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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  Go Toyota - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Margo Firestone - August 10 - 5:46 pm

  I owned many Toyotas, from trucks to Camrys, now I own an Avalon. The car has been totally reliable. Other than changing oil every 3000 miles and recommended services, this car needed no repairs. Frankly, dependability is the most important factor for me in owning a car. I can truly say that Toyota lives up to this standard My next car will be another Toyota Avalon. It comfortable, roomy, and best of all, the performance of this car is truly outstanding.

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  rav4 my friend - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By mark r - August 10 - 10:51 am

  bought an 04 awd for 6500 with 80,000 miles- black with moonroof. It looks great. I bought bc the acceleration was fast and Toyota is a reliable car. I did hours of reading on consumer reports and opted for the 04 model bc the 01-03 model has ecm issues. Upon getting the vehicle I had to replace the rotors and pads, as well as an 02 sensor. I had an 06 outback trubo fully loaded and it died around 110,000 miles due to a failed turbo- never buy a car with a turbo. The front seats are not comfortable in the rav4 so I bought a lumbar pillow. I have a low mileage one and will keep up with the maintenacen schedule. it is fun to drive and Im glad I have awd here in new England. Almost bought a lexus but the having awd small suv was better than fwd sedan. Im excited and hope this car lasts a long time. I use premium gas only. I was also considering a crv but the 2004 crv looks to square and the 04 rav4 looks new still.

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  Rate this vehicle - 2004 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By Tina Anderson - August 10 - 10:00 am

  I wanted a fun car and I got it. I owned a 2003 Nissan 350Z and I honestly have more fun with my Toyota Spyder MR2! I really like the Toyota name and the reputation it holds. I am very happy with my MR2 and now my Mom wants one.

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  disappointed - 2004 Toyota Celica
  By frisco - August 10 - 10:00 am

  fun to drive but advertised 180 horse power is over rated. good gas milage 36 on long trips transmission 6 speed manual gears are hard to find

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  Do yourself a favor - drive one! - 2004 Toyota Matrix
  By Robert Desrosiers - August 10 - 10:00 am

  If you think you want an SUV but you know that youll spend 99% of your time on paved roads and you only need room for 4 or less passengers, then you owe it to yourself to look at a Matrix. Seats 4 adults comfortably with plenty of leg and headroom. Rear seats and front passenger seat fold completely flat for hauling cargo. Friends who have driven my Matrix comment on 1) the excellent driving position and 2) the ease at which the manual transmission shifts. Look folks, its simple: at $2+ per gallon of gas these days youd be fuelish to pass up on an opportunity to save big $ annually at the pump, not to mention the $ youll save vs. the cost of an SUV.

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  Toyota Tundra - 2004 Toyota Tundra
  By Robert Mansfield - August 10 - 10:00 am

  Drove off the lot and heard a rattle in the steering colum. Turned out to be a miissing bolt in the steering colum. The back window leaked. The Driver window "when partially opened" rattles a lot.

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  Quality SUV - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By biglatka - August 10 - 10:00 am

  Feels and drives like a tough rugged vehicle that could handle most off road conditions yet on the paved roads is smooth driving, handles great and surefooted. Plenty of V6 power, smooth powertrain, and excellent brakes. This SUV gives one the feeling of power, comfort, and safety. Interior is great, seats very comfortable. Improvement areas: Remote key fob should be able to raise rear window as well as lower it, needs audio controls on the steering wheel. Rear door is difficult (heavy) to close. Better placement of gas tank filler door and hood release latches. No ashtray or lighter.

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  It wasnt as good as my last 2 Corollas - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By ksconway - August 10 - 10:00 am

  When I bought my 2003, it was the 3rd Corolla I had owned, and Id always loved them. That changed after the first time I drove it on the highway a month later. When the wind blew, the car was pushed a bit, the car was not entirely stable at 55 mph, and it was especially not stable at speeds in excess of 55 mph. I was actually afraid to drive the Corolla on the highway, especially the day we were having snow squalls and wind, and although I was only going 45 mph on the highway, the car was blown a couple of lanes over and I almost went into a truck. At that point I decided to buy a new car. I was very disappointed.

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  Wait till 2008 at least - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Mark Troyan - August 10 - 8:53 am

  Loved the car but two transmissions failed within 19000 miles before I got rid of the car. The transmission design has major problems and so did the replacement. The problem is not addressed. My dealer told me the new transmissions were on back order and couldnt even give me an ETA. That itself says a lot.

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  2007 Camry Hybrid is great... - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By faldoc - August 10 - 8:40 am

  This car achieves its goal: great mileage for a midsize car, with decent performance and good comfort. I really like the electronics, the steering wheel mounted controls, Bluetooth, and smooth, quiet ride. I have about 40.5 mpg in just over 3000 miles of driving, mostly on the highway. Exterior styling looks great to me. Not so hot is the monotonous interior color scheme, and plasticky overall look, cheap looking port installed leather in this specimen. Some of the interior parts don’t seem to fit well.