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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  My First Truck - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By Hacksaw - June 1 - 9:53 pm

  I never wanted a pickup truck, but my wife always has these projects, and we needed a way to transport our supplies. We decided on the 4-door so we could use it like a car when traveling with friends. Im a dedicated Toyota owner, so the Tacoma was an easy choice. Off-road this little truck is a performer. The ride is a little stiff, but once you load up the bed it smoothes right out. I got the Rhino liner, now I just need a cover to improve the gas milage.

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  Excellent minivan in every respect - 2000 Toyota Sienna
  By ayo - June 1 - 6:26 pm

  Weve had this van for nearly 10 years now, essentially problem-free. Yes, the brakes do squeak a bit, especially when the weather is hot but thats a minor annoyance. We drive a LOT, in all kinds of weather, and have been delighted with the incredible reliability. It handles great in heavy snow; it does have a wide turning circle but so do other vans Ive driven. Weve had no issues with oil sludge or any of the other complaints Ive read about here. Our kids have grown so I dont think wed buy another minivan, but if we did, Id definitely go for another Sienna.

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  Great Value and Reliability - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By kenbowls - June 1 - 5:00 pm

  I have had the RAV4 for about 18 months and no problems. A real value and very reliable. MPG, about 23 in town and 28-30 on the highway. Plenty of room and comfort, with plenty of headroom and very little wind and road noise. The 4 cylinder has plenty of power and did not need speeding tickets with the V6 engine. I have a new 2008 Highlander and I call the RAV4 my baby Highlander. Very hard to find fault with.

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  Love my RAV! - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By lauren - June 1 - 3:53 pm

  I love my...I feel high up on the road, yet it is as easy to drive as any car. The car can hold many items that would never fit in a sedan, such as a washing machine, yet it has all the advantages of a sedan.

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  Watch Out for Unexpected - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By Disappointed - June 1 - 11:26 am

  I bought in Sept 08 after lots of comparison with Lexus, MDX, RDX, BMW, etc. Nice specs and good power. Watch out for the very poor handling in snow. I live in Northeast, and driven here 30+ years. The problem is with the tires on this vehicle. The AWD and traction control work harder than necessary.

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  An Unexpected Surprise! - 2016 Toyota Prius c
  By KW - June 1 - 8:20 am

  I bought this car as a secondary commuting car to save massive amounts of gas money, as I drive probably 70-80 miles a day during the week. I figured it would just be a means to get me from point A to B, with four wheels, a steering wheel, and great gas mileage. I was pleasantly surprised, even on the test drive, but even more so after driving it daily for the past 5,000 miles. Let me start off with my complaints, although they are somewhat trivial: - The driver seat needs some lower lumbar support, at least for my back. My Jeep has an adjustment on the seat that does that; this car does not. - The forward view from the driver seat is great; however there are enormous blind spots on the side and the rear windshield is tiny. Makes changing lanes in Chicago traffic interesting to say the least. - The front collision "sensor" on the windshield gets "blocked" by the slightest rain/condensation/dirt on the windshield, and flashes an irritating warning on your dashboard until it is corrected. Thats really it. Everything else about the car I really enjoy. The sound system is surprisingly decent, I love the Audio controls of AM/FM/CD/XM/Pandora/Spotify, its so easy to switch between them and the information provided is great. The Nav works well, although I still prefer to use Google Maps on my phone when that is available. Acceleration you could say is an issue, but this is a 99hp *hybrid*. If you take that into consideration, its more than fine. I have no trouble merging into horrific Chicago traffic every morning (Advice: Turn off "Eco" mode when you do, however). Gas mileage has been way more than stated so far, I have been getting usually 55-60mpg, and thats with absolutely no consideration on how Im driving the car. Ive gotten a few 66mpg driving days as well! Handling on both curving roads and straightaway highway has been fine. When you have a crosswind on the highway though, use two hands on the wheel, this car is pretty light and can veer in heavy wind. Driving it at night is a joy, the dashboard lighting and the LED highlights are fantastic. Also, driving the kids to a friends house on a rainy day just a few blocks away in EV mode (all electric) is amusing, also be careful in parking lots as the gas engine doesnt usually turn on and you can sneak up on people! Anyways, I could go on. The point is this car is much more than just four wheels to get you to your destination. At this price, for the gas mileage and Toyota quality you get, after a thorough test drive it really was a no-brainer for me.

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  Unreliable - Terrible service - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By Not Happy - June 1 - 7:10 am

  One of the main reasons I purchased this Highlander was Toyotas reputation for reliability. After about 11 months, the battery went dead. I had to tow it to Brent Brown Toyota in Orem, Utah. They evaluated the electrical system and replaced the battery under warranty, but charged me for the tow. 3 weeks later, the battery was dead again. Back to Brent Brown Toyota (which at this point Id like to say has the worst service department on the planet). The service adviser was lousy, the service manager is an obnoxious, rude liar. Ive had the car back 4 times now and they still havent figured it out. I cant believe Toyota allows such lousy people at their dealerships. Im done with Toyota

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  Everlasting Toyota - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By Alexander Fabian - June 1 - 2:26 am

  84,000 miles and counting. This has been a great car. So far (knock on wood) weve had no problems at all and no unscheduled repairs. INCREDIBLE!! Some cars can hardly make it that far. Although, wear and tear is definitely apparent. Its much louder (engine, road noise, and wind noise), rougher, and slower than when it was newer. Toyota has sent home a few recalls, including a rear seat belt and the power lift gate. The middle seats dont recline! Thats probably the worst part about the car. We had a 91 dodge caravan and those seats were more comfortable. Heated seats are awesome. Leather has hardly worn. Overall a great family car with more than plenty room for seven and tons of stuff.

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  Phanton Pearl Luxury At Its Best - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By Roshaun46 - June 1 - 2:00 am

  I love this vehicle o much, I wanted a new car, but was unsure, I had been driving the ford explorer, now I am in heaven, the handling isg reat, its great on gas and the inside of the Sequoa Limited is all so special to me, the smell of the leather, the sun roof is so nice, the heated seats is devine, all mot like the Range Rover a far as luxury is considered, Toyota has done well with the Sequoa Limited.

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  Sequoia Rules - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By scojo - June 1 - 2:00 am

  Toyota quality, American largesse and bad to the bone looks and performance.