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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  My 2000 Corolla still kicking butt at 151,000 miles - 2000 Toyota Corolla
  By travis30 - October 27 - 3:47 am

  I just bought this car recently from a Ford dealership of all places(haha!) for 4,300 and although that price may be high, I didnt leave the lot with the car until I comfortable that it was in great running condition. And it was, and still is. Stupid check engine light was on when I bought it, but ignored it. Had autozone check it,P0171 bank 1 fuel mixture too lean(rough idle is all I noticed). So I bought 2 new bosch o2 sensors(pre and post catalytic), a bosch fuel pump, 2 rear Monroe econo matic quik struts, new bosch spark plugs, stp air filter, oil change(bosch oil filter), didnt need anyone of these parts but I got them anyways. Runs perfect, not a single problem. MY FAVORITE CAR.

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  So far so good! - 2006 Toyota Highlander
  By heidigreenlaw - October 27 - 3:00 am

  Ive had this vehicle for one month - so far so good. This is my first Toyota.

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  Love my 4 Runner - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By DOCINMISS - October 26 - 12:36 pm

  Interior finish of Limited leaves much to be desired. Poor lighting of controls is bad also. My SUV is trouble free. One service call for a burned out light. My Michilen tires show little wear for 70 000 miles

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  Fun But Also a Pain - 2004 Toyota Matrix
  By Tanamoor - October 26 - 7:56 am

  Pros: Good acceleration, great on trips. Comfortable inside, roomy for passengers, the seats lie flat, front passenger seat lies down - can carry long items. Has an AC outlet. I loved the 6 dsc CD changer and the moonroof. Nice looking exterior. The seat sits a little higher than most sedans and the shift lever is forward on the dash which is comfortable for me. Cons: gas pedal is very touchy. It is easy to stall out when starting from a standstill. Sometimes it has trouble going into 1st or 2nd gears. The engine is annoyingly loud. The "apron" or skirt deal under the front grill is very cheap and low to the ground so it gets scraped all the time.

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  XLE (VS) ES 350 - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Erick Strong - October 25 - 6:16 am

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  Cant go wrong with this vehicle =Solid - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By osg - October 25 - 2:00 am

  I love my Sequoia. The only thing wrong is that they depreciate.

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  nice little package - 2002 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By ImGregB - October 24 - 10:00 am

  The exterior design is the big seller on this auto. Interior design is functional. I have the sequential transmission and hope that it works out well without high repair bills to come. Well see. Being a small vehicle you will feel all bumps in the road. It is quite noisy. I find the power to be acceptable, but then again I am not one to look for V8 power. Lack of cargo space is a big factor to consider before purchasing this auto. You simply have none. And I mean none. I am extremely happy and satisfied with it. I look forward to driving it every day. I would recommend it to anyone who can do without cargo space.

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  Great Truck - 2000 Toyota Tacoma
  By JG1968 - October 23 - 2:56 am

  Extremely reliable truck. Also, the truck is the most sure footed vehicle I have ever driven in the snow. The looks of the truck from the outside are classy and from the inside simple and straight forward. The stock seats are torture devices. Also, the cup holders are poor.

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  Second Sienna, but not the best.. - 2012 Toyota Sienna
  By carsanddrivers - October 22 - 5:23 pm

  Its a Toyota.. So it will likely live as long as my 01 which I traded in at 395K miles. Although, the interior quality isnt quite as nice as the 01, and the run flat tires are terrible. But it is HUGE in comparison, and I average about 24mpg with my new non run flat tires, in a 30%city 70% highway driving situation.

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  No More Uncertainty - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By MaAron - October 22 - 5:20 am

  I was a bit reluctant to buy a new vehicle that was a hybrid. Any doubts or reservations are gone. It is truly a wonderful vehicle