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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  Week 1 review. - 2006 Toyota Sienna
  By Brian - October 18 - 8:16 pm

  I know this might seem useless, but for someone shopping, that might want initial reaction ,here it is. I must note, I did not test drive the Honda. No others seem to be in the same class as these 2, so I would not have wasted my time. Plush and quiet ride. I LOVE the new Optronic gauges, ala Lexus! Nice touch!! Vehicle delivers a solid ride. Nice and firm through turns. We went with LE package #4. If you want rear DVD player, dont pay $1300+, when you can go to Best Buy and have nicer one installed for $800. 3rd row seats fold fairly easy, but lots of room with them up for groceries etc. So far so good. Overall, love it! Never say never, mini-van haters!!!

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  Got to loooove my Yaris! - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By mcgoulkin - October 18 - 6:06 pm

  I love this car! Unbelievable gas mileage. You cannot get any better value for the money. I regularly get stopped by people who are curious about the car and I tell them all the same thing . . . BUY IT! I was a little concerned when I first bought it regarding the size. We are a family of four and we all fit easily and comfortably. Even for long trips. And at 40+ mpg we can actually afford long trips.

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  Awsome Prius - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Gfrank - October 18 - 10:13 am

  Comfortable for five passengers Excellent fuel efficiency Surprisingly good power/ acceleration from a stop Even in the high country the battery pack and electric engine allow for driving at full highway speeds (70+ mph) Has been a joy to own

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  A Great SUV - 2001 Toyota Highlander
  By JG - October 18 - 4:16 am

  I purchased the Highlander the first year it was made and from my experience this is the best SUV ever built. The Highlander is designed to be a very comfortable ride as well as a great hauling vehicle. Very reliable car. I have had no problems. Excellent fit and finish. I was rear-ended by someone 2 months after purchase and hardly felt the impact - no injuries. If you are looking for a safe and fun SUV to drive for your family, the Highlander is it. I love this car.

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  Great Car - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By SK - October 17 - 10:30 am

  This is the best car I have purchased, great mileage, fair acceleration for a 4Cyl engine, lot of room, bucket seats give good back support.

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  Greatest SUV - 2000 Toyota 4Runner
  By Jessy - October 17 - 10:00 am

  I love this SUV! The name TOYOTA should say it all. Reliable, great interior an exterior design, performance is great. I couldnt wait until my first big snow storm in 2000 to see how long it would take to get through the snow piles. No trouble at all! If fact it was so fun I went through every snow pile I could see with no trouble at all! I have 29000 city driving miles on it and to this day I have absolutely no problems. I highly recommend the 4runner!

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  Tacoma Double Cab Rocks! - 2002 Toyota Tacoma
  By Sambeaux - October 17 - 10:00 am

  This is by far the best all around truck out there. I owned a extended cab prerunner before and the only complaint I ever had was the small xtra cab. Well, Toyota fixed that with the new Double Cab...no complaints now :)

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  Quite pleased - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By amtiii - October 17 - 10:00 am

  Test drove the Acura MDX, Honda Pilot, Ford Explorer, and Chevrolet Trailblazer I found the Highlander to be superior in most catagories (especially comfort). So glad to be rid of my Merc Mountaineer which was very crude by comparison. Its a shame the U.S. automakers are still lagging far behind most imports. We are all driving Japanese at our house with my wife driving an Acura RL.

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  Great Purchase! No Regrets! - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By clane - October 17 - 3:50 am

  As I enter my fourth year with this car I can honestly say I am more impressed as time goes by. The car is powerful, capable and gets surprisingly good mileage. I have not had one major repair and the only expense has been maintenance. This is my second Toyota and wont be the last. I came out of an 2002 Audi A4 that was a disaster. Toyota is the benchmark of well built and fairly priced mass market automobiles.

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  Drive 55 mph & Smile - 2007 Toyota Tacoma
  By Jim - October 16 - 6:23 am

  My best purchase "ever". Drive 80+ miles daily, and recently slowed down to 55 with the cruise control on. Best mpg so far is 26 mpg @ 55 mph! Usually, Im @ 22-23 mpg, but I consistently drive under 60 mph. Recent valve rattle is a concern and I will check for technical service bulletins. Have not missed an oil change, and it cannot be "normal" for a new engine to rattle! Toyota can be tough, but be persistent and do not accept defects as "normal". I demanded an engine rebuild @ 108,000 miles on a Camry due to an oil sludge problem caused by an engine re-design in order to receive a higher EPA rating for the 2.4L engine. The dealer rebuilt the engine, but it took serious effort.