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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  Awesome, AWD - 2006 Toyota Sienna
  By vaioman - April 14 - 2:36 pm

  Great van, only one with AWD, awesome interior. Extremely comfortable ride.

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  Great vehicle - 2004 Toyota Sequoia
  By 04seq - April 14 - 4:20 am

  Bought used with over 100k but looks outstanding and runs great. Little problem with gas mileage. Not able to get over 11MPG for city but was able to get 17MPG on hwy. Everything is still running excellent and strong and comfortable.

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  Great SUV - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By HW - April 14 - 3:10 am

  The ride

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  I love our Avalon - 2002 Toyota Avalon
  By Tom Blackman - April 13 - 4:53 pm

  GREAT ride. excellent quality throughout. Lexus with lower price. Highly recommend you purchase the XLS and get everything on it.

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  Solid Vehicle - 2000 Toyota Sienna
  By timmeyerson - April 13 - 1:33 pm

  We have been extremely pleased with our Sienna. Inside very well conceived for families.

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  Better than Expected - 2007 Toyota Prius
  By PBeckman - April 13 - 5:53 am

  A great car with many good surprises. Only problems are with the manual, which is often useless; the front seat, which needs greater adjustability; and the steering wheel control lights, which are barely visible. We average in the mid 40s even in the Minnesota winter. The handling is excellent; very quiet cabin; almost parks itself; lots of room in the back and good cargo space. For those who complain about the back-up beep, it can be turned off via the screen input. Also, the green glow on the screen is easily eliminated by simply using the dimmer switch, which still allows plenty of illumination. All in all, a great car that leaves little to be desired.

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  Fun and Awesome!! - 2012 Toyota 4Runner
  By mrc12 - April 13 - 3:39 am

  I love my 12 4Runner. I previously drove an 08 Highlander which I liked very much but it had a very hard ride. I originally never considered the 4Runner because I thought it was too much of a truck. Once I drove it, I realized I was wrong. The ride is smooth and quiet with minimal road noise. The ride is also very soft and floaty. Some people may like this, others not. The vehicle does dip a bit when breaking though. When I hit bumps or ride over RR tracks, I dont feel a thing. I have the sport seats, w/ 3rd row and Entune/NAV package and it is fun to use. The HD radio sounds great for stock. Heads turn when I drive by and I can say this is the most fun Ive had driving a car.

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  Excellent Hybrid Toyota - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Chagnon - April 12 - 6:03 pm

  An excellent Toyota vehicle once again!! This vehicle is simply flawless. Not one thing has gone wrong to date (11 months); nothing.

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  Exceeds my expectations!! - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By Bullet - April 12 - 2:50 pm

  The new Highlander is a must see/must drive vehicle if you are in the market for a new SUV. While a crossover by design, it can still tow 5,000 lbs. Yet rides and handles as well as a car. Its a super quiet vehicle and leans to the luxury side of the market. Feels like youre driving a Lexus. More gadgetry than you can learn in a week. Ive had it a week now and am still learning. I think the gas mileage is good considering its an SUV. I get as good as my old 1996 Isuzu Oasis which was a 4 cyl. and there is no comparison as to power. This thing really moves! Quality materials and build. This vehicle is a real winner for Toyota!

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  Excellent Economical Car - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By Sharyn - April 12 - 10:16 am

  My Echo is wonderful! It gets between 38-40 mpg, a little less when I run the AC, and Ive never had a mechanical problem with it. Its comfortable for two people, although the back seat is pretty small. I like the fact that my gauges are in the middle of the dash. It makes it a lot easier to not take your eyes off the road. I have to take it into the dealership because apparently, the bottoms of the ECHOs are rusting and they have to fix that, but no problems here as its covered since its part of a recall. It has its little flaws, but nothing any other car doesnt have! Overall, great buy. I am 100% satisfied.