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 - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By Mac - December 14 - 7:30 am

  3000+ mile trip. 39.9 MPG with automatic transmission and A/C running in June. Gets 28 to 31 MPG in city. Most economical car I have ever owned. Battery failed at 26000 miles. Out of state dealership paid tow and battery at no charge. Couldnt ask for better service and I cant fault any company about a defective battery.

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  Outstanding mini-van!!! - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By ron - December 14 - 6:23 am

  We purchased our Sienna CE in June of 05 and have logged 24K miles absolutely trouble-free. Transitioned from a Pontiac Transport, a disaster of a mini-van. The Sienna is quiet on the road, smooth to drive, has solid pick-up, Toyota reliability, and a great buy for the money. We are surprised that it is not cited as "best buy" for 05 vehicles! I would not hesitate to buy another!!

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  Sequoia - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By ggs - December 14 - 2:00 am

  For its size, the acceleration is exceptional. The comfort is superior in all 8 seats (ok, we are a short family so the leg space in the third seat isnt an issue, but having the same quality of seat in the third row is a definite positive!)

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  Real Meaning of SUV - 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By james lc - December 14 - 2:00 am

  Purchased a little over a year ago. What an outstanding piece of automobile engineering. From the AWD system to the comfortable seats, this is the best product for the price.

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  Best Pickup Ive ever owned - 2001 Toyota Tundra
  By Bagpipe - December 14 - 2:00 am

  This is my first Toyota and will certainly not be my last. I have owned both Chevrolet and Dodge pickups and am on a first name basis with the service managers of both dealerships. My Tundra is easily the most dependable pickup I have ever owned. I use this vehicle for commuting in urban Boise traffic and backcountry Idaho hunting and fishing trips. On the road it rides and handles like a luxury car, while easily conquering the snow and mud of off-road here in Idaho. I am now hooked on Toyota!

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  grrrrrreat! - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By allie002 - December 14 - 2:00 am

  great! i have the L model. I love it! However since its my first SUV, im realizing they require and use more gas, so im frequenting the gas station...

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  My rav 4 - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By ashleigh - December 14 - 2:00 am

  Fun to drive,good looking.built solid and gets good gas mileage.Great traction in bad weather.

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  Cabin too noisy - 2004 Toyota Sequoia
  By Alonzo - December 14 - 2:00 am

  Overall I enjoy the vehicle, but at that price I should love it. The pros are its roominess,car-like ride and easy handling. But its access to the third seat is very challenging, the cabin should be quieter and a cargo cover cost $200. But it does have a nice presence amongst other cars on the road.

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  nice ride for a truck - 2004 Toyota Tundra
  By slick surface - December 14 - 2:00 am

  The double cab is the way to go. It has plenty of leg and elbow space in the front and the back. It seems to have plenty of power,but I have not towed with it yet. The ride is very smooth and quiet. I felt like we were riding on air. It handles turns real nice and smooth. The bad thing I have to say about this truck is that the gas mileage is not very good. I have been getting about 15 miles to the gallon. The four wheel drive was a very nice feature to have. It gets around great in the snow.

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  This is about V8 Sport, in fact - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By delnorte - December 14 - 2:00 am

  Great performance, very quiet. XRES is great, the thing cuts corners almost like a sedan. Feels good even compared with Maxima (my other car). Great SUV, if I had to choose again Id make the same choice. The V8 is great, just takes long to warm up in winter. At 10F in the morning, heater doesnt kick in until you drive 2 miles. My mileage is 12/20 in summer and 10/17 in winter with no passengers (and 5-7 MPG in rush hour traffic in downtown Boston!).Highway mileage with 3 passengers in summer was about 17. Mileage as measured by onboard computer is always 2-3 MPG higher than actual - which is the only _funny_ thing I noticed about 4Runner.