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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  just a few little things - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By miltondelug - October 4 - 2:00 am

  all in all a great suv I bought this to replace my Toyota Tundra. This has more room and we are expecting our second child. Everything is great the all time 4 wheel drive is amazing in the snow. a couple of small complaints is that there is only 1 outlet for your phone charger the Tundra had 3 so maybe Im just spoiled. The other compalint is the gas door is very close to the hood latch and they feel the same so i sometimes pop the hood when all I want to do is pop the gas cap door. the build is execptional a nice solid ride. I would recommend this to anyone that is looking for a great suv.

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  We love it - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By jonbassman - October 4 - 2:00 am

  we leased a 04 SR5 4WD 4runner and my wife and i just love it. we miss the low end torque of our 00 tundra but our 4runner is so much smoother and quieter than our previous truck. great space and lots of legroom in the back. get the sr5 instead of the limited and youll save thousands.

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  Wish Id gotten the X-3 - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By blade - October 4 - 2:00 am

  Dont see how it gets a high rating. Ergonomics are atrocious, fuel milage is awful, power steering grabs at low speed. Easy to lock yourself out or in as the case maybe. On 04 back quarter panel looks like its falling off and these big prongs stick out the back, no obvious utlitiy. Power outside mirrors are constantly fogged up rendering them useless, tried RainX to no avail.

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  Great Family Car, Built well. - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By Paul-from-phoenix - October 4 - 2:00 am

  We bought our Camry XLE in January 2003, and I have driven it for more than a year now and put more than 25k on it. No complaints. Very smooth ride, great for endurance trips (i.e. Phoenix to Vegas). A/C works in 120+ temps, and Heater works in 30- temps. Handles a little loose in high speed cornering, but I assume that is because of the smooth ride. A stiffer suspension would translate into more vibration and a bumpier ride. The last great feature is that it has depreciated less than 4k in the first year! My next car will be the Black Camry XLE V6 with a Toyota Racing Development Supercharger. 270HP!

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  Awful Nice Ride - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By rdog28 - October 4 - 2:00 am

  The Camry SE is powerful, quiet, comfortable, and attractive. I test drove the Altima, Passat and a certified used Volvo, and ended up with the Camry as it had the best track record from the reliability front. The Altima is a more powerful vehicle, but lacks the sophistication of the Camry. The Passat is a great car and wouldnÂ’t have been a bad choice, but was scared away by some problems with some coils, for a while (its been resolved). And the Volvo was used, although certified (those cars have more bells and whistles than a Swiss Army knife). The SE is the nicest of the family and also the hardest to find (if you want something different).

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  Customer Overview - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By James Williamson - October 4 - 2:00 am

  Excellent experience so far. Ive had the car four just under four months and approximately 3000 miles. No problems what so ever. I particularly like its handling characteristics when driving in snow and ice. I would have liked a larger V6 but the current engine is satisfactory and has enough pep to make me feel confortable passing on two lane roads.

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  V6 XLE Camry - I Love It! - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By gatesh - October 4 - 2:00 am

  I love this vehicle. I traded up from a 2001 LE V6 Camry. The 2001 V6 Camry had slightly better pickup, but the 2004 has a much improved interior design (cup holders, map lights, arm rest compartment) and the 2004 Camry is way more comfortable. The interior controls are very easy to use. The XLE is loaded with added features and is well worth the extra money. The car is great on snow and ice (you dont need the traction control).

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  disappointed - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By l.D - October 4 - 2:00 am

  I regret purchasing this car. Rear visibility is horrendous, especially for parking. I can feel every change in the road surfa

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  Sure Beats a Station Wagon or Minivan! - 2001 Toyota Sequoia
  By mama2kool - October 3 - 6:33 pm

  I have had this truck for almost 18 months of hard driving. I tow, and haul 6 kids and all of their assorted accessories(read:piles and piles of junk). In the past my only choice for 8 passenger seating was American vans, and what a difference this is. This truck drives like a car. It handles beautifully, especially in rotten weather. Plus,besides being perfectly functional, it is totally hot looking too. I will never drive another ponderous American truck. It is worth every penny.

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  Not up to Earlier Standards - 1999 Toyota Camry
  By John Baker - October 3 - 3:56 pm

  We have had far too many problems and repairs for a low-mileage vehicle. Electric door locks function intermittantly & cannot be fixed. Air bag already requires repairs although never deployed. Many rattles and squeaks. This is our 4th Toyota, and it is clearly not as well-made as the others.