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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  Awesome Car - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Toots - June 14 - 4:23 pm

  This car rides beautiful. The comfort is super. Its very quiet, cant hear it running. The stereo system rocks. What a fun car to drive and when I have the top down and the boot in, its spectacular! I love the car and would highly recommend it.

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  Very Pleased! - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By PDXprius - June 14 - 3:46 pm

  We have about 1K on our package 2 and my wife and I are very pleased. Purchased for the mileage (abt 46 so far) but also pleased with room, comfort, how quiet it is and the smooth ride.

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  Pleased - 1997 Toyota Camry
  By Pleased - June 14 - 5:26 am

  Bought this LE with 63,000 miles on it and now have 173,200 and counting. Got nine years on original battery. I use synthetic oil and grease. Best MPG was 39.3 interstate out of Texas. Replaced timing belt @ 100,000 and all four struts @ 160,000. Ceramic disc pads and new rotors @ 150,000. Basic maintenance and this car just will not give up. My 90 Camry was @ 348,000 miles & was still running last year! Test drove a 2007 LXE & it isnt near the car my 97 is.

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  Lady owner - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By ANNE - June 14 - 3:03 am

  This vehicle is wide, roomy, zippy, comfortable. Has plenty of pockets and storage places. Nice to have spare wheel out of boot compartment. So easy to get in and out of with higher seats and doorway large enough to allow for a tall person without unnecessary stooping. But topping everything is the ease of the electronic steering and the use of cruise control on longer trips on the flats. The only con is the surging of the auto gear system, at unexpected times.

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  Owned Three - 2006 Toyota 4Runner
  By Gene Craven - June 13 - 11:23 pm

  I have owned three limited models and have found them to be bullet proof. Just change the oil and keep on driving. I would recommend these suvs to anyone that is looking for trouble free vehicles. Great car to drive and own.

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  Toyota Grossinger - 2011 Toyota Sienna
  By sawsanz - June 13 - 7:06 pm

  Not only is my car an amazing fit for my family and I, but its performance is great as well. Also, when driving long distances with children its great to be comfortable which we definitely are. I I am most grateful to the sale person at Toyota Grossing, Sargon C, without whom I wouldnt have been able to pick the best fit for us. He made my experience wonderful and easy. There were no complications and it was the best customer service I have received.

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  Wonderful van - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By L. Johns - June 13 - 2:56 pm

  Now have 83,000 miles on my Sienna. It Has the best turning radius, comfort, handling and quiet cabin of any car Ive owned. My friends all love it for its comfort, even in the back seat and its ride over curvy roads. It has enormous capacity. In 83,000 miles Ive paid for one AC relay and normal maintainance and upkeep. Im on the original set of brakes and they still have half their life. I feel very safe in this car.

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  2008 Camry Hybrid - 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Big Bill - June 13 - 11:03 am

  Overall, the 2008 Camry hybrid is a good car. Good performance. Smooth and quite, even at 80 MPH. Accelerates quickly when needed. Mine has enough gadgets to keep me occupied for years. It would be hard to go back to a regular car. Mileage is about as advertised - 33.1 thus far, with 40 MPG common when crusising at about 50 MPH. The hard sell by the dealer to buy the extended warranty because of potentially expensive repairs down the road made me a bit nervous. I didnt buy it, so I hope Toyotas reputation for quality meets my expectations.

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  Nothing ever goes wrong with this car. - 1998 Toyota Corolla
  By Jazz - June 13 - 10:00 am

  Seriously, I bought it new 12 years ago, it has about 90,000 miles on it, its gotten all its regular maintenance, and nothing serious has ever gone wrong with it. The only thing that doesnt work is that the 2nd radio button sticks. The engines a bit underpowered, but you will not find a more reliable car. Also, the Toyota vehicles that had issues with accelerators were all 1990 or later, so 1980 is a good year for used models. Its comfy. I have a bad lower back, and the lumbar support is fantastic! It actually makes my back feel better, which is great for long drives. Unbelievably good gas mileage. I am very happy with this car and would recommend it to anyone.

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  Toyota Quality? - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By Xlr8 - June 13 - 10:00 am

  Ive had the Rav4 for about 4 months now. Overall Im very pleased with it. However some of the small details really show a drop off in Toyota quality. I really like the V-6 engine in this light SUV. It has great get up and go. The ride on the Sport model is a little stiff but it feels very solid. The space is a nice improvement over our previous Corolla. But this is where one of my greatest disappointments comes in. The interior quality of my 99 Corolla is far better than the new RAV4. Inside the Corolla there are a lot of soft touch surfaces and the plastics are of a superior quality. The cost cutting measures really show through when it comes to the interior materials.