new vehicle we have owned with zero defects. Gas mileage exceeds highway sticker often. The 4 cyl engine can spin the front wheels on dry pavement. By mistake I once got to 100 mph and it was so smooth. If you dont use cruise you will be at 80 before you know it. Wheel disks poor design—can be damaged on curbs. Light gray mats impractical. Otherwise, a perfect car—our 2nd Camry.

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  XLE after 1 week - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By rcf8000 - March 29 - 10:00 am

  I checked out the Accord EX with Leather. MSRP is the same. Camry won out because of more luxury features and quieter ride. I also found the drivers seat to be more comfortable in the Camry, although I have some issues with the Camry in that regard, too. Accord had better handling and acceleration, although the Camrys handling is good and the acceleration is adequate for the type of driving we do, which is mostly city streets.

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  Head turner called Venza - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By Chris - March 29 - 6:33 am

  Road noise is more than excessive, computerized fuel consumption display is inaccurate, remote starter limiting engine run for only 5 minutes is senseless: warming up cooling down the car interior requires more than 5 minutes, distance for remote starter is another brainless design: maximum distance to use remote is only 80 feet. Despite all this my black shiny Venza is still great had turner.

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  I Want to Marry My Yaris Hatchback - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By HawthornWoods - March 29 - 1:23 am

  Well, not quite, but I do love it! My brother got one last year cuz he was tired of filling up his Suburban. We poked a lot of fun of his Yaris -- mainly because you could fit three of them inside his Suburban -- but then we drove it and thought it was pretty cool. When gas prices started climbing, we went to Toyota to buy either a Prius or the Yaris hatchback (the sedan is ugly). We got the Yaris and we love it. It looks tiny from the outside but when youre inside, its big! A day after we got it, we put on cool rims. Week later, had the windows tinted. People stop me all the time to ask what it is. Many think its a SmartCar. I say No, its a Smarter Car cuz it doesnt need premium gas!

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  Fun Avalon - 1998 Toyota Avalon
  By Jim - March 28 - 11:03 pm

  This is a nice comfortable car.. It is the same model as the Lexus 300.. same car but much cheaper.. Great road car cruises well at 80 mph plus! The V-6 is very powerful..

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  Camry Again - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Bill - March 28 - 8:13 pm

  I just got my 2007 Camry LE I4 and really like its refinement over a 2002 I owned. Compared to the 2005 Altima I traded it is world of refinement also. I do a lot of touring and so far this car has been wonderful.

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  The best - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By Larry - March 28 - 4:00 pm

  I will never buy another type or make of vehicle. I love my Prius