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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  Ten Gallons a Month - 2007 Toyota Prius
  By bcwhitcomb - March 26 - 10:00 am

  Pros - very peppy, fun to drive, average mpg 43-44, excellent quality and reliability, cutting edge features, i.e., keyless fob, touch screen, steering wheel controls for stereo, heat/AC. Unusually quiet as highway speeds. Just completed our first trip on interstate from NC to PA in I-81 and recorded mpg of 50+, we had averaged 43-44 mpg in combined travel. 50+ on the highway was not expected. Cons - driver seat cramped for tall drivers-2 inches more seat travel would do the trick. Bottom line - well worth the cost if you plan to keep for more than 4 years.

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  Awesome truck! - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By blea33 - March 26 - 9:59 am

  This is the best vehicle I have ever owned or driven! I bought my 04 4 runner in April of 2006 as a certified pre-owned vehicle, it had just over 20K miles on it, it now has just over 90K and the only thing weve had to do besides routine maintenance is have a front wheel bearing changed out, which was a warranty issue! Toyota has made a believer out of me!

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  2007 Camry LE V6 - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Ken - March 25 - 10:23 pm

  I love everything about my Camry, except for the interior looks, very cheap and the non alloy rims are very cheesy or cheap. It is very fun to drive with a powerful, powerful V6 engine. I love it.

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  2006 Toyota Sequoia SR5 - 2006 Toyota Sequoia
  By lofoster - March 25 - 5:13 pm

  Bought the Sequoia used with 18,000 miles on it. It has been a dream to own. Nothing goes wrong with it. It is very comfortable and drives very well.

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  Travel In A Prius - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By M.B. Cowen - March 25 - 5:10 am

  My wife, 60 lb. dog, and I drove to Chicago. and back to Florida through Knoxville, and The Smokies. During that time the temperature averaged 94, and we went through two significant rain storms. The Prius averaged 52 miles per gallon for the 2900 mile trip, got us up and down mountain roads and the highway with no problems, and performed on the road as well as the Lexus and Mercedes sedans we previously owned. What a great car.

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  Drives just like a normal 5 person sedan - 2001 Toyota Prius
  By charliej0hns0n - March 25 - 2:00 am

  You never have to plug it in. This car is fast, safe, reliable and fun to drive. It seats five persons. It handles just like a normal five person sedan but it get about 45 mpg. I tend to drive around 75 - 80 mph on California freeways to keep up in the fast lane, so my mpg is a bit less than some people get. Ive taken the Prius to Tahoe, Mt. Hood, Death Valley, Mt. Shasta, Joshua Tree, LA, San Diego, San Francisco. Its great in the snow, desert and everything inbetween. SUVs must hate it when I take em at stop signs and red lights, or pass them on the highway uphill.

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  Corolla Cares - 1999 Toyota Corolla
  By Garry Poliakon - March 25 - 2:00 am

  The Corolla helps you without hassle or headache arrive at all necessary locations. With the savings in fuel economy and maintenance I am able to live a lifestyle that I enjoy.

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  i love my avalon - 2000 Toyota Avalon
  By lma - March 25 - 2:00 am

  My Avalon is absolutely the best car I have ever owned.I have had no problems, it is very comortable and reliable. My 83 year old mother says her next automobile will be a Toyota Avalon.

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  Very Comfortable and Capable - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By new SUV owner - March 25 - 2:00 am

  I did research for 6 months on new and used SUVs with early favorites being the used Yukon Denali and used Toyota Land Cruiser. I was looking for a highly capable 4WD vehicle that still portrayed a luxury car feel at under $40k. The build quality on Toyota vs GMC (Chevy) was FAR superior and much better looking. The offroad capabilities of 4Runner vs LandCruiser were blurred to the point that Toyota said 4Runner was now their best off- road performer (and much cheaper!). The new size (similar to Ford Explorer), V8 option, and design (interior and exterior) made the new 4Runner a fairly easy choice.

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  Smart choice - 2006 Toyota Sequoia
  By tony - March 24 - 12:16 pm

  This truck is awesome the power of the 4.7 engine is great. I have never had a truck with this much power. The mpg is not that bad at all. My wife fell in love with it when we drove it at the dealer. We drove all teh competitors and the Toyota was the best. Most of the other trucks were very cheaply made on the inside. I was NEVER a foreign car guy before let alone a Toyota. Now I see why people say toyotas are the best. I plan on keeping this truck for 10 years.