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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  2003 4Runner - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By runner21 - August 13 - 2:00 am

  Ive been waiting for Toyota to come out with a V8 engine, finally here, bravo! lots of power. Id just driven it from Las Vegas to San Francisco and Reno smooth sailing all the way even in snow. comfort and roomeir than the previous 4runners. less wind and engine noise that my previous jeep grand cherokee. Ill keep this one for a while.

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  New 4Runner is a huge hit - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By Kevin Craig - August 13 - 2:00 am

  I love my new 4Runner, we test drove every SUV looking for the right one. The only SUV that could match or surpass the new 4Runner was the GMC Yukon. They have an almost identical feel, and are very smooth. The GMC definately has more cargo space and a more powerful engine, but it is also on average about $10,000 more than the 4Runner. The 4Runner is the best choice for someone that likes the yukon, but is dreading the monthly payments. The only down side that I see thus far to the 4Runner is the lack of a 3rd row seat.

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  Love our 4Runner - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By love2hover - August 13 - 2:00 am

  We love our 4Runner! We looked at all the midsize SUVs out there and kept going back to the 4Runner. We waited for the V6 to be available, since we wont be towing anything, it has plenty of pick up at 245hp. My husband likes it because it is designed to go off road. I like it because it has a lot of space for our family of five(two car seats and a child in the rear seat, plus the dog in the way back)! It is the perfect balance between rugged and comfort. Very quiet interior ride, tons of standard features. We have driven it both on road and off road and love it. So far we have been very impressed with its performance and quality.

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  Id take this offroad. - 2003 Toyota Tacoma
  By holtonj007 - August 13 - 2:00 am

  A solid truck with unbeatable reliability.

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  Excellent SUV - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By HAllen - August 13 - 2:00 am

  We traded in our 2000 Jeep Cherokee as we wanted something more roomy and better gas mileage. We got both with the 2003 Highlander. We got the 2 wheel drive 4 cylinder model. We cant say enough about the comfort of this vehicle. IT is one of the best riding vehicles we have had and it handles very nice. A couple minor things we dont care for is the light interior that came with our silver Highlander and the cup holder. Other than that we love our Highlander!

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  After 1 month and 1500 miles - 2010 Toyota 4Runner
  By Intrepid2010 - August 12 - 8:23 am

  The ride is comfortable both in city and highway. The interior design is okay but the exterior design is eye catching. I love the height of the truck. I am getting 18 mpg on mixed driving which is good for a vehicle of its size and class. I live in NY metro area and was always scared of driving over huge bumps and potholes. Now with this truck I embrace them with smile. After driving a high end German sedan I would have to say, if you wan a reliable transportation stick with TOYOTA. They have been making 4WD trucks since last 6 decades and I have seen them lasting forever with minimal maintenance.

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  Just bought an MR2 a few months ago! BEST desicion i ever made - 2002 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By dapersian - August 12 - 8:04 am

  I needed a car that could handle the Utah winters but was fun to drive in the summer. I needed a car that would give me great gas with great reliability. Out of all the roadsters i researched, I found the MR2 Spyder to be the choice for me. The engine located right above the rear tires would allow better traction in the winters. The 1.8 L engine would allow great gas mileage. With the MR2 being build by Toyota, reliability was never a concern. I am a 5 5 very stocky guy and i fit in it just fine! If you want a car that is designed for comfort, buy a luxury car. The MR2 was not built for comfort, it was built to rip up canyon roads while looking extraordinarily sexy!!

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  best van around - 2006 Toyota Sienna
  By susan c. - August 11 - 11:10 pm

  after doing a month of research,checking safety features , prices, i came up with the sienna, cheaper than the overpriced oddessy, and reliability as well , my brother is a service manager for toyota, and also had good things to say about this veichle.i find the ride superb, and the interior features attractive, lots of space, overall very satisfied with my sienna.

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  Toyota Tundra Rides On - 2000 Toyota Tundra
  By Bob - August 11 - 7:53 pm

  Sold my 93 4WD pick up with 233,000 miles. Purchased this for $8500 with 111,000 miles. After driving it for two month and through three blizzards I must say Im impressed. Its eerie to drive through 3 feet of snow in almost total silence. I found the original invoice, close to 36,000. This is the Limited model with few features. Everything works as it should and the ride is much better then I expected. On highways you really dont know youre in a truck. Not a luxury ride but pretty good. In the meantime I look forward to many more miles. You cant expect to have a truck and not have maintenance costs. None so far but I believe in preventative maintenance.

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  Great so Far! - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By mikeandemily - August 11 - 5:40 am

  Recently purchased a 4Dr Dbl Cab PreRunner SB. Have filled up w/gas twice already and Im getting just over 19mpg in stopngo city traffic. Not bad compared to my old Silverado. Plenty of power and a very comfortable ride. Im 61" and have plenty of room, even in the back seat! Interior quality is far better than the 02 Silverado that I traded in. Absolutely love the truck so far.