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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  My Highlander - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By santino - May 28 - 10:00 am

  My Highlander is the 3rd Toyota I have owned in twenty years. I love Toyotas reliablity. I very much like driving this car, the only disappointing thing is that I cannot ride with the window down because the car has a warble type hum that bothers my ears.

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  Awesome Car!!! - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By Holly426 - May 28 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my Corolla S type for a month now and I love it. I get tons of compliments on how my car looks and it zips around like it owns the road. I had a 1997 Corolla and traded it in, this style has alot more room and features.

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  Not a Toyota - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By mark Chan - May 28 - 10:00 am

  Had a 2004 Corolla rental for one day, really hated it! Only two things worth mentioning, extremely quiet and very rommy inside. Other than that, it is pretty much a GM product. Ride motion and body control is the worst I have ever seen. Toyota Echo rides much better! Engine power is weak and the A/C was blowing out cool air instead of cold air!

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  comfortable - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By Shazia Mir - May 28 - 10:00 am

  I was really happy and thankful to my husband for buying us a Toyota. As we trust the name. With this Siena im really unhappy with the way its interior is at night, no reflectors to indicate any knobs or buttons for A/C or stereo when you are driving @ night. If you have a friend sitting next to you they are completely lost. I hope the newer models would improve that.

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  Great Car! - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Hermosillo - May 28 - 8:06 am

  Great car, have had it for almost 7 years now, 120,000+ miles on it, not a single repair, no squeaks or rattles, still running as smooth as its first year. I have put many miles in Mexico on so so roads with no problems. Friends cant believe it rides so smooth and how good it feels and looks after 7 years and more than 100k miles. Have had all the services done at the dealer. Great for long trips, very comfortable, good mileage. Ive driven the car from No Cal to Central Mexico, on rain, snow, desert, still running strong!

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  great car - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Coupe - May 28 - 1:40 am

  Great car but bad visibility out the back. That is the only drawback.

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  Think twice - 2007 Toyota Prius
  By Dazzled and Dismayed - May 27 - 11:36 pm

  Overrated vehicle. Dazzled by the bells and whistles, I failed to see the inability to adjust the seat. It is so uncomfortable over 30 minutes behind the wheel. The interior lacks basics, i.e., console-dash easy access storage, visor extenders, change dish, etc. Feels like a cheap car. Display is distracting and annoying. Reverse beeping is beyond annoying. I wish Priuses were refundable. Caveat Emptor

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  Old Reliable... - 1997 Toyota Camry
  By sgarland85 - May 27 - 3:21 pm

  I wrote a review awhile back on here, which was positive, but I think I need to re-iterate. Ive had my Camry for 5 years and put on 65,00+ miles and it has not left me stranded once, period. Ive had to replace a few things here and there, but mostly just routine maintenance is all shes needed. After 17 years her metallic paint is still shiny.

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  Total Reliability! - 1995 Toyota Corolla
  By phillie phanatic - May 27 - 2:20 pm

  I have used this car primarily for work commute of 60+ miles one way. It has gone through pouring rainstorms, snow storms, and ice all as easily as on a dry road. I have never been stuck or left stranded by this car. No matter how cold its been outside, it has never failed to start right up. My only repairs were routine; oil & filter changes, tires, belts, etc. This little baby is a 5-speed stick and didnt need a new clutch until 198,000 miles! After 274,000+ miles, it is still getting 36 mpg! It just passed inspection and 1st time emissions test without a single problem! I could not have asked for anything better and this little car is still going strong!!

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  Big truck mileage, mid-sized performance. - 2005 Toyota Tundra
  By ygbsm - May 27 - 11:56 am

  I needed a vehicle for reliable transportation to replace my 20 year old F-150. The dealer offered me an awesome deal on a three year old, low mileage Tundra and I took it. Very comfortable, 100% reliable, handles well and holds its value. On the downside is the mileage. Most of my driving is commuting to/from work and I feel fortunate if I get 15 MPG. I want to put a camper (slide-in pop-up type) on it and am extremely limited in what I can get. The tow capacity is more than what Ive ever needed but Id like to have more available. My buddies with 3/4 ton trucks get better mileage than I do.