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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  Our Baby Rav4 - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By DGregory - November 21 - 10:00 am

  We love our Rav4. In fact, we both of our cars are Rav4s (2003 and 2004)!

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  my baby - 2005 Toyota Matrix
  By yankeezbaby24 - November 21 - 10:00 am

  i luv this car..its my very first car and its awesome.....i loved toyota ever since my dad had his toyota...

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  guality+price=value true - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
  By sean smith - November 21 - 10:00 am

  glad that I traded it with my 2000 jetta . It has a smooth ride although has 2.4L. wish I bought v6 which comes with 5 speed automatic trans. 4 cylendar comes with 4-speed the dealer did not mention that.

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  Feeling Younger - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
  By albuqkid - November 21 - 10:00 am

  I took delivery my SLE Convertible on 9/02/04. The Artic Frost Pearl color with the Gold package is simply beautiful.This car is a real head turner. Every where I go people have to see this car. It is fun to drive. It is roomy and comfortable. Makes me feel young. At a quick glance, people think this is a Lexus.

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  Informational Review of 20044Runner - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By P J - November 21 - 10:00 am

  The vehicles exterior body style is beautiful, as well as, the construction of the vehicle is solid. The vehicle drives and rides smoothly. The sound system is outstanding. I love the sound system. I like the vehicles overall performance.

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  Best you can get. - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By rjoey - November 21 - 10:00 am

  No question this is the best suv in the market a lot a power on v6 really safe when turning,interion beautifull.

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  Toyota 4 Runner - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By JEEPS SUCK - November 21 - 10:00 am

  Looks great, runs greatand if very responsive for a six cyclinder. Seems to be as perky as the V8 Jeep I just dumped. I havent put enough miles on it yet to see how it holds up. Only a few thousand but no problem what so ever so far.

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  I love it! - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By firstdaddy - November 21 - 10:00 am

  Well, we waiting until the 2005 Odyssey came out before making our decision on a van. One test drive with the 2005 Odyssey and we could not run back to the Toyota dealership fast enough. The Sienna is still in another class when it comes to ride quality. The New Odyssey retains its clunky and stiff jarring ride for 2005. Very disappointing. However, the good news is we got a great price on our new Sienna because the completion. We acted like we were on the fence the whole time we were debating the price. The price kept on dropping the more we talked up the 2005 Odyssey. Thanks Honda! You let us buy the better vehicle for less money.

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  Better Than Mercedes Benz - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By RSV - November 21 - 10:00 am

  For 20 years I drove SUVs. My last two vehicles were Mercedes Benz 320. I was concerned about having to use premium gas and rising maintenance costs. I went back to Toyota for a 2004 Sienna. IT IS BETTER THAN A MERCEDES! Lots of room, a great driving vehicle with economy. My wife thought I was going off the deep end buying a minivan...I told her "Its not a minivan its a MANVAN.

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  The Best Purchase of My Life - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By Tony412 - November 21 - 4:06 am

  The 04 SE 4cyl seems to me as the most bang for your buck. The V6 has some added features but it also kicks up the price out of range. The 4 cyl gives you all that you want and leaves out the things you can live w/out like steel wheels, a spoiler and ofcourse more power. W/the 4 cyl you still get the sporty interior design (black w/chrome accent), the sporty grill, headlights and fog lights. After 40,000k everything about the car is the same as the day I drove it out of the lot. For a big car that can fit 5 adults comfortably, and a spacious trunk for pretty much anything, the gas mileage is very good. Icing on the cake is you get a spoiler. What more can you ask for?