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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  Awesome - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By pedsjoey - November 7 - 10:00 am

  An excellent midsize SUV for those not wanting a minivan! It drives just like my Camry, but more fun to drive!

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  MY Toyota - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By mndyhywrd - November 7 - 10:00 am

  A fun and affordable car. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a sporty, compact car. Very smooth and quiet ride; Corolla S has a fabulous sound system.

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  Out with the old, in with the new - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By kitteld - November 7 - 10:00 am

  Traded in my 96 Camry last year for a new 03 and will probably trade it in for another Camry in a few years. Ive found Toyota to be very well built and reliable even well past 100k. For my money, Totota and Honda are the two best built cars, but Toyota tends to be roomier and better priced than Honda. Very responsive V4 while still getting 32 mpg.

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  Best Minivan on the market - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By Barbara Moroney - November 7 - 10:00 am

  I love the new Sienna 2004 minivan. The redesign is great on the outside and even greater on the inside. The shift is located on dash under the radio, how convenient. My kids love that they can recline the back seats and the seats can also be moved back and forth for comfort. The room in the rear is outstanding. I could go on and on but here are just a few of the best fitures.

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  SR5 with premium package (leather, Entune, etc) - 2015 Toyota Sequoia
  By Liz - November 6 - 11:24 am

  My husband and I researched for about a month...we looked at a Sequoia, Sienna, Nissan Pathfinder, 4Runner, Highlander, Pilot, and LX570. In the end, we settled on a Sequoia SR5, 4x4 with a package upgrade that included leather and other useful amenities. It didnt seem to us that an upgrade to the Limited trim was worthwhile for what is added, and the platinum trim was more than what we wanted to spend. We chose the Sequoia because it really has it all. Great 4x4 system to get through the winter safely. A very roomy and comfortable cabin for our family of 5. A full sized spare tire for peace of mind. The right amount of amenities. Good comfortable ride. Reliability. It does cost a good chunk of change, and the gas mileage isnt great. However, if you are worried about that you probably arent looking for a full sized SUV. I dont know why Toyota doesnt push these more. We drove so many cars and this blows them all out of the water. You cant go wrong with a Sequoia! The turning radius is super for a car this size.

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  Great ride! - 2005 Toyota Sequoia
  By K. W. - November 5 - 11:40 am

  The quality of the engineering design and craftsmanship is exceptional. It mirrors the Lexus line of automobiles in these categories. Its smooth exterior lines do get noticed and exude a classiness not shared by other SUVs. The only minor drawback may be the low bhp of this years model, which has been upgraded for the 2005s. Although, I have never required more power than the existing drivetrain has been able to provide. The ride is as smooth as silk and again shows its Lexus connection. I cannot say enough of how impressed I am with this vehicle.

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  Great Purchase - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By Mike - November 5 - 9:56 am

  Considering the # of reviews I read before purchase, I feel it is my duty to pass on the word that Toyota has produced a real winner. Although, Im a very conservative driver, I am getting upwards of 800 kilometres on a single tank! The manual transmission is exceptionally smooth and seems to be a helpful tool during inclement weather. Exterior design is beautiful, perhaps a bit of a head turner, but the interior location of the centre mounted instrument cluster took some getting use to. I wish that cruise control was a factory option as I spend a lot of time on the highway. The car seemed so small when I took delivery, but now, vehicles like I use to drive, seem unnecessarily large.

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  The best mid sized SUV - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By Ct husker - November 5 - 2:20 am

  This is without a doubt one of the best vehicles made in the world regardless of price. Fit and finish of my new 4 Runner is almost flawless. I recommend the X-REAS Sport Enhancement Suspension. Creature comforts abound in this vehicle. Get the V8 which is awesome if youre not worried about mileage. ItÂ’s a smooth rush of power through the entire power curve! Hard to believe this SUV weighs almost 4500 lbs. I recently drove in about 18 inches of fresh snow and my 4 Runner never breathed hard. ItÂ’s as quite as any Lexus or BMW sedan IÂ’ve ever owned. It has that German feel to the entire vehicle but fortunately has ToyotaÂ’s legendary reliability. I could not be happier with my new 2005 LTD

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  Going Green Is So Much Fun! - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By dvs8866 - November 4 - 11:20 pm

  Ive only had my hybrid for a week, so maybe its a little early to write a review, but I couldnt wait another week. Ive test driven several and was pleasantly surprised that they do have more giddy-up than I originally thought. This car beats my Jeep Liberty by miles in every aspect. Theres more room for my two boys to spread out, the gas mileage is almost double (Im in sales and this was the main reason for my turning green), the third row seat is a bonus for baseball season, and its just a head turner.

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  Toyoto Review - 2014 Toyota Avalon
  By James K - November 4 - 4:52 pm

  Very reliable.