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:

• 

  Why Buy a Lexus? - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By minerjp - October 9 - 2:10 pm

  When you can own this snappy automobile. We shopped for an Avalon, saw this 2007 Camry version, and jumped at it. It looks good, feels good, and has enough bells and whistles to keep you occupied for several hours perusing the owners manual. Havent a good reading on mileage yet, since just zipping around town for now. This car is powerful, responsive, and an attention-getter.

• 

  Good as it gets - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By fjuman - October 9 - 1:10 pm

  Ive had my FJ for two days now and I can say Im totally in love. Thus far I havent found anything I dont like about it. But the blindspots do bother me, will have to look into purchasing more mirrors. Other than that I am very satisfied.

• 

  DVD system is a nightmare - 2006 Toyota Sienna
  By elizabeth - October 9 - 11:33 am

  We purchased this van after renting the sienna many times for road trips. reasons are obvious: reliable, roomy, user friendly and super duper cargo friendly! We have really enjoyed the van and it has made our lives much easier. We do not care for the DVD system. It is controlled from the back only. Our children are small and are in booster seats which means we must stop the car to load/unload movies and start them. BIG PAIN in the neck. Somebody please tell Toyota to make it possible to load from the front seat, possibly by the stereo.

• 

  Reliable and smooth - 1997 Toyota Camry
  By Suz & Joe - October 9 - 10:00 am

  Weve had our Camry for 17 months. It starts up and purrs every day exactly the same. It handles nicely, holds the road in turns and pulls easily in and out of parking spaces. The engine is smooth and acceleration is great. In fact, the engine is so quiet that at stop lights my daughter thought I had turned the car off! Weve yet to have a single problem with the engine or drive train of this car.

• 

  200,000 mile+ keep going and going - 1992 Toyota Camry
  By FC7737 - October 9 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my brand new Camry in 1992. Now it has 200K mi on it and still running great. No major problem at all, just normal wear and tear (tires, tune-up...). Mine is a V6 model: very strong engine, good gas mileage. I installed a tow hitch in the back and tow a uhual box. I can move my 2 bdrm apartment without spenting lots of $$. Ive seen bad condition Camry before, those are the one that got rebuilded from accident car thats why quality is so bad. So if anyone is looking for a good car, avoid those accident car (salvaged title car)

• 

  new and very good - 2002 Toyota Echo
  By x2073 - October 9 - 10:00 am

  Just got it

• 

  good combination - 2002 Toyota Celica
  By mickey - October 9 - 10:00 am

  I like this car, because of its handling and usability. Yeah, its not a true sport car (no RWD or even LSD), but it is relatively fast, very fun in twisty mountain roads, and autoX. It has good MPG and a lot of space in the trunk, too. So, Id recommend this car to anyone who wants good performance and usability (not for family though).

• 

  Excellent - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
  By alais - October 9 - 10:00 am

  I would diffently purchase this car again. I have had no maintenance problems. The paint has held up well. It is an overall great car.

• 

  One year with the Sequoia - 2001 Toyota Sequoia
  By krisko - October 9 - 10:00 am

  If you are considering a full sized SUV, the Sequoia must be a serious contender. It features gobs of room, numerous safety features, plenty of luxo goodies yet is relatively fun and easy to drive for such a big vehicle. While a tad pricey compared to the competition, I think in the long run it will be cheaper when repairs and depreciation are considered. I paid $38,700 for mine with everything but sunroof and 4wd. I could have bought the same Expedition or Durango for almost $10,000 less but I know Id have problems down the road. Bottom line? Peace of mind is worth money to me.

• 

  This is one awesome car! - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Kevin Burk - October 9 - 8:16 am

  I spent the last several months researching luxury sedans..Acura, BMW, Lexus, Mercedes when my 18 yo daughter said I should see the new Avalon. This car does not disappoint, feature rich (the back seats recline!), car is larger than last years as is the interior. The ride is as smooth as the LS430. In the sedan genre this is the most bang for the buck of all that I looked into. You can pay more...get less and still not touch the beauty of this car. If you are looking do yourself a favor to check it out.