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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  Great car for a great price - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By jtbruin - April 19 - 2:00 am

  Im very happy with my purchase. The ride is great, feels like a luxury car with a quiet cabin and refined ride. Acceleration is very good for a 4 cylinder and doesnt sound harsh with hard acceleration. a lot of the engine noise is dampened. If you want a quiet and comfortable car, that borders on almost-luxury, then i recommend this car. if you want a sports car with good handles, then this might not be for you.

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  Amazing Prius - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By 4ecofriends - April 18 - 3:56 am

  Just to report back that after 15,512 miles, 325.92 gallons of gas later (47.59 mpg), I still love this car. The car reports 48.86 mpg, slightly optimistic than what Ive been getting. There is no problem to date. I took it to dealer once for oil change at 5K and have been doing it myself since. I will buy the plug-in version with Lithium-ion battery when it come out. This car is not perfect, but come close.

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  Worth every penny !! - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Dave - April 18 - 2:36 am

  Great styling, comfortable but stable ride, excellent engine response, radio controls on steering wheel handy and easy to use, many features found on cars costing much more.

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  2001 RAV4 Bullet proof reliabilty - 2001 Toyota RAV4
  By Jimboo2 - April 18 - 1:53 am

  We bought in Dec. 2000 brand new to replace Tercel. Love compactness with great interior room. Fun to drive fits anywhere. Bulletproof reliability. Wife never wants to sell. Replaced timing chain at 60K and had O2 sensor done at 62K. I really wonder if dealership is the best place for repairs, very expensive. Live in New England and put on Bridgestone Blizzaks in Nov. runs thru foot of snow like AWD. Excellent value.

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  Big, Roomy, Smooth and Quiet - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By DK Dallas - April 17 - 1:03 pm

  I think this is the best of the SUVs Big, Roomy, Smooth and Quiet. Suspension is great...Double A-frame in the front(like lexus) and 5-link in the back(like Mercedes) With the overdrive off the acceleration is very good. Build quality was perfect, not had anything go wrong with it. 15.4 MPG in city driving.

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  Meets all our expectations - 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By caymandiver75 - April 17 - 10:48 am

  We traded in our 06 MDX for this 07 Highlander Hybrid and have been very impressed so far. The MDX once a year seemed to have transmission issues and the 17.5 mpg wasnt great either for commuting 60 miles a day. The Highlander has yielded us 28mpg highway and 29mpg in the city. The ride is very very smooth and the looks are quite handsome in nature.

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  AVALON - 2002 Toyota Avalon
  By ISELKARS2 - April 16 - 9:13 pm

  FABULOUS

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  Impressed - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By nixatnite - April 16 - 7:53 pm

  I was looking for an affordable commuter car since I drive 70 miles per day and this car is just perfect. The car looks small on the outside but feels big on the inside. Solid ride and great gas mileage (42 mpg) with about 75% highway driving. I love the aux jack for connecting my sirius plug & play into the stereo system. Center instrument display is great.

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  My Rav4 - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Dee - April 16 - 11:16 am

  I bought my Rav 4 Limited 4x4 in September, I have put nealry 4,000 miles on it already. I love it.

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  2008 Much Anticipation - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By Garloo - April 16 - 6:56 am

  I was very impressed since the first test drive. The navigation system is a wonderful thing. Years from now well all wonder how we got along without them! The instant mileage review helps keep me in check and will serve to boost mileage overall by at least 5-10%. And the 30 minute tracking feature lets me know my driving techniques are affecting my overall MPG. Ive got almost 1000 miles and it looks like I may need to get my 2nd tank of gas in the next couple days... doing over 100 per day... WOW.