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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  Mini-Lexus - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By threeer - June 9 - 2:00 am

  From fit and finish, to level of amenities, this is a great little car! Mother bought as a replacement to 1993 Camry. The leather interior is so upscale, and better done than many so called "luxury" vehicles. Wood trim and sunroof add to overall feeling of getting more than you paid for. And did I mention the incredible gas mileage?

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  Best Minivan In History - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By Santiago Lopez - June 9 - 2:00 am

  If youre looking for a minivan for youre family, this is the perfect choice.

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  I never thought Id own a minivan - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By pellican - June 9 - 2:00 am

  For years, I promised myself I would never own a minivan. However, with two young kids and a large dogs, we needed a large vehicle for family trips. We looked at the Sienna, Odyssey, Quest, and Town&Country. None of the other vehicles could compare to the features, ride, comfort, quality, and reliability that we found in the Sienna.

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  First-hand experience on safety - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By georgeb - June 9 - 2:00 am

  My review is on the 2003 Camry LE that we owned that was involved in an accident on Thanksgiving Day. The accident occurred when an SUV lost control and came across 3 lanes of traffic, causing us to slam into the front-driver side at about 45 mph. Our Camry was a total loss as a result of this accident, but no one was seriously hurt. The passenger compartment was untouched except for the airbags deploying. The engine compartment took the brunt of the collision and performed beautifully. Prior to the accident, we loved the car. After the accident, we now know just how safe this vehicle is. Once we settle with insurance, we are buying a 2004 Camry LE.

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  Great customer service - 2014 Toyota Camry
  By Genee Gillis - June 8 - 8:06 pm

  I love Subarus, but I also love that this one looks great as well! Toyota of Bellingham has the best customer care and service ever! Dino went above and beyond! Thanks!

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  My New Car - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By 2005 Toyota Camry - June 8 - 7:30 pm

  I am very pleased with my new Camry.I love the style and the performance is great. I was driving a Mercedes before buying the XLE V6 and I was afraid that I would not be happy with a smaller car. What a surprise I got! I would reccomend the Camry XLE V6 to any one that is considering buying a new car.

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  Will buy another Camry - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By Jan - June 8 - 6:53 am

  I have been very pleased with the reliability and great gas mileage of my Camry. I average 30-31 mpg on the road and as I have to drive 30 miles to work this is great!

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  Still Crazy (about it) after 6 yrs. - 2001 Toyota RAV4
  By Jeffty - June 8 - 6:20 am

  Totally dependable, solid and always fun and economical to drive. 4-cyl. w/5-speed manual likes to rev high and zoom along. Zippier than youd imagine, very stable manuvering and braking. I get an average of 27 mpg combined and up to 31 mpg on a long, slow trip. Original Toyo tires were unspectacular but a set of Michelins made a real improvement especially in the wet. The quartet of engine sensors were a bit troublesome, three already replaced before 70k miles. Now at 100k miles it still feels solid and fun to drive. I plan on keeping this one for the duration and I feel pretty optimistic about a good,long life for this one. I would buy another in a heartbeat.

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  My 4Runner Review - 2001 Toyota 4Runner
  By darrell - June 7 - 10:00 am

  The 4Runner has lived up to everything I expected it to be. I did a lot of research prior to purchasing the 4Runner. Sure there were some that had a more comfortable ride, but you cant beat the reliability, cargo room, and versatility of the 4Runner. I also feel like some of the others, in particular the Lexus 300 and the Acura MDX, are just too "soft" looking.

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  Tough Tacoma - 2002 Toyota Tacoma
  By cool - June 7 - 10:00 am

  Bought the 2002 Pre-runner V6 ext.cab Tacoma version last week. I already have 500 Miles!!! Im very pleased. What a fun car. The Pre-Runner trim and TRD Off-Road package makes the truck sit up a lot higher than most other trucks. The V6 has a nice punch. And you cant argue about how beautiful yet rugged the Tacoma looks. Im looking forward to putting many miles on this truck.