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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  Touch Of Class - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By DDCTech - September 14 - 10:00 am

  Saddens me that USA wont build something of this caliber. Has all the personality of a perfect gentleman. Refined, reserved, full of class but never snooty, this is as near a perfect vehicle as I have ever seen. Bland? Boring? Never! Want exitement? Buy a Pontiac. If you want the Ultimate Family Machine, the HL is for you. 10 years from now it will still have its dignity, which is more than can be said for the competition.

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  REPALCE THE LEX - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By PETERPAL49 - September 14 - 10:00 am

  THIS IS MY FIRST HIGHLANDER, WHICH IS REPLACING MY RX300. LOOKED AT FORD, CHEVY AND CHRYSLER, AND WAS NOT IMPRESSED WITH THE VEHICLES FOR THE MONEY THEY WANTED. THE HIGHLANDER IS VERY COMPERABLE TO MY RX IN MANY WAYS EXCEPT PRICE! 10 GRAN LESS!! THE LEX IS QUIETER AND A SOFTER RIDE, BUT FOR 10 THOUSAND MORE? THE HIGHLANDER WAS A GOOD COMPREMISE.

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  best buy for your buck - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By eq - September 14 - 10:00 am

  I have very little if any complaints about my corolla. The ride is very smooth, and the design i far more improved over the previous corollas. The only issue that I have is that the engine is not the quietest in the world, and the gas mileage on the auto. version is nowhere near their alleged 38mpg. Other than this the car is wonderful and I hope to enjoy it for many years to come.

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  Yukon to Highlander - 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Tom - September 14 - 3:30 am

  Great room for a big guy. Seats very comfortable. All the bells and whistles, maybe a little too much. Having a hard time with the quiet start and the sound of all the hybrid stuff.

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  Awesome car - 2016 Toyota Corolla
  By zen - September 13 - 3:46 pm

  Excellent spacing. For a 6" driver this is awesome, I had tried Corolla 10 years back and it was small. Very spacious and has excellent capabilities. Moonroof. Gps etc and all for $19300 invoice in Jan 2016 for a 2016 Model.

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  VERY Satisfied - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By thkim - September 13 - 11:36 am

  I owned a 2004 Lexus LS430. I was VERY HAPPY with my Lexus. The thing is my family grew by two kids. My wife changed to a minivan and I needed to get something more fuel efficient. Did the math and I am saving tons on fuel. The Lexus made me feel good because it is the best luxury car. The Prius makes me feel good because its the most fuel efficient car. Took me a while to get used to losing some of the luxury feel, but over all I couldnt be happier. I also love the fact that Im less dependent of foreign oil for my energy needs. The biggest thing to get used to has been having more people pass me on the road because I drive slower. In my Lexus I was always passing people.

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  Former Mustang Driver - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By ex-Mustang driver - September 13 - 10:50 am

  The Toyota Solara is an exceptionally fun car to drive. With over 30 years of experience driving only standard transmission vehicles, I love the clutchless transmission which gives me the capability of shifting on winding roads or when I want quicker acceleration.

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  No regrets - 2006 Toyota 4Runner
  By Sen A - September 12 - 11:13 pm

  Very comfortable drive compared to my last car was a 2002 Pathfinder. The balance of the car while taking curves are remarkable due to its wider wheelbase. Some of the interior features could have been improved but overall excellent vehicle.

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  Comfortable Convertible - 2008 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Former Bmwer owner - September 12 - 8:40 pm

  This is a very comfortable convertible and can actually hold two people in the back seat! The car has enough power for most situations. The trunk is great (roomy) for a convertible. Needs automatic seat adjustment, larger rear window, and a better navigation system. The navigation system will tell you to turn once you are past the turn!

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  Love My Toyota - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By Rick - September 12 - 12:46 pm

  I bought this with 15,000 miles on it and it has 116,000 on it now and never had any problems with it, I guess its time to change the plugs other than that, I will be looking for a newer one soon and getting a nice resale on this one.