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 new car - 2002 Toyota Corolla
  By amyseit - November 1 - 5:43 am

  Since this is my first new car, I spend a lot of time checking out different types of cars for the best value. I was torn between the Corolla LE and the Hyundai Elantra. Both cars had the features I was looking for but the Corolla drove much smoother. The Corolla did not have the cheap looking interior like the Elantra and it has better gas mileage per gallon too. I love my Corolla and would suggest it to anyone looking for a new car.

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  Awesome Vehicle - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By Wally Minich - November 1 - 12:30 am

  My third Prius and 2010 is by far best. Now I believe car was 90% re- engineered after driving first 100 feet. 2010 Prius drives and handles like a real car, have to drive to believe the experience...

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  Happy Highlander Owner - 2010 Toyota Highlander
  By Robyn154 - October 31 - 11:20 pm

  I traded in a 2008 Chevy HHR because I needed more room. My Highlander handles like a dream, very smooth and quiet. A friend has a 2002 Highlander, and has never had a minutes problem, so even with the adverse attention on Toyota at the time, I did not hesitate to purchase when I was ready to make a change, and have not regretted my decision.

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  Great Car - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By lomon - October 31 - 9:23 pm

  This car is the most interesting car I have ever own. Its like driving a brand new car in each trip. The silent EV mode & fuel economy is terrific

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  Zippy Rav4 - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By kevino - October 31 - 2:06 pm

  The new RAV4 V-6 is awesome. Its acceleration borders on magnificent. Merging on highways is a breeze.

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  2005 Avalon XLS - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By docdearth2 - October 31 - 12:40 am

  I compared this vehicle with the Acura TL and the Infiniti G-35. I would have been happy with any one of these three cars. The Avalon, however, is larger and has considerably more front and rear leg room for 4 passengers. The 280 hp engine is very powerful and smooth as is the ride. It has considerably more trunk space than the G-35 which is also quite a bit smaller. Value-wise I feel the Avalon is comparable with cars in the $40,000 range. The new styling is more sporty and not as stodgy as the older models. I had leased an Avalon previously in 1997, and found it to be an extremely reliable performer with a lot of comfort and conveniences. The newer model raises the bar even further.

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  Whats up with the noise? - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Steve - October 31 - 12:03 am

  This car rattled when I bought it. Five attempts to fix the headliner rattle and it still rattles. This makes me suspicious of Toyota quality in the Avalon. The car has developed other squeaks and noises too. This is my first new Toyota and I expected more. On the positive side, I love the comfort and performance. I will try another one if Toyota will take this one back.

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  A Sporty Camry?? - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By GATOR - October 30 - 7:50 pm

  So you thought Toyota couldnt make a sporty Camry, right? Absolutely wrong! I just purchased a 2007 Camry SE and believe me it is sporty. My Barcelona red metallic exterior and dark charcoal interior are a perfect combination. The ground effects, rear spoiler, sport suspension, moon roof, and blacked out grill only add to the excitement. It is very roomy inside with Bluetooth, Sirius JBL radio with 8 speakers, nice trim, and a well appointed dash cluster. The ride is very quiet, sometimes IÂ’m not sure the engine is even on. Im not sure how Toyota did it, but they have just made AmericaÂ’s #1 selling car into a newly revised monster that is even better. My hat off to the Toyota team!

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  Sole owner - 2001 Toyota Avalon
  By Matt - October 30 - 7:00 am

  This car has been virtually trouble free. There appears to be a little too much wear and tear on tires which might be the driver as well as wear demand on brakes. Comfort is incredible with no back aches after hours of driving, realiability the best of any car I ever owned. Very roomy, quiet, and resists road and external noise. Danger of falling asleep at the wheel it is so smooth. VSC has not been an annoyance but a pleasant surprise. Sunroof adds much to enjoyment of drive. Speakers and sound very excellent and I am a very discriminant listener. Compares to Lexus model as same car but much less $.

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  It is a great little suv - 1999 Toyota RAV4
  By Picky driver - October 30 - 2:00 am

  My Rav4L has performed well. It gets great gas mileage and after over 90,000 miles it still runs pretty much like a new car. I bought the RAV4 for the best gas mileage in an suv and because of Toyota reliability. I got what I was hoping for. It is a cute car. My husband says it is more suited to a woman though because it looks so cute.