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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  truckofmine - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By susieq2 - June 26 - 2:43 am

  A very comfortable truck, handles well, fun to drive.

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  Love my baby! - 2006 Toyota Sienna
  By Soccer Mom - June 26 - 12:00 am

  Totaled my other 2006 Sienna, bought new in 2006. EXCELLENT SAFETY FEATURES! Air bag deployed, seatbelts locked & minus bruises from belts, all are totally fine! Bought current Sienna cause we loved this van sooo much! I do agree with others about paint scratching easily & it sometimes seems to shift awkwardly. It came with reg tires (not run-flats for AWD) & a spare; good financial decision. Dont know why those with XLE models are complaining; I have less features & love it! It saved my life & my twin sons. Love my baby!

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  2015 Toyota Sienna - 2016 Toyota Sienna
  By Randy Craig - June 25 - 9:01 pm

  This is our first Toyota and we are very happy we chose it .This mini van feels like it drives itself and has plenty of room for everything from grandkids to 25 bags of mulch for the garden.

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  2004 Sequoia - 2004 Toyota Sequoia
  By Cyndy - June 25 - 7:26 pm

  I upgraded to the Sequoia so I would have room to hall my kids and all their sports gear around. I love the comfort and the ability to fold the seats up or remove them depending on how much room I need. It has a smooth ride and is just as comfortable as my Lexus ES300 was but with lots more room!

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  Great Car! - 2016 Toyota Highlander
  By Jay Kim - June 25 - 2:31 pm

  I love this model. However I had to replace rear right shock assembly because oil leaking. I noticed that some unuaual banging sound when I cross over some step or safety block. I replaced it and I am happy now. Hopefully no other issues with my brand new car.

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  Will hate to see him go - 1994 Toyota 4Runner
  By jad4runner - June 25 - 10:00 am

  I bought my beatiful 4runner brandt new back in 1994. It was love at first sight and I am still in love with it. I had only the repairs that you can espect with a mileage like this. I am in the market now for a new 2004 and I am trying to decide if I should keep it or sell it. Like somebody else said it,the style of this truck has nothing to envy from the new ones. This a real SUV. I LOVE IT!, BUT ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END.Goodby my love.

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  Wife Loves Car - 1996 Toyota Avalon
  By lee harvey - June 25 - 10:00 am

  This 1996 Toyota Avalon has been an excellent vehicle. Bought it new in 96 and have had no problems with the car except those inflicted by the Toyota dealer service dept. Leather seats/ergonomics are very comfortable, can drive for 10 hours without getting stiff. Car is very peppy and enjoyable to drive. Want to buy another one when this one wears out, but it only has 160,000 miles and seems to have plenty of life left. This car had the same battery and brakes for the first 120,000 miles. All other parts still original other than required maint. like timing belt. The paint and interior have held up like a much more expensive car.

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  best car ever - 1994 Toyota Camry
  By willizannah - June 25 - 10:00 am

  In my 40 years of car ownership I have without question never had such a wonderful car. And at 215,000 miles it is still going strong. My mechanic said that this particular engine simply does not wear out. Not only is quality what one would expect from Toyota, but the power and handling are far above what you would expect from a wagon...and an old one at that. If you have a chance to get one of these, buy it before it gets away.

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  A few minor problems - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By Lee Cavender - June 25 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my Corolla 4 months/7000 miles ago. I had narrowed my choices down to this & a Mazda 3. The Toyota dealership ended up giving me a better deal so I went with them (not to mention the Mazda dealership couldnt tell me when the 3 would be in). Im getting awesome mpg. On a few highway road trips, I getting up to 41 mpg. In the city I usually get about 34 mpg - both better than advertised! This car is comfortable enough to sleep in and fun to drive. I have had a few problems, which I need to have checked out. If I start the car after it has been off for ~30-90 minutes, it takes several turns to start up. The windshield has a minor warp in one spot. The moonroof rattles.

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  Great truck - 2009 Toyota Tacoma
  By MRK - June 24 - 9:50 am

  This is the truck that I could not buy 40 years ago when I was 22. The sport seat was designed for that butt, not the one I have now, but it is still pretty comfortable on long road trips. Mostly drive it around town or short golf trips. Rides well, handles well. Better MPG than I expected. Have had it 6 months now and no complaints. Damn good looking truck with the sport package.