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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  Sequoia -Great car - 2001 Toyota Sequoia
  By Diane SS - July 29 - 11:53 pm

  When we first bought this suv I thought we had made a mistake because of its size, after a short amount of time I loved the size, comfort, power and ride. This is a safe suv to drive and is easy to manuever in traffic, the pick-up is great. I would buy another Sequoia.

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  Teenage Driver - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Teenage Driver - July 29 - 10:43 pm

  For a 19 year old I needed a smaller suv to hold both of my dogs. Compared to any other smaller suv this toyota RAV4 had the most room, great gas mileage, and was the most reliable. I got the RAV4 Sport 4x4 V6 I have only had the car for a few days and I love it. It had a lot of get up and go, I feel safe in it, the sunroof is great, and the upgraded sound system is very very nice. I would recommend this car to everyone.

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  Solid. Love the console/steering wheel - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By djb5f - July 29 - 5:50 pm

  Main alternatives considered - Jeep Cherokee, Mazda CX-9, and 4-Runner. Love the grey Highlander faceplate on back. Interior is very comfortable, I have cloth b/c all the dealers informed me b/c of a leather embargo, they were now holding leather for Limited only. But Sport has higher grade cloth.

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  A Dream - 2006 Toyota Sienna
  By Dave - July 29 - 10:40 am

  After having minivans for over 20 years, we finally got one that has the quality and handling charateristics of a luxury sedan but the room, comfort, accessibilty and safety of your family room. Its quietness, smooth ride, effortless handling make it fun to drive. Having a 1 year old makes us realize the importance of the safety factors and appreciate the thought put into the inclusion of car seats and being able to move the 2nd row seats together. The amount of storage is great. My wife and I compete for which of us gets to drive the Toyota and which has to take the other car.

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  GREAT little car - 2001 Toyota Echo
  By A. Miller - July 29 - 10:13 am

  I have owned this car for over 2 years and have had no trouble whatsoever. I think the write up by Edmunds is completely off track, and I think this is the best car money can buy. It has a spacious trunk, plenty of room for 2 adults and 3 kids. It has plenty of pep but still gets 40 mpg. No cruise control on mine was a mistake, and power windows would be nice.

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  Never Own Another Toyota - 1996 Toyota Camry
  By NoMoreToyotas - July 29 - 9:43 am

  I purchased this car in July of 2007 with 114k miles. The car made it to 148k miles. Once it reached that point, I pumped approximately $5,000.00 into it. I replaced the timing belt, water pump, fuel pump, new rotors (twice in the time I owned it), 3 new sets of tires, plugs, axles, and last but not least, the transmission. I have had to replace other things, but those were the big ones. The paint job is the worst I have ever seen and the door handles have a curious habit of snapping off. I dont drive like a kid, so I think operator error is minimal. The car just died yesterday and this time, its anyones guess what the problem is. If you are thinking of getting a Toyota Camry, FORGET IT

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  Awesome car - 1998 Toyota Camry
  By sd6519 - July 29 - 8:50 am

  This car has 112000 miles and has never failed me once. I recently got a new water pump and timing belt, but thats just regular maintenance for an 11 yr old car. If you want reliability, buy one of these bad boys.

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  Loving my Solara SLE Convertible - 2008 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Meachy - July 29 - 3:16 am

  I have owned 2 Toyota Camrys, and my husband talked me into buying a 2008 Solara convertible. This car has such a silky ride. I love the dependability of a Toyota, but the beauty and smoothness of my car cranks it up to a new level of satisfaction with the Toyota product. I will never be without a Toyota product!

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  Best Car Ive Ever Owned - 2000 Toyota Avalon
  By Landtuna - July 29 - 2:26 am

  Wifes car but I drive it often. Had one service visit in ten years - dirty MAF sensor. Doesnt get any better than that. Does everything youd want it to do in silence and comfort. Remarkably large cabin for a mid-sized vehicle. Trunk holds a ton of stuff too. JBL sound system is great. Visibility is outstanding (except as noted below). Wife gets 22 MPG (reg gas) around town. I get almost 30 on highway. Paint still looks like new. Only one small and insignificant rattle in almost 90K miles. I call it a Japanese Buick but its much better than a GM car.

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  Great mileage and reliability - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By happy2own - July 29 - 1:43 am

  The S model is a fun car to drive with great mileage on long trips (up to 41). It gets better mileage than my old 96 with more power. The 5 speed transmission is not the smoothest shifter Ive owned but it makes the car seem more powerful. The exterior looks sporty with the body kit, spoiler, and fog lights. The interior has nice build quality and the trunk size is more than proficient. No mechanical problems at all. Ive never been to the shop since I change my own oil. I would definitely recommend.