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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  Great for my needs - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By Michael Miller - October 6 - 2:00 am

  The Matrix, for me, is a wonderful replacement for a 2002 Corolla I had. Long story short, I disliked the Corolla but found the Matrix had a lot of features I always wanted. Gas mileage is decent, only trade-off from the Corolla. With the Matrix I can lie down in the back--great camping car. My bike fits, too. Those complaining about the lack of power, etc., may have expectations too high for a 4 cylinder-- buy a six or eight and pay the difference in gas costs. The four cylinder, which maneuvers just fine at 70-75 mph, is ideal for the many different types of driving I do.

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  Ho Hum for a Camry - 1998 Toyota Camry
  By Car Mom - October 6 - 2:00 am

  This car has been a let down. The Camry,s before and after seem better. The brakes are peculiar and feel almost unreliable, the interior is downright unattractive and very prone to dirt, there is tremendous roll in the turns, the air and heat almost stop working unless the car is moving. Not up to Camry standards

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  First minivan, some likes and dislikes - 2009 Toyota Sienna
  By Patrick - October 5 - 11:36 pm

  First time minivan owner. I am very pleased with how the vehicle drives. It really feels like you are driving a car. The acceleration is acceptable, and feels sure taking corners. The amenities in the limited are substantial. The sound quality of the bluetooth technology is good. The nav system is not as intuitive as you would like, but I can live with that. The sound system is strong. The back up camera gives you a little more confidence when backing up. My two biggest complaints are the gas mileage (getting about 15 mpg which has some city, but mostly highway miles), and the side doors not stopping when something is in the way.

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  Very happy with this car - no regrets - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By kjmurphy - October 5 - 4:03 am

  We bought this car after the engine went on our 2002 Nissan Altima. Very happy with the styling, handling, etc. with the Corolla. Nice head room for my boyfriend as he is 62" vs. the Civic. Negotiated a great deal and even had the dealer put in leather seats and front seat heaters.

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  Great all around truck - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By Bill Nelson - October 4 - 3:13 pm

  I bought this Tacoma 4wd, v6, 5spd, TRD pkg. The Taco is fun to drive, looks great, handles snow like its dry pavement, and seems as if built to last a lifetime. Ive had only a slight squeak in the dash on the pass. side. Ive put on over 14000 miles in 9 months driving to the mountains of NH, and this past week have tackled a 3 foot blizzard in boston with no problems. Great for a single guy/couple with no kids. Back seat good only for storage or the dog, not much more. Good factory radio, cold a/c, and supportive seats make this my commuter truck/weekend-warrior mobile! You wont regret this one.

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  It is a Corolla - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By pacu44 - October 3 - 8:26 pm

  Reputation and peace of mind... Road trip day after purchase, good trip... Surprised at the good ride... Good highway driving... Smooth, predictable and great MPG... Needed to get used to brakes and steering... After the 400 mile trip, no problem... It is a Corolla, I read these reviews and see some expecting a mini Lexus... I am pleased so far... For the money, just dont breakdown and get good MPG and I will be satisfied...

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  Good car for the price - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By Corners - October 1 - 2:40 pm

  Leased a 2010 Corolla S (auto) to have reliable, trouble free, safe transportation for the next 3 years. I have a second kid on the way, and while my car is not the "family" car (wife drives a Sienna), there are still times we need to use my car, and the Mustang just isnt going to work with a rear facing car seat. ;) Anyways, the car is very comfortable to drive, but in no way exciting. Its basic transportation, and does well at this. The looks are sporty, but thats as far as the sportiness goes. Power is adequate, but lacking. The 4 speed transmission is outdated compared to the competition. The rated city fuel economy is optimistic. 24 mpg city is reality.

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  Scotts 4-runner - 1999 Toyota 4Runner
  By Scotts Truck - October 1 - 6:53 am

  Overall - excellent vehicle. Could use more horse power and torque to handle the weight.

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  2000 sienna LE; had new since 9/00 - 2000 Toyota Sienna
  By toddtonis - September 30 - 10:00 am

  Fit and finish of vehicle is good. In 2002, the right sliding door developed a small rattle (something inside door) more just a nuisance. In town gas mileage is bad (around 15 mpg). Highway driving has been excellent (~25- 27 mpg). fabric is holding up well. dunlop tires arent very good for wear as Ill be needing new tire in the next 3K (currently at 45K miles). Changing oil and filter is very easy. Dual A/C works great even on the hottest days. Paint job on car is pretty average with a lot of orange peel in paint job (typical for japanese cars). Im looking at trading it in for the 2004 sienna.

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  False Advertising - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By JERRY ROSEN - September 30 - 8:46 am

  The sticker on the window advertized that the Hybrid would get 40 MPG city and 38 MPG highway. After checking many tankfuls of gas the best mileage I could get was between 22 and 24 MPG. This to me is totally unacceptable. I brought the car into 2 different dealers in North Miami and Hollywood for testing and they both told me there is nothing wrong with the car. Last week I drove to Gainesville where the car was purchased, to have them tell me the same thing. Nothing was accomplished except I put 660 miles on the car and I am still very FRUSTRATED. I didnt buy a hybrid to get 22 MPG. When I should be getting at least 40MPG promised by all the advertising and hype about hybrids.