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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  Awesome van - 2007 Toyota Sienna
  By WM - August 31 - 4:50 pm

  Superb interior finishing, excellent display and controls, very comfy.

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  238,000 miles and still going strong! - 1997 Toyota 4Runner
  By DeFoor - August 31 - 3:40 pm

  This is my 2nd 4 runner. I have only replaced the water pump and timing belt. The truck still looks great inside and out. If you want reliability Toyota trucks are the way to go. I expect to get at least another 150k. I dont drive like you mamma either, these are hard miles. The 4 wheel drive is there when you need it, it will climb some steep hills. If you are worried about good dealer service- dont, you will not need it!

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  Outstanding Vehicle - 2000 Toyota RAV4
  By kefla22 - August 31 - 5:06 am

  We have had our Rav4 for over 3 years. Never needed any service, besides regular maintenance. It would have been nice if Toyota put an extra 1 to 2 feet in length as the back seat hardly has any legroom. We drove across country to San Diego, was there for 6 months and drove back and it performed perfect. If you dont need a lot of room, buy this vehicle. Reliability - Committment to excellence

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  Tacoma Heaven - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By hammaa - August 31 - 2:26 am

  This is the best truck on the road. Hands down. And talk about ahead-turner...this beast of a truck has all of my friends jealous. What a killer truck!!

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  The Greatest Car - 2002 Toyota Celica
  By dj - August 31 - 2:00 am

  This is the best car my hubby bought me. I am so happy with it. I rides so smoothly. I would recommend this car to anyone. It was well worth the money.

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  Excellent - 2003 Toyota Camry Solara
  By SolaraLvR2 - August 31 - 2:00 am

  Excellent car, fun to drive, confortable, smooth and relatively luxurious. A bit pricy but well worth it.

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  Underpowered but a great car - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By neongrae - August 31 - 2:00 am

  The car handles well and looks cool. It can carry things and is moderatly fun to drive as long as you know that you own a mix between the two cars that are thought of as underpowered. Station wagons, and hatch backs. It does have AWD and that was one of the main selling point of the car for me.

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  the only car more comfortable..LEXAS - 1999 Toyota Camry
  By philip mid - August 31 - 2:00 am

  i bought a used car with 39,000 miles [big mistake].it hadnt been serviced at all.did several repair 1500$ worth.but with 75k miles it still drives great.very reliable though not graet on up and go performance.i HATE it when everybody [maxima,honda v6,and other competing cars ]always leave me behind when the lights turn green.needs more power for the up and go driving.alot of people complaining with hurry up gestures.hey i wouldnt mind if i was on the road by myself.

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  Awesome - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By Moddie - August 31 - 2:00 am

  In the short term Ive had the truck, I absolutley love it! Powerful, effortless driving. Im driving the Limited, so alot of extra comfort is there, that is not available on the Pilot! Westchester Toyota, simply put, incredible! The salesman, manager and all involved, have made buying this vehicle a true pleasure! They have gone way out of their way for me, Thanks!

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  Spoiled in my Sport - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By jkil - August 31 - 2:00 am

  I previously owned a 1991 Honda Civic DX. I thought I would be a loyal Honda owner. Boy, was I wrong! I test drove the Honda Civic, Accord and CRV. There was no comparison to the 2003 Toyota Corolla Sport! It is supposed to be modeled after the Camry. It has a lot of "fun features" for a lower price. As the sales associate said, "More bang for the buck".