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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  Love it, Love it, LOVE IT! - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Shug - January 10 - 7:03 am

  I drive 30,000 miles per year and LOVE this car. Traded a Lexus RX350 and hardly note a difference, except fuel economy! I get 43 MPG most of the time, worst has been 35MPG-WONDERFUL! Not included in any recalls so expect to hold value, too. Great pickup, passing power. Love to play the how many miles per tank game, getting up to 650 per tank full. Watching the MPG screen is like playing a video game-how high can you go and keep? LOVE It! I am driving much smarter now. Driving this much means I look for comfort and this is as good as my Lexus was. I can adjust seats Up, Dwn, forward and back and tilt. Its raining and I can look over at all those wet people and drive by for days!:)

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  Great Car! - 2000 Toyota Camry
  By suzie - January 10 - 6:50 am

  I bought my 2000 Camry new and it now has 110,000 miles and is still driving great! I do all the routine maintenance on it, regular oil changes, had the timing belt changed before it went out... as precaution. This particular Camry must have been well built. The only trouble I had was the battery went dead and I had to replace it. Im looking for a new vehicle but cant hardly bring myself to buy one! I wont get rid of my Camry no matter if I buy a new car!

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  Great car! - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Debbie - January 9 - 9:16 pm

  I had previously owned 2 Toyotas but most recently had a 1990 BMW 525i. I enjoyed my BMW for 12 years. However, Im very impressed with the Avalon. I did plenty of research and probably knew as much about the car as the salesman. Its everything I had read about...comfortable, roomy, plush...It drives well on the open road. Id never had automatic doors, a cup holder, leather, CD changer. So Im in heaven. Great value for the price.

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  Good car - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Andy - January 9 - 9:26 am

  Overall I really like my new purchase of the Toyota Yaris. The interior could have a few more features, like a temperature gauge and other normal stats. Its small compared to the average American vehicle, which makes it extremely easy to parallel park in smaller spots and to maneuver around things. Itd be nice to have some faster acceleration, but I guess thats just a trade-off for a car with good gas mileage.

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  My Dream Car - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By Kris - January 9 - 5:36 am

  Some dream of sport cars, nut this Venza is truly my dream car. I love driving it every day. Meets all my needs with space and comfort. No regrets. Good gas mileage on highway. Love the sequential shift for mountain driving. People always ask me what it is, still dont really have an answer, its so unique.

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  Rav4 - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Tony - January 9 - 12:56 am

  Toyotas are great vehicles, they hold their value and you rarely have any problems with them

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  best 4runner yet! - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By baker35 - January 8 - 10:00 am

  Ive had 3 4runners... Im obviously impressed with toyotas quality and reliability... the 04 spt addition 4x4 V8..I have is by far the best one yet... smoother, more power, better mileage, better off-road capabilities... all for 32.4k out the door... my other cars a 2000 carrera... I prefer driving the 4runner! nuff said

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  Best car ever - 2011 Toyota Camry
  By camry13 - January 8 - 9:12 am

  I have driven many cars so far...nissan sentra, jeep, honda accord, honda CR-v, but toyota camry is the best car so far. I used be like..ahhh i dont want to drive and my husband used drive evrytime wherever we go...and since we have Toyota camry...there is no chance anybody else is driving. Driving is like my hobby now, and the seats are so comfortable in camry that u feel like..those seats are custom made just for you...i just did long journey like 9 - 10 hours drive...and it was amazing...didnt get tired at all...instead it was so much fun just because i drove Toyota camry....lv it..

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  Love it - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By Julie - January 7 - 2:23 pm

  The air broke the first week and I went ballistic but they fixed it, it was too much freon for goodness sake it was overcharging. Ive had a 00 corolla so I dont anticipate any more problems. These cars sell themselves in LA for reliability. Look for breakdowns on the freeway, youll see big models all makes, but seldom if ever will you see a Corolla and thats why I stick with it.

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  Sporty and rugged - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By David Swaciak - January 6 - 6:16 pm