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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  Best used car Ive ever owned. - 1999 Toyota Camry
  By srichey - July 15 - 12:56 pm

  Great commuter car. I owned the car for four years and really took it through the paces and it never gave me any problems at all. Its not a Porsche but its dependable and the mileage is decent.

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  03 Sienna Symphony - great family ride - 2003 Toyota Sienna
  By Roy - July 13 - 4:06 pm

  Ive owned Sienna since new, lots of miles and no major problems. The vehicle has been serviced regularly, nothing out of the ordinary or short of expectations. Its not as roomy as our previous Caravan but it has NOT been to the dealer for drive train issues inside of 40k either like the Caravan!

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  2006 Tundra 4Door SR5 - 2006 Toyota Tundra
  By Dean Bailey - July 13 - 1:36 am

  I really like the exterior of the Tundra but find the inside to be lacking. It just doesnt have the bells and whistles other truck manufacturers have. Ive had my truck now for about 2 months and its getting cold outside and I find when I turn on my air it makes noise. Its not all the time so I know if I take it in it will not do it. Thats just how my luck would be. I dont want to sound too negative so I will say that driving my Tundra seems like driving a car which is really nice. We also have a 2004 4Runner and the Tundra is a much smoother ride.

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  Could be better - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By Bill from Orlando - July 12 - 12:16 pm

  I bought my FJ because it was different than all the other SUVs out there. First the bad: cant open front & rear door if you are parked too close to another car to get access to rear. When using a fast gas pump, wont handle the volume and keeps shutting off pump, must pump slowly. Front passenger mirror too small and no light. Dumb design to have to take headrests off rear seats to fold them down. Rear "portholes" too small for rear passengers. No console with cover. Premium gas required. Now the good: It attracts attention for unusual design. White roof keeps interior much cooler (I live in Florida). Great sound system. Comfortable front seats. Easy to read and operate controls.

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  happyily drving in nj - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By hil - July 11 - 10:00 am

  Powerful; comfortable; fun; effortlessly accommodates burgeoning family,large dogs & equipment.

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  Solid Toyota Reliability - 1995 Toyota Pickup
  By RedFoxZ - July 11 - 10:00 am

  Great Toyota truck. Smooth drivetrain, good torque/power from V6 engine. Had to change the clutch at around 50000 miles, it was wearing down and stuttering. But now its as smooth as ever. Great for hauling around college kids stuff and for trees for the garden! Note: Electrical wiring probs have ocurred and the car jolts when electricity is used (brake lights, signals) Toyota cannot fix this, so keep this in mind. Disconnecting the battery for a few minutes then reconnecting fixes problem for 100-200 miles.

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  2002 SR5 2WD - 2002 Toyota 4Runner
  By WAJ - July 11 - 10:00 am

  Pretty good all in all.

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  Great little SUV so far.... - 1999 Toyota RAV4
  By Ronboy - July 11 - 10:00 am

  I bought this little gem used with 55k. So far, its been a great SUV. no major problems. Styling is nifty and performance is adequate. I like the high seats for ease in driving. A real fun to drive vehicle.

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  RAVARATI? - 1997 Toyota RAV4
  By Smoph - July 11 - 10:00 am

  Glad I have the manual transmission since its underpowered. Gas consumption isnt SUVish, but not as good as a 4cyl sedan. Can haul quite a bit of stuff, but it slides around alot (no stability in cargo area). I like that you sit higher than regular cars, but it doesnt drive like large SUV. Parks like a dream in the city. Best on city streets, country roads. Ok on the highway but a bit noisy. Ride isnt the best -- more trucklike than carlike. Fun to drive! Very handy for hauling smaller items, except golf clubs dont lay flat across trunk - one rear seat has to be folded up.

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  Mostly Good... - 2000 Toyota Celica
  By wacboyjulian *AIM* - July 11 - 10:00 am

  I got my Auto Celica GT from my dad, supposedly for my work (i got fired 3 days after i got the celica) I really do like the overall style and reliablity. What sucks though is the POWER! more specifically, the torque. I guess what hurts in my case is the automatic and GT model. I really wish they had tossed in a turbo or something... i actually had a choice between my celica and another one on the used car lot... it was a red GTS manual with lots of upgrades...WHAT WAS I THINKING?!?!