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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  Bulletproof - 1999 Toyota 4Runner
  By texas cagematch - November 11 - 2:00 pm

  Bought 7 years ago with 118k from a wholesaler. It now has 172k and still drives almost as good as new. Had to replace air conditioner at about 150k mi. for $1,000. The power antenna stopped working ($150 fix). The paint is very good, cloth interior is very durable, never any leak of any kind, I paid $9,500 for it 7 years ago and its still worth $6-7k. Are you kidding me? When I detail it - it literally looks brand new. Decent gas mileage for an SUV, 17 hwy. Still got at least another 100k left in it. Best SUV ever built.

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  Awsome car - 1997 Toyota Celica
  By VORCON - November 11 - 10:00 am

  it IS QUICK, RELIABLE, LOOKS GOOD

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  Great Spyder - 2000 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By MR2Man - November 11 - 10:00 am

  I purchased this car new. I love it! One of my other cars is a Sequoia. Who needs to carry anything? This is a daily driver and I love it more than the 79 vett I used to drive or store in the garage. I have had nothing go wrong with this car and dealer in Vancouver, Wa has been excellent with routine maintenance. Best car I have owned.

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  Solara - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Rajat - November 11 - 10:00 am

  this vehicle is overall a great car with outstanding performance and great looks...RELIABLE

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  A minivan thats easy to love. - 2000 Toyota Sienna
  By ganapatidave - November 11 - 10:00 am

  I ordered my Sienna sight-unseen over the internet. I was living in Ft Smith, AR. I had gone into the Toyota dealer there. They werent interested in making a deal and didnt even have a Sienna on the showroom floor. I submitted a search using Autobuytel and the Tulsa, OK dealer contacted me. They offered me a great deal on a Sienna CE. I picked my new Sienna up on a rainy afternoon in late September and immediately fell in love with it on the 95 mile drive home to Ft Smith that day. It handles like a dream. Other feel top-heavy and dont manuver well at speed. You get none of that feel with the Sienna. It sticks to the road like a champ.

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  My Trix What a car! - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By sibordelik - November 11 - 10:00 am

  The car looks and drives great! Gas is no subject to my matrix~! The car is all around perfect!~ 2 probs.. a little difficult to get used to looking out the back of the car.. and once in a while in the winter you may get a egg smell from the tailpipe from the over oxygenized gas in the colder weather.. that is due to all the envirmental protection devices in the car.. its a zippy great looking car. I have gotten tooooooo many compliements on it!

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  The Perfect Truck - 2003 Toyota Tundra
  By BK1 - November 11 - 10:00 am

  I read all of the reviews before buying the Tundra, and everything good I read is true. I simply love this vehicle!! I tell everyone its a Lexus disguised to look like a truck. Test-drive it, and you will buy it! Toyota has built a product that should make the big three domestic truck manufactures very nervous.

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  Great w Two Annoying Flaws - 2003 Toyota Avalon
  By rpg - November 11 - 10:00 am

  Lux car equal to Lexus at 10K less.

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  99 Camry - 1999 Toyota Camry
  By Petreasa - November 11 - 10:00 am

  I owned a 1992 Camry prior to my 1999 Camry. I cant imagine ever owning anything other than a Toyota, probably a Camry. Toyotas are the most dependable, trouble-free cars I have ever owned.

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  Excellent - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By Emmily - November 11 - 10:00 am

  I love my car it is great I have bought other cars befor and none of them are as good as my Toyota Corolla. This car is also very affordable, it has been my life saver in the past.