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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  Corrola Review - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By Dave - July 1 - 6:40 am

  Good gas mileage, but limited leg room for a 6 ft 1" person. I travel 120 miles round trip daily. I would have liked to have a height adjustable passenger seat option. Trip computer access is difficult. Moderate road noise. Overall good commuter car for the money. So far, mechanics good with 20,000 miles.

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  Not so reliable as they say - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By Jacko - July 1 - 6:20 am

  I dont know what the fuss is all about. Its nice for the first few months, then you start seeing all the negative aspects of the car. Yes, it looks nice, it has lots of room, but there are issues. Overall, very overrated car. In reality, as an owner - Id say its terrible.

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  Love the Tundra! - 2007 Toyota Tundra
  By sid/marleen lewis - July 1 - 1:53 am

  When we saw the truck we liked the looks of it right away. When we bought it we fell in love with it. It is the nicest truck we have ever had. WE will go with these always.

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  LOVE IT! - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Emily - June 30 - 3:46 pm

  My car has a lot of pick up, the quality is awesome for the price. There is NO better turning radius.

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  2006 Prius - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By Bruce - June 30 - 9:00 am

  We have owned our 2006 Prius for 3 years and have clocked 79,000+ miles to date. We also own a volvo xc70. The volvo may be more stylish but the Prius is really fun to drive and it has been totally reliable. We have taken long trips to NYC and Michigan and have done lots of in city driving. We were concerned about the life of the battery but read in a British Columbia Climate Exchange report that Prius taxis in BC have gone more than 200000 miles without a battery replacement.

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  Just Bought - 2009 Toyota Tacoma
  By Jon - June 30 - 7:03 am

  Just bought the magnetic grey 4wd v6 automatic double cab w/ 6ft long bed w/ towing package. Looks are awesome! Inside is nice, love the backup cam. Says it can pull 6500lbs which is no slouch. I also found out how to disable the seatbelt buzzer when not wearing the seatbelt. Very cool feature! Even in winter the heater heats up super fast. Engine seems a little noisy though. Good power also. Basically a nice truck but to early to tell how its going to do once I put some mileage on it. So far so good.

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  Great do it all car - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By Hayden - June 30 - 5:56 am

  We bought this car for my wife to run around town and back and forth to work. We traded in a 2000 Nissan Xterra and my wife is very happy with it so am I! We average 30 mpg city and 40-42 Hwy (safe range is about 400 miles on the Hwy) The 1.8 auto has plenty of get up and go and the transmission is fantastic. Ride and handling is good, electric steering requires correct driving form on the hwy (both hands on the wheel) around town its great for parking. We recently took it on a 1200 mile road trip loaded up with 2 adults and young child very comfortable although the door armrests are annoyingly low. We have always owned Toyota or Nissan, our old 93 Tercel had over 200,000 miles when sold.

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  Satisfied owner - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By albino52 - June 30 - 4:16 am

  Vehicle has far exceeded our expectations. I have found this fun to drive and it has excellent cargo space and the side opening makes loading less stressful. I find the drivers seat not deep enough thus doesnt provide adequate leg support.

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  Ton of Fun - 2001 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By SportsCarGuy - June 30 - 12:43 am

  Gets more looks and comments than any other car Ive owned. With top down Ive carried HDTVs and eight foot tall shrubs! Fast, agile, absolute blast to drive. The later model has better looking front and back lamps but the 01 is essentially the same beast. Most think its a Porsche but my budget knows what it costs.

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  Dont buy big guy - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By George Schofield - June 29 - 1:26 pm

  Having flown 26 different aircraft and driven cars for 61 years, I find the 2007 Camry to be the most uncomfortable cockpit I have every been in. Even with tilt and telescopic steering and an 8 way seat, I find my shoulder touching the side and my right knee being pinioned by the shift console. The headrest presses into my head at an uncomfortable angle and it is imposssible to tell where the front of the car is for parking. The window sill is too high and the armrest too low to be comfortable. I am 6 2" and 270#. Please do yourself a favor and test drive for a reasonable time before you are stampeded into a purchase. I traded a 2002 Prius which was a swell little car