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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  Ignore bad press - The best value! - 2001 Toyota Echo
  By Jan - June 6 - 3:10 pm

  This car is a delight to drive and own. Interior and storage room are far greater than much larger cars (including my Camry) and far more thoughtfully designed. The instrumentation took a second to get used to, but now I resent conventional look- through-the-steering-wheel displays. This is more natural and allows you to continue surveying the road. Super fuel efficient and surprisingly safe -. My Echo handled a bad side collision (I was plowed into) like a trouper. Not a hair was mussed. I thought the handling was nimble and responsive. Its a 1.5 liter and takes a moment to get up to speed, but I dont gun it from a stop anyway.

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  Lovin my Matrix XRS - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By Jeanster1010 - June 6 - 2:00 am

  This car handles very well. Manual 6- speed fun to drive. I got the completely decked out w/ moonroof & 6- disc in dash CD player. Cargo space is comparable to a small SUV. Just overall a nice car.

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  2003 4runner - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By Riker6889 - June 6 - 2:00 am

  I drove many SUVS and hands down the 4Runner has everyone beat.

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  I love my Camry - 2000 Toyota Camry
  By Paul Huet - June 6 - 2:00 am

  I love my Toyota Camry. I love everything about it. My Camry is always reliable, and it is a pleasure to drive. I love the way it looks inside and out. I could not be happier with my it.

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  great car - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By kk - June 6 - 2:00 am

  love it - it is a great car and perfect look and size for me - a girl

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  Great Car - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By first time buyer - June 6 - 2:00 am

  Great Car I have been pleasently suprised. keep up the good work Toyota.

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  Great truck! - 2003 Toyota Tundra
  By Ken - June 5 - 9:30 pm

  It is the most comfortable truck I ever owned! The power from the 4.7 V8 is the most UNREAL powerhouse I have ever seen! The only thing I dont like is the quality of the seats. The foam inside the seat feels cheap and seems to feel worn out prematurely.

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  excellent car - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By cutedh - June 5 - 11:46 am

  This car is a true beauty. Had it for little over a month and its so smooth and luxurious. My neighbors are jealous. Love the leather interior and the simulated wood....makes it look so refined and expensive.

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  Love the ride - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By Ragsny - June 4 - 10:06 pm

  I have had this car for almost 3 yrs and i love it. i have 3 small kids and a dog and we often drive down to myrtle beach and it holds all of us with no problem. My wife has a town and country mini van and she likes the way the highlander drives better. it has plenty of power and it gets pretty good gas mileage and is very good in the snow.

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  Echos got Zoom - 2000 Toyota Echo
  By wasabiJo - June 4 - 9:56 pm

  My little red Echo spoils me - incredible fuel economy, roomy interior, peppy attitude, and very durable (mine has been rebuilt twice from two accidents - I just didnt want to get rid of it). Ive used mine for zipping around town and cross-country trips (over 2,000 miles at a time), and hauling my junk to and from colleges for years. My friends (and some mechanics) think Im nuts when I say I plan to run this car into the ground before I buy another one. As long as you keep up with the regular maintenance, nothing short of a collision with a semi will destroy it.