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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  I absolutely LOVE my new RAV4! - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By Jessica D. - July 20 - 12:06 pm

  I just traded in my 2009 Toyota Camry LE for a 2010 RAV4 4WD Base model. I must say, I do not miss my Camry at all! The RAV4 is great. It drives so smoothly, handles well, looks awesome. I guess the only drawback (compared to say the Camry) would be the quality of the interior. The RAV is very nice looking, but the Camry is more "luxury" on the inside. I suppose if I would have gotten the Sport or Limited it would be a little fancier. Still, its a great looking car. I did quite a bit of comparing to the Ford Escape and Honda CR-V, and Toyota tops them both!

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  Best truck to date for ownership - 2001 Toyota Tacoma
  By Southerngator - July 20 - 9:00 am

  Fun truck to drive, great gas mileage for the horse power to weight ratio w/ the 2.7 four cylinder engine. Wife would love to steal it from me if she had the chance! Best investment for the reliability & quality, only had to change out the org. set tires w/ normal maintenance. I purchased the truck second hand from the local dealer, (after searching the web), got a great deal! Third door would have been nice addition, missing fm my model, but I still would recommend it!

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  Practical Alternative - 2007 Toyota Matrix
  By planettom - July 19 - 1:26 pm

  My third day in this car, and I love it! This car truly is a very practical alternative to the SUV. Its fun to drive, and styling is good. Very roomy interior and plenty of room for cargo. I drove a mid-size SUV for years, but honestly, I dont have kids and Im not hauling lumber, so why waste the money on an SUV. Im very happy with my Matrix.

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  2006 Highlander Hybrid Review - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Cindy - July 19 - 8:23 am

  I have had the car for 3 months and have had no problems. It drives and handles well. I am spending much less in gas now than with my old SUV which was similar size.

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  Safety - 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By hylander31 - July 19 - 8:13 am

  We love our Highlander hybrid. We have had the vehicle for almost 2 years. Mileage is great. I want people to know that we were in a serious car accident. Both front airbags deployed and 3 point seat belt did their job. My husband and I walked away with only a few bruises and banged up ribs. We hope the car can be repaired and not totaled by insurance company. We are missing the first 12 to 16 inches of the front end of car. The other car in the accident did not fare as well. Definitely our SUV is a well built safe vehicle. If we have to get a new SUV, we are definitely going to get the Highlander Hybrid. We cant say enough about the safety features on the car.

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  The best non-lux car - 2007 Toyota Avalon
  By First trial - July 19 - 8:00 am

  Pros: fuel eco, great interior look, smart key, strong A/C, laser cruise, memory seat, smooth, quiet. Cons: Navigation hard to master, smart key is still "stupid", such as it does not have auto lock functions when you get out of car.

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  Love our 2011 Toyota Highlander - 2011 Toyota Highlander
  By bossman8 - July 19 - 4:44 am

  This suv drives like a BMW. Have not found anything I would change.

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  Quality is Toyotas Job One - 2017 Toyota RAV4
  By Sam Eigel - July 19 - 1:00 am

  You pay for what you get. Great quality for the price. You can pay less for an suv but you will not get the build, ride or satisfaction compared to other import brands. Most companies take something of quality out of there cars in order to get the lower price. Honda is a good example of taking quality out but basically keeping the car the same with little improvement. They may seem different but there foxes with sheeps clothing. The manufacture says they have to break completely before they consider fixing it regardless if it has few miles or not. Toyota stands behind what they sell. Dont buy anything else, consider only leasing them if you dont want to be sorry.

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  2007 RAV4 great review! - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Kirk - July 19 - 12:16 am

  I leased the vehicle based on the rating in Consumers Reports where it scored the highest in its classification. After six months I have 3,400 miles on it (my wifes vehicle). I had the oil changed at the dealer we leased from and have absolutely no complaints. Great vehicle. It is the 4 cylinder and we average about 28 MPG on the road and 23MPG in the city. Great mileage for a small SUV. Everything works and no recalls. I am very well satisfied at this point!

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  Love my car! - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Michigan - July 18 - 2:20 pm

  I bought my car new and do not plan on selling it for a few more years yet. I drive a lot and a comfortable drive is important to me. I get this comfortable ride in my Solara. I love to drive with the sun roof open! It is very reliable with only a few minor problems. 1. Tires need replacement every 2 yrs. 2. The air bag light keeps coming on. Plug under the front seat that keeps coming loose. The dealer would not show me the plug so I will have to look for it myself. When someone rides in the back, they will touch it with their feet and the light will come on. 3. I replaced the struts, they were expensive, but that brought that smooth ride I love so much back again.