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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  Beachcomber Review - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By Beachcomber - January 29 - 2:00 am

  - Excellent craftsmanship and performance for the money. - Handles like a dream and is fun to drive. Hugs the road. - Very roomy interior, much like a larger vehicle. Well placed interior - easy to reach. - Great gas mileage! - Excellent safety features.

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  christines Matrix - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By bunnyma - January 29 - 2:00 am

  I love it

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  Wind noise - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By l.macha - January 29 - 2:00 am

  Great vehicle, but on windy days (15mph+) gross, howling wind noise when driving 70 mph into the wind. Too loud to hear radio. Toyota cannot come up with the cause.

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  Great Car - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By Pete Novack - January 29 - 2:00 am

  Traded my 99 Dodge Avenger in for the 03 Corolla, great decision. It may only be 130 hp but with the 5 speed you can make the best of it. ABS would be nice but the standard brakes are good. Ive practiced panic stops of 50 mph and there is no lock up. plus you got to love 30+ mpg!

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  Empty Nesters Favorite - 2011 Toyota Sienna
  By Gr8WhiteNortherner - January 29 - 2:00 am

  IMHO this is the nicest-looking 2011 minivan. The front end is much more attractive than gen-2 and rear-end design (especially the taillights) is an outstanding improvement. Meanwhile successive Odyssey redesigns have become quirkier/weirder. (Did a bolt of lightning strike the rear section, causing it to sag?) Our third minivan - It is much quieter, roomier and has far more driver legroom and seat comfort than 02 Odyssey EX-L. Center console intrudes far less than 07 Entourage GLS-L. Gas mileage is significantly better than either. It handles well, very stable in cross-winds and has ample power. AND... Our ownership experience has proven Toyota to have the highest reliability .

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  A Step In The Right Direction - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By jay kent - January 29 - 12:33 am

  This is my second Highlander in a row and my first Hybrid. I LOVE IT! Sure, its not perfect, but kudos to Toyota for giving us an alternative to the gas guzzling SUV. Mileage at 10,000 km is apx. 28 hwy and 25 city (hilly). On the flats, mileage is closer to 30 mpg combined. So, its not perfect yet, but already I calculate Ive used over 600 litres (160 gallons) less than with my previous Highlander. The vehicle is a bit heavier and handling is not quite as sharp as the 01 but its comfortable and the acceleration is fantastic. This vehicle gets you thinking the right way about fuel consumption. Highly recommended to those who care.

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  In love with our AVALON - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Mid-Tennessee - January 28 - 11:40 pm

  We own three cars one of which is a 2005 Avalon. Never have I had a luxury car that drove or rode smoothly as this car. It rides like the large Lexus for half the price. Our Avalon is very easy on the gas too. I am in love with my Avalon and will definitely purchase another when ready to trade.

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  Roomy car with good looks & good mileage - 2006 Toyota Matrix
  By Don - January 28 - 6:26 pm

  I was looking at a hatchbacks: Toyota Matrix, Honda Fit, Kia Spectra5 and the Mazda 3 hatch. The Matrix had more pick-up on the test drive, more room and less cabin noise.

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  06 corolla - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By rosconey - January 28 - 5:43 am

  so far so good-after a 2000 neoen this thing is great-i like the high exit hight after a long day of work- nice ride for a car its size,plenty of pep from the 1.8 and even though its a little soft in corners i would expect that from a car sitting this high- interior is a little cheap looking-the neon had a much nicer interior looks and quality of materials used-not sure how well all the plastic will hold up in the corolla- 40mpg or so on the highway is real nice- auto headlights are a gimmick that works great-

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  Adventures Car Needing Interior Design - 2005 Toyota Celica
  By melloww22 - January 27 - 8:56 am

  Overall the exterior is daring and smooth line look of a sports car worth more than its price tag. The interior is the biggest draw back, cheap plastic sorrounds the driver taking away some its glamour. Accelaration is weak, but the turns are amazing. This 7th generation Celica is by far the best in its class but leaves ample room for future performance and quality improvements.