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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  Highlander/2003 - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By Patricia A. Vitela - February 18 - 2:00 am

  We graduated from a Toyota Limited 4Runner to the Highlander last month. The ride is smooth, the seating is comfortable, the look of the auto is handsome and classy. We love it! Our 98 4Runner drove and felt like a truck and it was good for these country dirt roads. But now we are in for comfort.

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  2007 Prius: so glad I got it - 2007 Toyota Prius
  By Himatee - February 18 - 12:00 am

  Its not just about the mileage, its about knowing that you are doing as much as you can to minimize your global footprint. Its about knowing that you are willing to sacrifice a tiny bit of speed and comfort for the greater good. But enough about that. Its got great handling, light and quick, very responsive. It has very high tech features, love the smart key and screen features. Could not live without the bluetooth that talks right out of my speakers. And its getting about 49 mpg for me. I love this car - it makes my roundtrip 60-mile daily commute to work a pleasure, instead of a chore.

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  2005 SE 33000 miles of experience - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By Ray - February 17 - 9:50 pm

  I have been extremely happy with the V-8s performance capability. I get about 21 MPG overall per the onboard computer using regular. However, I have seen a slight drop since ethanol has been added to the local gasoline mixture. The only problem I have had was the dealer did not lower the spare tires pressure to match the 32 lbs in the wheels on the ground. It took a while to figure this out.

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  Best of All Worlds - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Greg - February 17 - 5:13 pm

  Great Zippy Vehicle...It is so fun to drive. I have the Evergreen Metallic that looks so sharp and the sunroof that comes in handy for ventilation. The RAV meets all of my expectations, and I have only 5500 miles on it, so my fuel economy should increase soon. It averages about 24 mpg now, and I read other reviews that rate it slightly higher. All of the features seem to be well thought out, and I also have the side curtain air bags that adds to my confidence in case of an accident.

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  LOVE THIS CAR! - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By kendralh - February 17 - 6:54 am

  I bought this car in 2007 with 80,000 miles on it. I never had to do anything but routine maintenance (tires twice and headlamps once) even though I didnt change the oil as often as I should (about every 6,000 miles rather than 3,000 miles). The car was totaled a few weeks ago with 150,000 miles on it and I couldnt be sadder to see it go! I have no doubts that it would have lasted me well through 300k. The v6 engine was plenty of power and it handled perfectly with about 27 mpg (mixed driving). Only complaint I have is that the interior was a big boring--I was constantly wishing that I had a sunroof and slightly "younger" styling. If I could buy it again, I would!

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  My nautical blue T4R - 2006 Toyota 4Runner
  By niremor - February 16 - 11:06 pm

  This is the best toyota vehicle I have owned! I have had two Celicas and a highlander and this one is the best ever! I feel like I have gotten my dream car. The style is awesome, the drive is great and I get lots of compliments and stares. It has some great features such as the AUX port (for my iPod), lots of storage space, HUGE cup holders and many others besides the overall ride.

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  Great Car! - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By cindy - February 16 - 8:33 pm

  I just bought this car and I am not a car driving kind of person-BUT this car is great! It has high mileage, but everyone knows that Toyotas can get over 2000 mi. and still keep on going. This car has plenty of pep and is fun to drive. It looks, feels and acts like a brand new car. I had read some of the reviews before deciding to purchase mine and it was very helpful in making my decision. I would recommend this car to anyone. I feel that this car is definitely a keeper!

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  I Like It - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Jimrs - February 16 - 7:10 am

  This is our first Toyota. We have driven a lot of different cars but so far this is the best of the lot. Im 63" and I find this car very comfortable to drive or ride in. Better than the 2001 Blazer we traded in. Gas mileage on the first tank was 30.96 M.P.G. which is better than I expected to get. The little 4 cyl seems fine with plenty of power for our trips to town or wherever we want to go. It has better acceleration than the V6 Blazer had.

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  Convertible without compromises - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Dustone - February 16 - 1:23 am

  O.K. its not a sporty 2 person rocket, but by far its as pratical as a convertible can get. The stylying is conservative, yet sporty. The power of the 198hp engine has plenty of get up and go for fast highways. Highway driving is where it excels with a nice, smooth ride. It doesnt corner like it is on rails, but it still turns heads. Nothing better than having the sun on your face enjoying nature with your top off.

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  50th Anniversary Edition - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Shawn Hook - February 15 - 10:23 pm

  Just retired and wanted a full size car with excellent mileage. Camry hybrid is the definitive. Chose the 50th anniversary edition because we wanted something unique. It also had all the features we were looking for such as GPS, leather ans extra sound reduction. 1st 1,000 miles MPG averaged 34 MPG... 33 in town and 39 highway. 35 MPG overall is very reasonable. There are several features available to help you learn to maximise MPG and I find the consumption screen most helpful. Using this screen you quickly visualize your driving habits and what is needed for MPG improvement. We have had many prople stop us in parking lots to ask about the hybrid features and comment on the car.