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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  Went from muscle to green - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By Hoshi - July 1 - 5:10 am

  Great car, marginal review mirror visibility. Went from muscle to green and loving it. Mileage takes a hit in hilly terrain. 48-52 mpg highway, <40 around town for short trips.

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  Best compact car for the money - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By dhp - July 1 - 3:13 am

  Bought the automatic CE model new in late 2004. 4 yrs and 131,000 miles later it has exceeded all expectations. For its size it has the most trunk space, interior room, gas mileage (always more than 33 and as high as 42.5), pickup, and best overall handling. Comfort is so-so but Im 61" and my head doesnt touch the headliner. Some wind noise at highway speeds but far quieter than previous car ever was (1997 Saturn SC1). A/C works superb even on a 105 degree day. This car has never stranded me and aside from tires at 40K and 100K, brakes/plugs at 60K and 125K, and O2 sensor at 34K no mechanical failures or parts whatsoever! Toyota built this one right!

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  a girl who loves her truck! - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By Mija - June 30 - 11:13 pm

  I previously owned a Toyota Corolla Type S and I felt it was time to upgrade to something more my style and the new Tacoma if a perfect fit for me. Although it isnt as fuel efficient as my old car but over all it is is pretty good for a truck. It has a smooth ride on any terrain and it just an over all great machine to drive. I LOVE IT!

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  Sporty Camry SE has some shortcomings - 2010 Toyota Camry
  By PirateMorgan - June 30 - 9:30 am

  I have owned this car for 4,000 miles in all kinds of conditions. Snow, rain, city, and highway driving. This car is VERY fun to drive. The SE package adds 10hp via dual exhaust and tuning, anti-roll bars front and rear, tighter springs, and lower profile tires (not extremely low, just low enough). It handles beautifully, corners are absorbed with ease, and pickup from the 4cyl. is modest. It does whine a bit at first start on cold mornings, inherent with most 4cyl. It is a "tight" ride, if you want "soft" go for the LE or XLE.

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  Great Overall Truck!! - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By Dan - June 30 - 1:40 am

  Have had this truck for nearly 2 years and just hit over 25K miles and it still runs perfectly. Ive taken it all across Florida down to Key West 4 times from Gainesville. It can be a little uncomfortable after hours of driving, but it is a truck and not a luxury car. I get pretty good gas mileage 19-20 in the city and 22-23 on highway. It is perfect for someone who wants the versatility of a SUV and the drive of a car. I put the tonneau cover on and it makes it a giant waterproof, locked trunk with an increase in gas mileage. Once or twice the truck took a while to turn over when I started her up, but it hasnt been a problem. I wish the turning radius were better for a compact truck.

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  great used car - 2000 Toyota Sienna
  By Tom - June 29 - 5:43 pm

  Bought this car with 100,000 miles for my wife to haul her kayak in. It now has 175,000 miles and we use it for everything including trips. Rides and drives nice, dependable. No problems.

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  Reliable Small Truck - 2000 Toyota Tacoma
  By isotope200mev@msn.com - June 29 - 3:09 pm

  Purchased this vehicle new in 2000. 15 years later I only have 119,700 miles on the vehicle and plan to drive it for at least another 100,000 miles. Very reliable, performs well in mud and snow, high clearance....good overall off-road vehicle. Just replaced the front and rear struts/shocks (original equipment lasted close to 120K miles, not bad!). In addition to routine preventive maintenance, I have replaced the tires 2x and the battery 3x. I have been tracking my fuel economy since I purchased the vehicle and have received a15 year average of 21.43 mpg. Interior space is lacking (did not purchase the extended cab), however, I did put a camper shell on the bed. This is a sharp looking small truck and is fun to drive. Toyota reliability is outstanding!

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  I like My Prius - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By olmesbobbon - June 29 - 12:13 pm

  I am impressed with the Prius. Very good gas mileage. Roomy for a small car. Very good acceleration. Comfortable and fun to drive.

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  Great Drive - 2007 Toyota Avalon
  By vagentleman - June 29 - 10:16 am

  Had a I-30 Infinity, not interested in competing with BMW, more interested in a smooth driving and riding machine. Which is what you get with a Avalon. Limited has all the bells and whistles that Infinity offers, plus more at a much better price. Love the room inside, the smart key, the great gas mileage, the memory outside mirrors, the rain activated windshield wipers, etc. I think the interior looks great. I love the attention to details: when you "spritz" your windshield to clean it, the wiper makes several passes, pauses for about 10 seconds and makes a final pass to clear any drips! If the rear sunshield is up, it automatically goes down when you put the car in reverse! Cool!

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  The sport is fine! - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By corolla sport - June 29 - 9:06 am

  My s is great. Very quiet smooth ride handles great. I have had no problems with it so far. My mpg average at 37. My wife loves it. I paid 18,000 @ 0% for 60 months its worth it get an s not the le. Ive heard they have more issues. Negatives the wind does push it a little but if you cant handle that you really should have your license taken, needs a little more horse power but hey what do you expect is a 1.8 with excellent gas mileage. Get the s with a sun roof its really quiet even with the roof back