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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  The Best SUV - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By Oxnard - December 1 - 10:00 am

  One of the best SUV. Very smooth to drive and lots of room at the back. Sound system is the best. Lots of power

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  I love what it does for me - 2003 Toyota Tacoma
  By butzokoy - December 1 - 10:00 am

  My family has owned Toyota trucks for many years without a problem. Well I think Ill stick to the our tradition because I love this truck from its rugged design and power of the engine when I haul my jetski. And with the TRD package I have no problem going off road when I go hunting. I love this truck and what it does for me.

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  No Regrets - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By 123go - December 1 - 10:00 am

  end to end, this experience was great. Purchased my Highlander in Kingston - no hassles. I have approx 1100 miles and love it. Nice quiet ride and handles well.

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  Sienna - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By Vin/alphakhl1 - December 1 - 10:00 am

  Best minivan besides the honda odyssey

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  No mistake - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By Ology-TGN - December 1 - 10:00 am

  Par for the course, test drove all others. Decided on Sienna mainly on 2 reasons: Toyota reliability and features for the money. Were coming from a stripped down 1995 Saturn, so the LE is total luxury for us. We LOVE it!! LE comes with everything we need. Drives great. Kids love it. I can honestly say I would have NO issues recommending this van.

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  Great little ride - 2017 Toyota Corolla
  By Smidly Smidlap - November 30 - 9:28 am

  Wow what a great car. Impressed with quality of interior and exterior styling. Great ride and drives like a race car!

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  Awesome - 2010 Toyota Highlander
  By Loren - November 29 - 6:16 pm

  This is a great buy. We looked for several months at several vehicles. This is the best choice. City mpg is 21 and hwy is 25.5. This vehicle has a smooth ride and plenty of room and power. It was definitely worth the wait.

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  94 Toyota Camry 2.2 4 cylinder - 1994 Toyota Camry
  By Evan - November 29 - 5:13 pm

  Over all a great car. 80,000 miles on it and you couldnt tell. My gas mileage is great for a 1.5 ton car. 28 MPG. Smooth ride with smooth shifting. Not very powerful and has a lot of body roll but its not a sports car and never was made to be. It has a good 4 cylinder engine that can move the car like it was intended to. I like the torque this car puts out for being a 4 cylinder. To me this is a true luxury car. This car is reliable and i bet i will have it for many many more years.

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  07 Camry XLE V6 - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Rick - November 29 - 3:30 pm

  Ive had my new Camry XLE V6 since early November and have slightly less than 1,000 on the odometer. A couple plastic covers that hide the rear of the drivers seat rails have worked loose but I consider this to me a very, very small inconvenience. Overall, this is the nicest Camry Ive ever owned (Ive owned four in my lifetime including the original, first year 1983 model). The engine noise is almost non-existent and the ride so smooth and controlled. On the highway Ive regularly averaged over 30 mpg at a steady 55 mph. Transmission is exceptionally smooth other than the first few shifts on a cold winter morning. Its really difficult to find anything about this car that isnt nice.

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  What a change from my 03 mercedes - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By bobby - November 29 - 7:30 am

  Had an 03 Mercedes for 4 years. This car is smoother, quieter, more responsive, better overall driving dynamics and way much more reliable and better built. Only problem has been the proprietary transmission glitch everyone talks about.