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 first car for anyone any age - 1998 Toyota Camry
  By Camryman08 - April 29 - 1:14 am

  I bought this car back in august of 1998 new. It is an extremely easy and comfortable car to drive. Only problems i had was the starter going bad but a quick visit to the toyota dealer changed that back to new! The car is very peppy and acceleration is adequate if not good for normal driving. You can tell the engine is lacking power when accelerating from a stop up a hill, but otherwise it manages to merge on the highway and pick up speed nicely. I added a k&n air filter to mine and it improved acceleration at lower rpms so i really recommend one of those if you think the 2.2 4 cylinder is lacking power. Otherwise, this car has great visibility. Paint is still great and shiny after countless Denver hailstorms and snowstorms. I really recommend this car to anyone who wants a comfortable, safe, easy, and peppy ride.

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  The Lexus of mini-vans but not perfect - 2009 Toyota Sienna
  By Toyota Guy - April 28 - 8:36 pm

  Open the door on the Sienna and you are in for a shock. The XLE with leather interior looks as good as any luxury car on the market no matter what you spend. The next surprise is the performance . . . awesome! This 266 hp V6 would blow away 90% of the guys next to you that think they have hot cars. Highway acceleration is every bit as impressive. Ride will match nearly anything on the market. The turning radius is mind-blowing. The negative: Visibility stinks; Ive almost had a few accidents! Hood must be propped open to stay up! How cheap on a $30K plus car! Tranny shifts a bit hard at times and has minor surges. Paint chips easily. Needs pinstripe or something to jazz up the outside.

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  Feel Safe With the Toyota Name - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By lynn - April 28 - 3:43 pm

  I really enjoy the nice comfortable ride, and low engine noise. The radio isnt all that bad either for this model. The only thing I would change is the annoying seat belt warning, and add the power package to all the cars no matter what model. Ill definitely be taking it in to get power door locks put in this week. Other than that, its a great little car so far, with no other complaints.

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  2007, 08, 09 and 2010 40K service miles review - 2011 Toyota Yaris
  By girlcarbuilder - April 28 - 4:18 am

  Last review written was on a 2011 yaris hatchback, meant a 2010 at 20K service miles. Any way, the fleet has grown and I drive them all and service them as well. At this point, the reviews are in respect to maintenance needs. All units are at or about 40K miles now and everything is holding up well with just oil changes, air filter changes, tire rotations. The 07 is a recent auction purchase. It needed new tires. It is also undergoing rebuilding from an accident. So, if you are looking for something reliable, this car is doing it. Another interesting observation is how the front end is bolt on/off components. But if you take a hit above or below that bumper bar, bad news for damage.

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  2006 with 92000 miles - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By topwilson - April 27 - 5:22 pm

  Bought the car with 89000 miles on it, and was wary about the battery life, but it charges up fine and runs great. You need to be careful about your focus when driving, staring at fuel economy display is riveting! The limited is equiped nicely, and the interior is layed out well. Irritating the passenger cant use the maps feature while driving. Storage is a problem relative to the seating if you are on a long trip. Took the wife and four kids to DC over Christmas, and had to invest in a car top carrier. All things considered, trip went well, and averaged aroune 23 even with the car carrier messing with aerodynamics. I would buy this car again, fun to pass up all the gas stations!!

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  Excellent - 2005 Toyota Sequoia
  By rakoto - April 27 - 4:26 pm

  An excellent car.

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  Great car, but.... - 2006 Toyota Camry
  By VG - April 27 - 9:43 am

  Ive been driving a Suburban for 5 years. I LOVE driving it. It is pure pleasure to drive. I LIKE my Camry. Its OK to drive, but not nearly as quiet. It doesnt have the driver comforts of my Suburban. Im driving it purely for fuel economy. Its a great quality car and drives magnificently. It is simply a very utilitarian car.

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  05 Touring (avalon) - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By timfrank - April 27 - 5:53 am

  When I first saw this car I asked my wife how much did she think it cost? She replied,"forty or forty five thousand". I walked up,looked at the sticker and got "reverse sticker shock". It was about 28,900.00. Hmmmm. I drove it - it was fast with little torque steer for FWD. The back seat was limo size and the drivers seat had many possible positions as well as an inflatable lumbar support. The stereo is adequate but I will be replacing all the speakers and adding an amp (all Alpine). The brakes are adequate but I may be replacing with Brembo later. The Touring suspension is better than the other Avalons but I still would like some bigger sway bars. A great bargain sedan!

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  Dream SUV - 2010 Toyota 4Runner
  By Ramon - April 27 - 4:10 am

  We bought the suv this weekend and I have to say I love driving it. The ride is so smooth its incredible.

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  Over 300K - 1999 Toyota Camry
  By Jeffrey in Phoenix Arizona - April 27 - 3:35 am

  My 1999 Toyota Camry - 6 cyl - Manual Transmission - love the car - now has 302K miles on it. My last Toyota Camry, a 1987 had 387K miles before it got hit. I expect this one to go over 400K.