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 future of driving - 2002 Toyota Prius
  By Gazings - July 15 - 8:53 am

  You must drive this car! Crusing around with the engine totally off is a real trip. Sitting at stoplights in total silence is amazing. The ride is very quiet at all times, even on the freeway. Definitely spring for the touch-screen navigation system - worth every penny. Very comfy ride, great view out. Auto climate control is excellent, and the stereo has surprisingly good sound.

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  Colorado 2003 Toyota Tundra Great - 2003 Toyota Tundra
  By rdegrasse - July 14 - 11:13 pm

  Ive pulled a 4 horse trailer (loaded) from Colorado to Virginia and back, loaded up another adult and two children, plus a dog and had plenty of room left over. This is the best truck Ive ever owned and will never have anything but a Tundra as a work truck ever again. It has comfort and performance. After 4 years, it still burns rubber if I have to get going quick. The TRD is great. I love it.

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  Looks Cool, Fun to Drive and Durable. - 2010 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By Moto Moto - July 14 - 5:00 pm

  I have considered buying a FJ since 2006. However the radical design gave me mixed feelings. I was so use to buying boring but practical cars like Accords and Camrys. Buying a FJ would be a drastic departure from my norm. I finally realized that I wanted a vehicle that invoked passion. I wanted a personality (not just a truck). So I purchased the 2010 TT. I am glad I waited. The 2010 version addressed a lot of the short comings of the FJ including - Back-up Camera, reduced turn radius, improved gas mileage and standard unleaded gas. I plan to keep it for at least 10 Years.

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  Great truck - 1997 Toyota Tacoma
  By h20bugz - July 14 - 8:40 am

  This is the first truck I have ever owned. I drive it hard and it has made 4 cross country trips pulling a fully loaded u-haul. I am about to roll 200K and besides tires, oil and timing belts I have only had the brakes and the clutch master cylinder go out. I bought it because of the reliability Toyota is praised for and I will definitely go back for another one. Problem is I dont see me trading mine in for another couple of years.

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  Great SUV! - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By Akent - July 14 - 7:00 am

  This is my second 4Runner after driving my 1996 for 289,000 miles.The tanklike build is no longer there, so dont expect to be backing into trees and stuff without replacing either bumper.The ride is much improved, along with the cabin noise.The sunroof is a pain, since you either press the button to let it open the hatch all the way, or punch the button in short spurts to inch it back.The cup holders were redesigned into the console with adjustable grips and lighted for nighttime driving.The JBL Synthesis stereo is great.The fuel economy is 20- 21, which is similar to my 1996 model.But, I expect it will get better as it gets broken in. Interior needs XSP seats standard.

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  Loving it! - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Flocculus - July 13 - 8:16 pm

  Having owned a loved the Prius for a year and a half, were about to buy another to become a Prius-only family. I cant imagine going back down on gas mileage from our around-50 average. The ergonomics are terrific. The space is perfectly usable. It has all the zip we need. Despite Toyotas prohibition, Im about to start doing light towing occasionally, which I think will be great. We have had absolutely no problems. Ive looked and looked, and there isnt another car on the market that stands up to this one.

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  RAV4 Again -- Just Like My Dad Told Me - 2018 Toyota RAV4
  By Sharon - July 13 - 3:01 pm

  My dad told me to find a car that was comfortable to drive, required little maintenance and treat it well. I bought a RAV4 again because the highest maintenance bill on my old 2012 Rav was $25. Dad was right

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  Finally Got It!!! - 2003 Toyota Tacoma
  By Troy - July 13 - 1:26 am

  I had always wanted a Tacoma, unfortunately I could never afford one until now. I started out about 3 years ago with my first Truck a 1999 Ranger. While this is a decent truck to start out with, I still wanted my Tacoma. So when I finally decided that I could afford one I went down to the Toyota dealer and bought a 2003 2.7L 5-Speed 4WD extended cab. It has loads more power then my Ranger(2.5L) as well as plenty of torque. While it is not a race engine, it still has plenty of power for what I need to do. I couldnt see wasting my money on a Hemi just to accelerate faster and get 8-10 MPG. The 4WD is superior to any other brand of truck, way better than the ranger.

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  Dad Got His Way! - 2015 Toyota Avalon
  By Chris Smith - July 12 - 10:48 pm

  Ive owned two Mercedes (Purchased new_ and two Caddies (purchased new) and this car compares very well with both of at less cost and certainly no sacrifice in looks.

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  Great Little Tardus - 2001 Toyota Prius
  By GOCS - July 12 - 11:43 am

  The first thing that amazed me was getting inside--very roomy, though it looks small from the outside. Its a very light car, so performance depends upon the weight in the vehicle. But even with 4 people, it has plenty of getup and go. Full of gadgets. Great car. The fact that it is a hybrid just makes it that much better