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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  Solid, Dependable Auto - 1995 Toyota Corolla
  By BLUEEYES - March 23 - 2:00 am

  This has been a great, very reliable car to own & drive. Highway I average 33 MPG, city about 28. Have no problem getting it up to 90 MPH.

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  I think Ive had enough - 2004 Toyota Celica
  By toyotagearhead - March 23 - 2:00 am

  I only bought this car because I needed to drive something. My old Celica got totaled. It is a decent car, however, the exterior design got old real fast. I wish I would have bought a 94 to 99 Celica or waited to see if a new design is going to come out anytime soon.

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  Love my 4runner - 1997 Toyota 4Runner
  By Paulh - March 23 - 2:00 am

  Bought my runner a few months ago and I love it .It may only be a 4 cylinder but it has all the power I need . On some long steep hills it may kick down a gear but not always .

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  My Hybrid - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By Eleanorten - March 23 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle is very peppy and will move on the highway. I cant believe the gas mileage Im getting, about 40 MPG on the highway and 50+ around town. The interior is very roomy - I have 2 booster seats in the back for the kids and still have the hatchback trunk for packages.

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  BEST 4 PASSENGER CONVERTIBLE - 2002 Toyota Camry Solara
  By realtor steve - March 23 - 2:00 am

  We drove every convertible from $55k on down. Decided we wanted a 4 passenger car. This car is the best:lots of fun to drive, maybe not a real sports car but plenty fast and zippy. In fact it was faster off the line than either the Saab or Volvo convertibles. It was the most comfortable riding of all of them. I dont put a lot of mileage on, but I enjoy this car every day.

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  Sequioa - 2004 Toyota Sequoia
  By ss5jeter - March 23 - 2:00 am

  This a good big family SUV but it is hard to drive in alot a traffic. It is great in the snow and can tow big loads. It is also nice to take on long trips because of all the passenger room.

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  toyota avalon - 2004 Toyota Avalon
  By tennisace - March 23 - 2:00 am

  reliable, extremely roomy for our very tall family(6.5 and 6.7) even in the rear. XLS comes with everything, we continue to have problems with the vehicle skid control, car only has 5000 miles.

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  best mid-sized suv - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By nfdeng13 - March 23 - 2:00 am

  We drove the Trail Blazer, Envoy, Durango, Pilot, and Explorer. The 4- Runner blew them away. We couldnt believe it was in the same price range.We have 12,000 miles and love the truck.

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  best suv - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By dennis larson - March 23 - 2:00 am

  I HAVE OWNED 4RUNNERS SINCE 1992 AND THIS IS MY 4TH....AND THE BEST....4WHEEL PLUS V8...AWESOME PERFORMANCE AND GREAT RELIABILITY...PRIMARILY DRIVEN BY MY WIFE, SHE LOVES THE PERFORMANCE AND RELIABILITY,SHE FEELS SAFE AND SECURE.

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  Poor Quality Truck - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By Michael_F - March 23 - 2:00 am

  Purchased truck from Molle Toyota of Missouri in KC. The truck was delivered to me with a leaky radiator hose & a deformed plastic piece that surrounds the clock inside the truck & several other defects inside the truck. Some of the other defects inside the truck as follows: (1). Flexible rubber cover that covers the seat hinge gets crushed into the hinge when you move the upper part of the seat completely forward, you can check this out for yourself on any Toyota truck. (2). Cutouts in the carpet of the seat for the head rest are too large for the plastic piece that is designed to cover them up. (3). Dash pieces are cheap & do not line up properly.