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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  Excellent CAR - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By Arcanine - July 23 - 7:33 am

  This car is great. It is great on the outside and ok on the inside... I wanted one with moonroof, but they are not available as easily as last year because of the gas prices. The mileage is great, and although it is not a sporty car you can count on its reliability.

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  Just a few bugs to work out - 2007 Toyota Tundra
  By Landscaper - July 22 - 1:20 pm

  I am very pleased overall with my new Tundra. It gets many positive comments from others. I have previously driven Chevy and GMC trucks. I only have four thousand miles on the Tundra so I cant be overly objective yet.

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  Comfortable & soft bounce - 2004 Toyota Sequoia
  By Romeo baby - July 21 - 10:00 am

  Pricy but sooo comfortable & could hardly feel bumps on rough roads. Slight press on gas pedal & has a quick pick up. I think overall, Toyota has a higher reliability than most cars.

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  one reliable car - 1998 Toyota Camry
  By Paul K - July 21 - 10:00 am

  We had bought this car brand new yet even after about 85000 miles, it seems nearly the same. It is very comfortable and has just the right amount of acceleration. Never had any problems with the car.

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  Noise from seatbelts? driving me crazy! - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By beetlemom_2000 - July 21 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my Camry for 5 months. The noise from inside the car is very annoying. Two trips back to the dealer havent solved the problem. Also have a fan belt noise when the heater/air conditioner is on and you start the car. They were not able to duplicate this in the shop. Other than those two things, the car seems to be fine.

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  Good Car - 2000 Toyota Camry
  By Gabriel - July 21 - 2:40 am

  My dad passed his 2000 Camry down to me, and the whole time we have owned it there have been no problems outside normal maintenance. It now has 144,000 miles with the 2.2l 4 and runs perfectly, never has issues starting. It gets good mileage even when driven hard. it also has a great interior that still looks like new. The 4 cylinder offers adequate power for most driving but lacks low end and passing power. Also has surprising grip in the snow and though the handling isnt sharp its very safe. Overall its a great car, giving you the reliability and fuel economy of a much smaller car with the comfort of a much larger car.

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  Owned for over one year - 2009 Toyota Matrix
  By gthumb - July 20 - 9:53 am

  This car drives very easily, however the fit and finish is horrible, rattles since day one, tire issue within 1st 3 mos. Toyota service awful, seems very cheap, not worth the price, poor paint quality, paint is chipping off the hood, design looks nice, but the front end needs a redesign to prevent the damage done to it from simple everyday driving.

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  Nice and comfortable SUV - 2009 Toyota Highlander
  By HighInSeattle - July 19 - 10:43 am

  I purchased the 4cyl model instead of V6 since all V6 models in Seattle area come with AWD. I didnt want to pay extra for AWD and the fuel economy of 4cyl is better than V6. I was a bit apprehensive that the 4cyl may lack the punch, but I was so wrong. The 4cyl engine packs a lot of punch and is very smooth - except when accelerating or going uphill when it does growl a bit. I get 22 MPG in normal city driving and there are a lot of hills in my neighborhood. The interior is very comfortable and has ample space for 4 persons. This SUV drives and handles pretty well and feels very safe and solid. Reliability is 5 for now - I will provide an update after 6 months.

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  NEW SUV - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By crispycritter1 - July 19 - 10:00 am

  Just purchased my new SUV and got to say it have everything I want in it along with the looks and ride....finally found a SUV with the headroom etc I need. Terrific vehicle and I hope to have it for many years...

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  Good Truck - 1997 Toyota T100
  By Kipg - July 19 - 10:00 am

  I have had minor troubles with this truck. I have 85k miles on it and it runs like a top. A few frustrations have been the exhaust crossover pipe and the antilock brakes. The crossover pipe bolts came loose and made a terrible noise that took awhile to find the source of. (OK now) The antilock brakes, well, I just dont like them in general. Nothing particularly bad about Toyotas. All I can say is that it is a very good feeling knowing that you have a Toyota when the miles start climbing over 60k.