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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  Great car but NONE with Side Air-bags - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By ejg - June 30 - 10:00 am

  I bought a automatic 2005 Corolla S at the end of June and I love it. I wasnt happy with Toyotas sales distribtion system. You cant get a Corolla S in the NJ/NYC area with SIDE AIRBAGS especially if you want a factory built sun-roof & ABS brakes because Toyotas out-of-touch distribution system will not send any built that way to the greater nyc area because past sales history does not show a demand for that option. Duh! The reason no history for that option in NYC area is because your required to make a special order request for it which could takeover 4 months and no guarentee. Not many will do that and wait over 4 months and no guarentee.

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  Very Happy and the right size - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By Bryan - June 29 - 8:06 pm

  Owned the Limited AWD for about 3 months. Gas mileage low 18.1 high 27.2. Average since purchase is 21.5. Excellent mileage on long trips. Like the size, not too big or too small and the step-in height is also very comfortable. Reminds me of the size of my old 1998 Explorer but nicer in every way. Engine louder during warmup, very quiet thereafter. Smooth ride, quiet interior, and good gas mileage for its size (mid-sized) were my top 3 requirements and it has lived up to my expectations thus far.

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  Fantastic Auto - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By wanzalee - June 29 - 1:13 pm

  I have owned numerous autos but have never owned a vehicle that was more satisfying than the Prius. It is very responsive and a pure joy to drive.

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  Amazing Truck! - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By Greg - June 28 - 4:10 am

  The new Tacoma is excellent! There is a reason it won Motor Trend Truck of the Year last year and Edmunds this year. It is comfy and roomy. Im 6 feet 2 inches so that was a huge issue and it has cured it. Super styling, very smooth non truck ride (if it is still smooth in Jackson, MS they are doing something right), and excellent Toyota reliability. My wife and I battle for who drives it, because it is a fun drive. The only cons are the same as others in the reviews: stock radio with no AUX jack for iPod or Satellite radio and a noisy and undeciding gearbox especially on the interstate with the cruise on, and no moon/sunroof option. Blew the competion away!

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  Venza hits a sweet spot - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By Bill - June 28 - 3:43 am

  Downsizing from a suburban I was looking for something smaller, yet would still have the suv characteristics. The Venza is easy to get in and out of. I love the power of the v6 and with AWD it really goes through deep snow.The rear seats are comfortable even for adults which is rare in most suvs. The drive is very smooth and the large speedometer makes it easy to avoid tickets. It seems to be a very safe winter car as I have yet to lose traction. Toyota claims you do not get your pant leg dirty on the door sill, yes it works well. The transmission shifts are smooth and I rarely feel them. Dual temp controls are a bonus as my wife and I set at different temps. The dealer treated us nicely.

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  I love my 1994 Toyota - 270,000 and going - 1994 Toyota Corolla
  By cathy - June 28 - 12:33 am

  I bought my 1994 Toyota used in 2004. It had been in an accident and was fixed by someone who buys junk cars at auctions. It had over 12,000 miles at the time, since then I have changed the oil every 3 to 4 thousand miles, had to replace tires and breaks. I had a deer hit it and did some damage, my insurance said they wanted to total the car and give me $900.00. I said no way I dropped the insurance and had the car fixed, even though it was hit by a deer again 2 weeks later, the hood bent a bit, I am now going on 270,000 miles and still running strong. My Toyota, even though it is wounded is worth much more than $900.00 to me - it will run forever! I know it! I love it.

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  Great SUV - 2010 Toyota 4Runner
  By locopilot - June 27 - 7:53 pm

  I traded my 08Pathfinder for this 4Runner. I purchased it back in January, and waited until almost 10000 miles before i gave a review. I personally like the exterior, and interior look. Engine is not as powerful as my 08 pathfinder, but I am getting 23 mpg on highway. you have to press the gas pedal hard to get a great acceleration when passing. The truck feels very comfortable, the ride is very smooth, and i enjoy driving it everyday. At first it was hard to get in the truck without running board, but I already got used to it.

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  Practical fun - 2007 Toyota Matrix
  By pohaku - June 27 - 11:06 am

  So many practical reasons to own this car: excellent gas mileage, lots of cargo room, Toyota reliability, flat-folding seats. But what sold me on it was that its just a fun car to drive. The handling is enjoyable, the engine is more willing than its 126 hp would imply, the interior is cockpit-ish, the 6-cd sound system is decent, the seats are comfy with cool fabric, and the ride is nicer than the competitions. Its a nice mix of good stuff for the money. I was considering a Civic, but the Matrix had more cargo space, a nicer ride, a nicer interior, and was way more fun to drive. The auto I test drove was good, but I recommend a manual trans with any small engine.

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  Better Than Average - 2012 Toyota Tundra
  By jmlabs - June 27 - 10:00 am

  Prior to purchasing 2012 Tundra 5.7L LB, I did extensive research on Chevy, Ford, and Dodge. I felt like the U.S. mfg trucks used excessively thin sheet metal and were about $10K - $15K overpriced and in my opinion that was due to unions. I found thin sheet metal in the Tundra too, but I wasnt paying a union add-on for the Toyota. What sold me on the Tundra is the large pinion gear, quality wrapped wire bundles in the engine bay, the quality interior, and transmission cooler. Ive owned the truck for 2 years 7 months now and have had no problems at all. The body style is attractive - I prefer it over the new 2015 body style. Id repurchase a Tundra mfg prior to the new body style.

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  Good Result - 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By HighlanderHigh - June 27 - 5:03 am

  Good result. Mileage a little under claims. Excellent power and handling. Terrific quality and design. Only driving complaint is slight surging sensation on highway as electric motors kick in and out. With tax credit and some recent bargaining price reductions, this is still one I would buy again. Get Limited model.