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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  Family Review 2002 Toyota Sequoia - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By reddawg - February 18 - 2:00 am

  Car Rides very well,Very Comfortable for the whole family (3 kids) Plus one large dawg (golden retriver 115 lbs) Great on long trips Kids have plenty of room to lay out and fight.Truck is very large compared to other vehicles Gas Milage is 14.2 mpg.Have over 26000 miles with no problems.Hope to have this truck for a long time.

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  SpyderWomen - 2003 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By sunflowernj31 - February 18 - 2:00 am

  I love the MR2 spyder. Such a fun sporty car to drive. Get tons on compliments on the body style. Must drive one.

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  The best - 2000 Toyota Tacoma
  By norb - February 18 - 2:00 am

  47K miles, no problems - still runs like a highly-tuned machine. Aside from everything else, my windshield has cracked in 3 different places (2 each above the dashboard heater vents - other was a 1/4" crack in the middle that expanded to 18" with a small "pop" sound while attaching radar-detector suction cups). Very disappointed with widshield. All else considered, I would recommend this vehicle to anyone anywhere.

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  Pleasant Surprise - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By funpilot - February 18 - 2:00 am

  This car is a very pleasant surprise....it actually gets the mileage it is suppose to, drives wonderfully well, and appears to be of great quality. On my first fillup, I calculated my average mpg to be 56. When it runs only on the battery (less than 32 mph), you get almost unlimited mpg at least until the engine kicks in to recharge the battery. I usually am bored with cars....this one is a keeper.

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  JUST ONE THING - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By carol barrier - February 18 - 2:00 am

  Everything you all say about this auto is right on, except one thing. You have overlooked one small detail. I live in snow country, guess what? I found out it is exactly 4.9 inches off the ground, and you might as well plan on keeping it in the garage in the winter time here. Otherewise it is just wonderful. THANK GOD my Toyota dealer is understanding, I now drive another Toyota product and am now happy once again.

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  Great SUV - 2000 Toyota 4Runner
  By 2ndRunner - February 18 - 2:00 am

  We traded our 1994 4Runner for this 2000 Runner. It was in the dealers inventory for several months and seemed to not sell because of the color (Dark Green). We waited until the price dropped and eventually got a great deal. It is a significant upgrade from our 94 in that it has a more advanced 4 wheel drive system, a stronger, quieter engine plus improved creature features.

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  Eds Thoughts - 2004 Toyota Avalon
  By eowens0421 - February 18 - 2:00 am

  This is a great car. It has power and pep and is very confortable. The only problem I have is the exterior design as the car looks too long with a high rear end. The front looks good as does the trunk area but do something to make the car look so long.

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  Best Mid-Sized SUV - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By cmaj - February 18 - 2:00 am

  After six months, even more impressed now than when I first drove it off the lot. Noticed an extremely worded post regarding the sulfer smell. With the rear window down during hard starts (hard to resist with the V8 models), residual exhaust can enter the cabin. The effect is very short and vents out quickly. It is not a serious problem, very common to other similar vehicles with rear windows that lower. (a bigger concern if heavy loads are in tow and vehicle is being driven very hard. If so, simply keep the window up!) Only issue involved rattles from sunroof - dealer 100% corrected in 1.5 hours using the TSB from Toyota.

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  I LOVE my Highlander! - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By Love - February 18 - 2:00 am

  I needed a car I can step UP into...this was a great answer to what I needed. I was done with mini vans! This is fun to drive, has great mileage, and is just a great looking cars! Thanks

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  my 2003 toyota highlander - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By melvin daniels - February 18 - 2:00 am

  this vehicle is very fun to drive. It has good pick up and drive like a deram.