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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  In the Matrix - 2006 Toyota Matrix
  By 86Ciara - June 25 - 10:26 am

  I love this car. For a 4 cylinder this car is smashing!! For some reason this car just likes to go fast. Got a speeding ticket doing 97 mph :0 & no the paint did not peel off while I was re-entering the atmosphere. Steep upgrades not a problem just flip the OverDrive button and youre climbing!! I keep up with regular oil changes & maintenance to keep my baby running smooth.

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  old blue - 2005 Toyota Matrix
  By hamilton - June 25 - 10:00 am

  this car is fun to drive,great MPG. its kinda slugish on the pick up but i wanted a car thats gonna last for at least 10 yrs. i just bought it the other day but i owned a toyota celica 91 and i put well over 100K on that car & never a problem and i have faith in this one too.

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  My car for the next 15 years - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By 4runner lover - June 25 - 10:00 am

  I love this truck. It has off-road capability, but it handles and rides on the road like a dream. I bought the sport model and the build quality and the way it feels is well worth the price. It doesnt have as much room as the others in its class, but I can still take the wife, kid and dog and tons of stuff. This is going to replace a 98 explorer. Granted the explorer is 6 years old, I didnt have the confidence for safety, quality and reliability in the Ford as I do in this Toyota. When people found out I had one, everyone had a story about the incredible reliability and its apparent in the way this car drives and feels. Tons of standard advanced features, check out toyotas site.

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  Disapointed - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By Gep - June 25 - 10:00 am

  My 2004 does not ride as smooth as my 2001 Town & Country, is is much noiser inside and not as good fuel milage. It also lacks many of the luxury features such as Pasenger power seat and memory seat. When using Cruise it seems to always downshift on slight grades which I believe accounts for the milage problem

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  MPG - 2007 Toyota Corolla
  By devaro - June 24 - 9:06 am

  I just have to make a quick remark about MPG. I see that Edmunds put it at 29 MPG, my experience is 32 in city and 36 on Highway and this at 80+.

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  Side Door Handle - 1999 Toyota Sienna
  By lushbutterfly - June 24 - 12:50 am

  Bought this new--its been great with regular maintenance. Replaced the battery twice, were on 125K now. The side rear door handle on the outside broke off in my hand. $100/part alone. The inside rear door handle has stuck for about 10 of the 11 years--never worked, gets stuck in and then you cant close the door without prying it loose. The only drawbacks are the one side door and the lifting of seats in/out of the van. The newer ones seem a lot better designed. Overall, we love this van and well keep driving it till it dies...

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  Best pick up of 11 I have owend - 2004 Toyota Tundra
  By a9mmauto - June 23 - 9:06 pm

  This is a solid fun, and well built truck. I do some light towing, 3200 lbs no problem. I think this version is the best looking Toyota ever built. Off road amazing!

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  Wonderful - 1996 Toyota Avalon
  By Witalis - June 21 - 12:16 pm

  I just bought this car when it was standing in a lot for 2 years according to the owner. I dont know why he didnt use it. I bought it with 197K miles on it. It runs smooth, has power, is very comfy and all the electronics work. The radio was replaced a few years ago. The only things I have to fix are a flex pipe and the inner tie rod end, due to wear. Amazing that these are the only things that need replacing. Great mileage I filled up once for $20 on premium and the needle moved a little with the 40 miles I made so far.

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  My Sequoia Saved My Wifes Life - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By wfegley - June 21 - 2:00 am

  We only had our Sequoia for 1700 miles. It was the nicest vehicle we ever owned. It was roomy, comfortable, quiet, and peppy enough to get on down the highway. Its most important feature was our crash test. A moron made a left turn in front of my wife at point blank range. My wife t-boned the moron at 40 mph. The morons vehicle turned into scrap metal. The Sequoias front end crumpled as it was suppose to, but the passenger compartment was not compromised. The seat belts and air bags kept my wife from sustaining any serious injuries. The paramedics told my wife that our Sequoia saved her life.

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  Rusty Wheels - 2007 Toyota Corolla
  By Anacoboy - June 20 - 12:06 am

  Great little car with lots of pep. Excellent gas mileage and roomy inside, trunk included. I bought it new and it now has 30000 miles. It did have a low air conditioner freon charge that the dealer repaired. Now it has Rusty Wheels which the dealer/Toyota will not repair even though the car is still under warranty. This car has always been well maintained. So watch out they may have made Corolla wheels out of the left over steel from the Tundra frames