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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  Love it, but... - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By john wish - September 19 - 10:30 am

  Love the car but I have three minor concerns: 1. GPS/information video screen is very difficult to see in bright sun. A small design change of tilting the screen some 15-20 degrees would help. 2. road noise on certain kinds of roads. Needs more insulation? 3. Id like something like the On-Star system for automatic crash notification.

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  Great Truck - 2000 Toyota Tundra
  By chief123 - September 19 - 10:00 am

  Ive owned pickups from age 16 on. This one by far is the best Ive owned. It rides like a car, but you can load it down with 2000 lbs. It has enough power, even when loaded, you do not know that you are hauling weight. It has a strong 4-wheel capacity to pull through mud, snow, ant the trail; again while driving like a car. I strongly recommend this vehicle for work, commute, play, or as a safe vehicle for the young driver. If you purchase one, youll enjoy it! Also, its a Toyota, reliability is never in question.

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  CAMRY - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By Jeff M - September 19 - 10:00 am

  GREAT VEHICLE FOR THE MONEY COMES WITH ALOT OF STANDARD FEATURES MORE THAN MOST COMPETITORS IN THIS CLASS.

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  FJ Legacy reborn - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By Gwagg - September 19 - 9:10 am

  As an owner of a FJ-40 and previous driver of an Explorer, Bronco II, Grand Cherokee, the FJ has been the most reliable and fun to drive. The retro styling causes heads to turn and I have never talked to more strangers as they gawk and peer inside. This is an offroad vehicle. While very capable driving around town it shines lifting its wheels off the ground while climbing over obstacles. Unlike other 4x4 this system delivers.

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  Traded a 2008 touring for a 2006 base - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By mike - September 19 - 8:46 am

  I drove a 2008 touring prius for 1500 miles and averaged 42 mpg. Then I bought a 2006 base prius and Im averaging over 48 mpg for the first 100 miles. Maybe the weight of the car and the tires makes a difference in the mpg rating. I do think the 2008 has better sound deadening insulation which may make the car heavier. I previously owned a bmw 335, bmw 525, infiniti m35, toyota avalon, subaru legacy, mazda 3, saturn l200, mustang gt, saab 9-3, honda accord, honda passport, nissan truck, and chevy cavalier but the prius is my favorite simply because of the gas mileage, low maintenance cost and quiet ride. Bought the 2006 base with 49k miles certified for $13,500--excellent condition inside/out.

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  Frill Free, But Utterly Dependable. - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Arkahoma - September 18 - 8:00 pm

  We were interested only in dependability and economy, this car met all expectations, and more. Has surprising zip and a turning radius so tight we almost forgot how to make 3-pt-turns. We regularly go on rough dirt roads to hiking spots, but still zero problems after 40,000+ mls. Fuel economy is as advertised. With our rough driving, we get 28-30mpg city and 34-36mpg hwy. But when we try to drive for fuel economy we get 42mpg hwy. First, we hated the center-mounted display, but now we love it, and hate normal cars where the steering wheel can block displays. This is not a Prius - its an economy car! Its noisy, has firm seats, and power windows are optional for us cost conscience buyers.

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  love it - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By sevein - September 18 - 1:30 pm

  sleek design, great handling, great gas mileage

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  Great little applicence - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Bob - September 18 - 8:30 am

  Bam, bam, Toyota kicked it up a notch. Love the car with only 2 areas that we noticed. Torque steer under full throttle with down shift and the seats were a little hard but seem to breaking in. It has not dropped below 28 mpg with some heavy footed driving.

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  Love My Highlander - 2017 Toyota Highlander
  By Tony Pena - September 17 - 5:01 pm

  My review us based on the SE model. I love the exterior design and new grill. However, the inside is very comfortable. My wife and I test drove and decided between the Highlander and the Honda Pilot. The Pilot was great also, but my wife(who is a lifelong Honda owner) said after the test drive that she did not want to like the Highlander due to her allegiance to Honda, but she ended up loving it. Very comfortable inside and the extras with the SE(cool rims, ambient lighting, stitch designed leather seats) give her a "cool mom" feel.

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  Awesome Truck! - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By JakeSteel41 - September 17 - 2:03 pm

  Just bought my truck and it is proving to be exceptional! Total comfort, excellent ride, sleek lines, powerful engine, great turn radius. Thoughtful extras as the mulitude of cup and water bottle/soda bottle holders, sunglass holder, extra storage area under the back seats, sliding adjustable ties downs in the bed,large storage compartment between the seats. The cabin of the truck feels large and the seats give good support and leg room. Driving a truck is actually a pleasure again.