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:

• 

  love it - 2004 Toyota Avalon
  By hawkeye - April 16 - 10:00 am

  I testdrove several cars before deciding on the Avalon. I liked it better than the more expensive Lexus ES300, because the Avalon feels spacier. The nav system is working very well. For destinations that Im familiar with it always picks the best route Ive learned over the years (in quickest mode). Its taught me some new routes when using shortest or alternate mode. The screen is clear under all conditions, being mounted under a slight overhang. The Avalon responds real well, is comfortable/luxurious to drive, and when kicked down really accelerates well for such a large car.

• 

  An SUV w/ Car ride and performance - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By RBeck - April 16 - 10:00 am

  I am absolutly pleased! I test drove many cars and SUVs, but the first time I drove the new 4Runner I was sold. Best value by far! The V8 is silk w/ the auto 5 speed. I shopped on-line and multiple dealers prior to buying and got my SR5 w/ appearance pkg, V8, roof rack for $26.5K, great experiance! Only complaint is that all doors do not automatically unlock when exiting. All in all this is my first Toyota and it make me wonder why I have not bought one before now

• 

  Best Little Truck - 2003 Toyota Tacoma
  By Ulysse - April 16 - 10:00 am

  In the small pickup category the base model Toyota Tacoma cant be beat. Reliability is 100%. Ive had no trouble @ all. I live in the Nort East & over the winter made several trips throuout Northern New England & Quebec during a Winter of record cold & snowfall & never once had any problems (pretty remarkable for a 2Wheel Drive ). I do however recommend weight in the back (I used sandtubes) & SNOW!!! tires on all 4 tires. Im looking forward to many, many miles & years with this base model Toyota Tacoma

• 

  Best SUV in Market - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By asif - April 16 - 10:00 am

  Very attractive in titanium metallic, beautifull interior (stone), lots of standard feature, smooth transmission, nice acceleration, sharp turn. EBD is excellent. Third Row seat is little conjusted but gr8 for kids. leaves no cargo space but u can always use roof rack. i bough mine with roof rack, third row weat, leather steering wheel and floor mats. Every thing else u need is standard. Automatic climate control is bit noisy but cool at low setting. The orange interior illumination at night is awesome. Take this vehicle on road and i bet ppl will look behind for it.

• 

  AWD 6cyl Highlander - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By crv139 - April 16 - 10:00 am

  Very comfortable vehicle, with lots of room.Very well insulated keeping outside noise out of the cabin. Engine is very quiet and responsive. Usually you can not tell the vehicle is running. Much better quality than the GM products (trailblazer,envoy,bravada) Only time i expect to take it back to the dealer is for maintance, Its a toyota!!

• 

  Great Vehicle - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By magapapa - April 16 - 10:00 am

  Is a pleasure to drive and the ride is great. Drove to Maine from Ohio and was really a treat. Owned a Blazer but this vehicle has convinced me Toyota did their research!!

• 

  A great car at a great price - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By pkim - April 16 - 10:00 am

  This is a great car. It is reliable, comfortable, affordable, and gets great gas milage. I would recommend this car to anyone who wants a compact car at a compact price!

• 

  I LOVE this car! - 2005 Toyota Echo
  By Bonnie G - April 15 - 9:50 am

  This is my 2nd Echo! I love the handling, gas mileage, peppy performance. Dont know what your testers were driving!! Im hanging on to this one!

• 

  Quite the Warrior - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By jones3kn - April 15 - 7:03 am

  My mom and dad bought this car new and when I turned 16 in 2008, they turned it over to me. Before I had it, my brother drove it and got in a wreck with a large SUV and it survived with just a large dent in the front end. Since then, I have put this car through the wringer. Im a rock climber, so I am constantly travelling and the storage capacity is amazing with the folding back seats. This is my go-to road trip car. Its now 11 years old and I just took it up through the Adirondaks, White Mountains and to Maine and back to Ohio. It has a little over 150K and its still running strong. Im actually planning a trip across the country to visit my brother in Portland, OR from Ohio.

• 

  LOVE MY YARIS!! - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Dawn - April 15 - 12:43 am

  Looks are deceiving, you can comfortably fit 5 adults in this thing! I chose the Yaris because of MPG and price, and when I got to the dealer I bought it because of looks and ride. The manual tranny is super easy to shift, and I love the way it turns on a dime.