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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  My First Camry - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By New car - November 4 - 2:56 am

  I just upgraded from my 10 year old Corolla to this Camry and am loving it so far. It has every option except the navigation and I added all of the available safety features (side curtain air-bag, traction/stability control). The ride is very smooth and the outside noise is minimal. Im 65" and find the head room to be lacking. I have to lean the seat back more than I would like to have enough head clearance. It does not have a telescoping steering wheel but if it did it would be perfect. The instrument lights are a bit too bright. When you dim them down to a comfortable brilliance, the radio/environmental controls are unreadable, so I have to live with bright instruments. Great car!

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  Great car for the bucks - 2006 Toyota Camry
  By bajabob - November 4 - 12:30 am

  We have been waiting since 02 to buy a new Camry after having rented one on a trip. The ride and handling are much improved on the 06 as well as the reduction in road noise. The majority of our driving is short city trips with a small amount of highway driving. In spite of this we averaged 27.44 mpg on the first tank and 28.56 mpg on the second. The 2.4 liter 4 cyl delivers all of the power one could wish for and the transmission shifts without any noticeable feel of having done so. I would recomend this vehicle to anyone wanting a car of this size. The huge trunk is also an added plus for handling all the normal things one would normally need to haul in it.

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  2001 Tundra - 2001 Toyota Tundra
  By Jdun - November 3 - 9:40 pm

  We love our vehicle and it has performed so well that our local mechanic wants to buy it if/when we decide to sell it. Quiet and comfortable and good mileage-as high as 19mpg on the highway.

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  Love the Prius! - 2002 Toyota Prius
  By KRymar - November 3 - 5:50 pm

  I have owned this car since May 2002 and I absolutely love it. Im so happy I got it before the big "prius craze" began. I paid $20K for it -- just about have to double that to get one these days. Im in that mode where Im ready for a new car, but am not willing to give up the perks of owning this car. My only regret is that I didnt get the GPS system - boy how I wish I had! Ill probably keep this car longer than any other -- my gas mileage varies between 37 and 47 mpg depending on the time of year.

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  2001 Rav4 L Black - 2001 Toyota RAV4
  By Lee Suess - November 3 - 10:00 am

  Ive had many vehicles since I started driving in 1966 and the Rav4 has to rank in the top 5 of all of them. Thats pretty good because all the rest of them were cars, no trucks or SUVs. Ive taken it on several trips over 500 miles and its as comfortable as my Acura 3.2TL S Type. The combination of ride and handling is unbelieveable for an SUV and with the 5 speed manual it has plenty of acceleration. Most people cant believe how much room there is in the back especially when the rear seats are removed. Im surprised that Toyota doesnt advertise this vehicle more for as good as it is.

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  very good - 2005 Toyota Sequoia
  By tasnyde - November 3 - 10:00 am

  Overall I have been very pleased. I expect to get a lot of milage out it, which I did not get from Jeep Cherokees I had in the past. The power is sufficient. I do not tow things, which if you did, might look at something with more torque.

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  I love this car - 2005 Toyota Sequoia
  By Sharonlee - November 3 - 10:00 am

  I am a mother of 3 very active boys, I love this car. I had a Yukon XL prior to this and there is no comparision. The Toyota is just a far superior product and Cherokee Toyota was very pleasent to deal with. There service shop is one of the best I have ever seen. We take our other cars there too.

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  What a Great SUV - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By Faramarz - November 3 - 10:00 am

  I live my 2004 4-Runner. I specially love the V8 Engine with smooth ride. For a V8 SUV, the Gas Milage is great and I think for the price this is the best SUV you can by today. When you by the 4-Runner, in reality, you just purchased a Lexus and 50% discount

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  New Parent - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By New Parent - November 3 - 10:00 am

  As a new parent I dreaded the day of getting the "soccer vehicle" however since getting the Sienna I have had nothing but compliments from all of my friends and the ones who pick on me for having a van ride in it one time and then say nothing but great things about it. Very roomy and after comparing it to the Honda 2004, you know the one, I was amazed at the difference. The leather is much nicer along with the ride from the back seats.

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  Proud minivan owner - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By Meg H - November 3 - 10:00 am

  I never thought that I would be saying that, but its true. I love the way the minivan drives - smooth, excellent pick-up, and comfortable. Lots of storage - our double stroller easily fits in the back. Getting my daughters into their car seats is easy and I love being able to move the seats closer so that the front passenger can feed my infant daughter if necessary. The gas mileage has been great, particularly since we are putting more city miles than highway on. The split third row will come in handy when we travel to Yosemite with a friend, two pack-n-plays, the double stroller, back packs, luggage, and wedding gifts. I dont miss my car one bit.