Toyota / Lexus/Scion cars
When Toyota first crossed the Pacific to enter the America market, its sole vehicles were an underpowered Land Cruiser and an underpowered car that was yanked fairly quickly. The company resolved then to Americanize cars destined for the American market and, though it took some time and effort, they built up a following with the Corona, (still selling a handful of Land Cruisers each year), and, as their continuous improvement process went to work, became known as one of the highest quality automakers in the world. Once Toyota's endemic rust problems were solved in the 1970s, the Corolla, Tercel, and Camry became staples of the America road, and Toyota even created new brands for the American market - Lexus and Scion (which mainly modify Toyotas not sold in the US) - to accompany cars developed for America (such as the Avalon). The Camry, one of America's best sellers, is exported to Japan from the United States, and doesn't sell well there. Even the Corolla gets a new intake manifold for American use - but for a long time, if you wanted an authentic Japanese version, you could get the Geo/Chevrolet Prizm!
Like most automakers, Toyota sells a wider variety of vehicles in Europe and Japan than in the US, including the obligatory diesel and turbocharged models and a range of "minicars." Many vehicles sold in the United States are assembled in North America, including all Corollas and Camrys, and an American now runs the North American branch. In short, Toyota is almost as American as Ford.
Enthusiast/history site: toyoland.com
- Lexus ES350 (2007) - just smooth enough, just fun enough, and priced well, we can’t see anyone not liking it
- Lexus GS300 (2006) - quick, luxurious sport-sedan
- Lexus GS430 (2007) - luxury with terrific performance
- Lexus GS450h (2007) - stunning speed with good mileage in a hybrid-electric sedan
- Lexus IS350 (2007) - fun sports car with power, excitement, refinement
- Lexus LS460 (2007) - totally smooth, no-holds-barred luxury car with automatic parking
- Lexus LX-470: off-road monster wrapped in a thick veneer of luxury looks and gadgets
- Lexus RX330 - luxury looks and gadgets in a driveable SUV format
- Scion xA (2005) - surprisingly fun and economical miniature hatchback
- Scion xB (2005) - surprisingly fun and economical miniature hatchback...or is it a minivan? or an SUV?
- Scion tC (2005) - nice torquey engine, good rear-seat space for a two-door
- Toyota Camry (2007) - luxury feel in an attainable sedan, and did we mention 268 hp?
- Toyota Corolla - surprisingly civilized and economical, now with usable rear seats
- Toyota 4Runner (2005) - quick but off-road-ready
- Toyota FJ Cruiser (2007) - it's the 1970s again! An inexpensive, fun off-roader
- Toyota Highlander Hybrid (2006) - quick luxury wagon
- Toyota Matrix - wagon version of the Corolla, and then some
- Toyota Prius (2005) - insanely good gas mileage in a family sized car with lots of features (see the first generation)
- Toyota RAV4 (2006) - nimble, spacious, and economical
- Toyota Sienna (2005): luxury interior, and all the gadgets you can want, with class-beating acceleration and mileage
- Toyota Tacoma (2005) - fast muscle truck
- Toyota Tundra (2007) - the new king of the hill, with speedy acceleration and a tough chassis
- Toyota Yaris (2007) - surprisingly fun and quick-feeling little car with great mileage
Past Toyotas (no longer made)
- Toyota MR2 - fun British roadster with Toyota reliability
- Toyota RAV4 (2005) - fun, light, quick cute-ute
- Toyota Camry (2004)- luxury ride coupled with thrift and reliability keeps it America's #1 car
- Toyota Sienna (2001) - close to the class leaders but not quite there