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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  new 2003 LC - 2003 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By nuchaus - July 19 - 10:00 am

  My second LC, replacing a 2001 X5. Impressed with interior comfort, especially seats. Smooth ride, ample power/acceleration. Complicated Nav system but integrated with Audio quite well. Quite glad to be back with the Land Cruiser brand. Definite bummer is the fuel consumption (not a surprise). Also, Toyota dealer a breeze to work with and quite an improvement over the BMW dealership I dealt with.

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  CELICA- FANTASTIC BUY! - 2003 Toyota Celica
  By Speedracer - July 19 - 10:00 am

  THE CELICA IS A GREAT CAR. IT HAS A GREAT PICKUP AND IS VERY ECONOMICAL ON GAS. IT GIVES YOU A SMOOTH RIDE. THE ONLY SET BACK ABOUT THE CELICA GT IS THAT THE BACK SEATS ARE A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE AND THE FRONT SEATS DONT CONTOUR AS MUCH AS THEY SHOULD. OTHER THAN THAT, I WOULDNT TRADE IT FOR THE WORLD!

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  CELICA- FANTASTIC BUY! - 2003 Toyota Celica
  By SPEEDRACER - July 19 - 10:00 am

  THE CELICA IS A GREAT CAR. IT HAS A GREAT PICKUP AND IS VERY ECONOMICAL ON GAS. IT GIVES YOU A SMOOTH RIDE. THE ONLY SET BACK ABOUT THE CELICA GT IS THAT THE BACK SEATS ARE A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE AND THE FRONT SEATS DONT CONTOUR AS MUCH AS THEY SHOULD. OTHER THAN THAT, I WOULDNT TRADE IT FOR THE WORLD!

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  A Poor Mans Lexus - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By Violentmochi - July 19 - 10:00 am

  I was skeptical when my friend told me to log on-line to see it, cause of the old body style, but I have to admit, it looks PHAT! I immediatly sold my old car and picked up one of these bad boys at the Toyota dealership. I didnt get the sunroof, but got all the other options. It drives great and looks like a Lexus IS300!! Installed a TV/DVD in the car and Im set for the road. Drives great!

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  Great Experience So Far - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By mlk - July 19 - 10:00 am

  Well, I was deciding between an 02 Civic, 03 Corolla. I preferred the aesthetic look of the Corolla over the Civic. Also, in the research I had done, I would have paid the same or more for the Civic. I was able to negiotiate ~$700 off the MSRP for the CE model. The car drives great and I feel has more than ample acceleration for a car in its class. Manual transimission shifts very smoothly. Braking (I dont have ABS) and steering are very responsive. Im getting 32 miles per gallon. Im very happy with the car and if the quality is as good as Toyotas reputation, then I will be very happy.

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  My First Car Purchase - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By mc - July 19 - 10:00 am

  My 2002 Toyota Camry was the first car I have ever purchased on my own. My previous auto had been selected by my former spouse and was very expensive to maintain. I chose the Camry based on its reputation for reliability and the recommendations of two family members who have both owned a Camry for more than 10 years. So far I have been pleased with my purchase. The exterior is very attractive. The interior is comfortable. Gas mileage is great. Acceleration on the highway is good and the braking ability is excellent. The cabin is also extremely quiet. I am very happy with this car and look forward to many years of quality driving.

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  My First Car Purchase - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By MC - July 19 - 10:00 am

  My 2002 Toyota Camry was the first car I have ever purchased on my own. My previous auto had been selected by my former spouse and was very expensive to maintain. I chose the Camry based on its reputation for reliability and the recommendations of two family members who have both owned a Camry for more than 10 years. So far I have been pleased with my purchase. The exterior is very attractive. The interior is comfortable. Gas mileage is great. Acceleration on the highway is good and the braking ability is excellent. The cabin is also extremely quiet. I am very happy with this car and look forward to many years of quality driving.

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  Great Van with a sleek look - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By Neil - July 18 - 3:43 pm

  I have a 2005 XLE. It is a great van with a sleek look.Interior is very spacious and the movable console and trizone climate control is awesome

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  Wonderful truck for just about anybody - 2005 Toyota Tundra
  By Gregg - July 18 - 11:06 am

  A stump puller it isnt, but for the average person, the Toyota Tundra is all the truck youll ever need. Pulls well, comfortable cabin, and with the step side, an unusual and sporty look for a truck. I got a leftover new 2004 access cab for a "Preachers Price," and am very happy. Quiet and smooth, even over Arkansas roads, and excellent power. Yes, it is a little spartan and dated on the inside styling, but comfortable. A very good value and will do everything I need to do.

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  Great Little Car - 2009 Toyota Yaris
  By Luke - July 18 - 5:43 am

  In my opinion, people give out too many 10s these days, so Im trying to make my review as realistic as possible. Ive always driven a truck, but seeing the way the economy is and fluctuating gas prices, downsizing is the smart thing to do now. I dont have a lead foot, but Im not always the most conservative driver and Im getting 38 mpg doing about 30% city/70% highway. Looks great on the outside, the build quality is good. As far as reliability, I believe it was consumer reports that put it in its top 10 list of reliable cars at #7 so thats definitely a good thing. Overall, Im happy with the car and recommend it to friends when they say "Nice bubble, do you like it?"