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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  Awesome SUV - 1997 Toyota 4Runner
  By woolman - June 26 - 10:00 am

  Excellent SUV for the great outdoors

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  The great Sienna - 2003 Toyota Sienna
  By CHON - June 26 - 10:00 am

  This vehichle is a great family car as well as a smooth ride.Great crash test results and look and feel of just a great all around minivan.

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  Better than I hoped - 2000 Toyota Avalon
  By Tmonroe - June 26 - 10:00 am

  The Avalon glids effortless over a variety of sufaces like a car that cost much more. Smooth engine, good fuel economy, quiet interior allowing conversations at 75 mph without having to yell. No hoarseness after long trips from having to talk too loud. Good sound system and plenty of room for four grown people. Smooth transmission. Its a Lexus in Toyota clothing.

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  GREAT MODEL - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By Zavi - June 26 - 10:00 am

  It was love at first site. I like everything about this car. The Matrix was built especially for me. I sat on the drivers seat and all the controls, panels, storages were right where they should be. I can control the radio without sluching forward. All the compartments are near. Thoughtful desing, space to put the quarters for toll, space to put my cups, great visibility, ample interior...

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  RAV4 L - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By SandyT - June 26 - 10:00 am

  We shopped around at several dealers. We found the best price at the larger "city" dealer. The car runs very well and is just the right size for commuting to work in all seasons. The L upgrade offers some nice extras such as moonroof and cd/tape/stereo radio. Our dealer lowered the MSR by $2,500 and provided a fair value for our 1995 Nissan Altima trade-in. The only problem we had was that the radio was defective. The dealer replaced it the next day

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  XLE V6 - 1998 Toyota Camry
  By andrew - June 26 - 10:00 am

  The Camry XLE V6 is very comfortable and reliable. It has a good performance.

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  XLE V6 - 1998 Toyota Camry
  By Andrew - June 26 - 10:00 am

  The Camry XLE V6 is very comfortable and reliable. It has a good performance.

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  DRIVE IN STYLE - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By ZMAN - June 26 - 10:00 am

  I do plenty of highway driving to and from work so I needed a car with GREAT gas mileage.This car (Corolla CE w/auto transmission)has been quite satisfying. I recently got 511 miles on a tank full of gas all highway!!! The car rides quiet and a great sounding cd player also.I sometimes forget when I get gas. I would recommend this car to anyone.I also use synthetic motor oil for better performance.

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  Fits people of all sizes - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By Canuck366 - June 26 - 3:13 am

  This car is cheap in cost terms but extremely good quality for the price. I was concerned about buying it because Im a big guy, but it is much more comfortable than a Nissan Sentra, Chevy S10 Pickup or Ford Mustang. The headroom and leg room was impressive in both the front and the back seats. The seats sit much higher than one would expect from such a small car. If you are looking to buy one, make sure it is a Manual Transmission or it will not be any fun. Others have asked for these fancy features like iPod holders and other advancements, it sounds like you need to spend the extra money if you want those features and go with the Matrix.

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  Peppy little car - 2005 Toyota Matrix
  By threesa - June 25 - 3:53 pm

  I bought my 2005 Matrix new and have been pretty satisfied with it. Its comfortable (even for passengers), spacious, reliable, and quite peppy. This car is not 4-wheel drive but it easily climbs dirt roads in the mountains. Probably the only fault with it is it doesnt handle inclement weather well at all (I live in the mountains so this posed a serious problem with the snow). I eventually had to put some sandbags down on the passenger foot areas to provide additional weight. Since my usual passengers are 3 dogs, this hasnt encumbered them but, for older children or adults sitting in the back, this would most likely be quite uncomfortable.