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 All Around Car - 2004 Toyota Matrix
  By MundschauJ - April 10 - 2:00 am

  Ive had the car more than 1 year. Mileage averages around 35mpg on combined city and highway. The build quality is excellent as expected. One complaint however. The AC stopped working for about 2 hours one day while on a long drive with customers in the car. After parking for about 3 hours the AC worked fine and never stopped again. Other than that, extremely versatile and the best car Ive ever owned. Ive had cars that were more fun to drive, like a VR6 VW, and a Jeep Wrangler, but neither beats the overall usefullness and dependability of this Matrix.

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  MY 2002 RAV 4 - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By JIMMY BRUNO - April 10 - 2:00 am

  HORSEPOWER IS ABOVE AVERAGE FOR A 4 CYL. HAD TROUBLE WITH NOISE IN THE DASH AND THE TOP CARGO CARRIER. DEALERSHIP TOOK CARE OF ALL OF THAT. IT COMES WITH A COMPASS IN THE MIRROR BUT NO OUTSIDE TEMP. DISPLAY. SEATING IS GOOD IN THE REAR AND FRONT AND THE SEATS FOLD DOWN AND COME OUT FOR ADDED HAULING. FRONT TO BACK MEASUREMENTS ARE EXCELLENT FOR MY NEEDS WHICH WERE A ADDED FEATURE FOR BUYING IT AS WERE THE EXTERIOR DESIGN. THE WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA HILLS RUN DOWN THE TIRES THAT WERE ON THE VEHICLE. I HAVE TO CHANGE THEM THIS SUMMER AND ITS NOT QUITE 2 YEARS OLD WITH 17,000 MILES ON IT.

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  8000 miles and its still good - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By Bouch - April 10 - 2:00 am

  I bought teh 4Runeer anfter much research and largely based on what other consumers said in the is site. The experience so far has been pretty good. The 4Runner is fun to drive and it looks good. I towed a 2500 lb trailer 5300 miles. I averaged 9 mpg towing the trailer at 75mph. I get ~20 without the trailer. Id buy it again.

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  2004 Corolla - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By trcarroll - April 10 - 2:00 am

  Owned a 97 Geo Prizm before and didnt hesitate to buy a 04 Corolla. Unfortunately I did not test drive it close enough. Major problem with steering wheel too close to dash, and an ackward seat/floor. This has resulted in personal left foot problems (Ive called "Toyota foot"). Also problem with rotten egg smell while ideling at a stop. Need to inform passengers that its the car "not me".

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  Great car - 2004 Toyota Sequoia
  By J. King - April 9 - 8:43 pm

  Weve had our Sequoia for 5 years now - 80000 miles - and it still runs like a charm. It is comfortable, easy to drive, and weve had NO issues with it the entire time. Highly recommend for a great long-term daily car.

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  2002 XLE 4 Cyl w/ Pkg. 8+ - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By wmagon - April 9 - 10:00 am

  I just purchased the 2002 Camry XLE with Pkg. 8 plus heated seats and curtain airbags. I believe Toyota did their homework on this one and nailed the design (near perfect).

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  Love my Corolla - 1998 Toyota Corolla
  By ADwyer - April 8 - 5:53 pm

  I bought my Corolla because I wanted a car that would last, I could depend on, and wouldnt require a lot of unexpected repair cost. I have not been disappointed. I love the gas mileage, I love the realibility (which is second to none.) I have 165K on it today, and it shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Other than regular maintainence I have put nothing into this car. I think about buying something bigger because of the short backseat, however, I am scared to give up the dependability I have grown to expect.

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  2005 Tacoma - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By Bassman17SC - April 8 - 12:26 am

  I replaced a Pathfinder with this truck and boy, what a difference!! The V6 is powerful enough to tow my bass boat with ease. The accelaration is excellent; the braking is good. Even with the off-road package, it is not that bumpy. We drove it to Destin; my wife and I were completely comfortable in the bucket seats. I HIGHLY recommend this truck.

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  Gas mileage is still same as like 2013 - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By Janga Rai - April 7 - 12:08 pm

  They must check gas mileage which is 22 by 29 like 2013 and features of a car.

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  Overall, we love our Sequoia! - 2001 Toyota Sequoia
  By Taylor - April 6 - 8:26 pm

  In 2 years of ownership, we have had no major problems. It carries our family of 5 plus a ton of luggage w/o breaking a sweat. We love the huge moonroof, the 6 CD in-dash changer, the power of the 4.7 L V-8. We have taken it down dusty desert trails to visit ghost towns and up mountain paths w/o so much as a hiccup. There are a few gripes, however - the tail gate refused to open not long after we bought it and we could hear broken parts rattling around inside. The transmission sometimes clunks when were at a stoplight and it feels like weve been bumped from behind. Both rear passenger doors refuse to stay open on even the slightest incline, and the rear cubby hatch cover pops open.