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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  Sugar, Spice, & Everything Nice! - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By A.Y. - February 2 - 12:20 am

  My experience with the Toyota Corolla has been wonderful. I love the comfort level, it is a smooth ride. The best fuel economy out of all cars that I have ever had (I have had 4 cars including this one.)! I love the interior room. The wood paneling is okay... it looks real, but when I purchased it I thought it looked a little cheesy, but I dont pay attention to it anymore. Overall, I love this car! I wish the extras were standards. I have the moonroof which helps circulate the air when I am not using the A/C. Lots of storage. Great cupholders in front and back. Love the trunk. Plenty of space in the trunk. I love the design of this car. It handles nicely around curves,and slopes

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  I did okay for myself - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By Jim in Wimberley, Tx - February 1 - 7:56 pm

  My soulmate wasnt sure about trading her Ford Escape, 20 mpg, since she loved the amount of rear storage space. After less than a week, she loves it. We were on a waiting list for 7 weeks for our Silver Pine, Pkg 2 Prius. The first two fill ups averaged 44.4 mpg which will get much better as we learn how to manage better fuel economy. The ride is wonderful, sound system very good, and it handles very well. With todays fuel prices I cant understand why other auto companies didnt develop a decent hybrid. Toyota will be laughing all the way to the bank for several years to come.

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  No charge for rattle - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By Rob - February 1 - 4:40 pm

  Generally like most aspects of car. Handles like a go-cart with quick steering and low to the ground. Mileage is great - this is why we bought it instead of our dream Avalon. Have a ghost rattle from dash near LCD monitor/CD player area that appears and disappears with no apparent cause. Very annoying considering Toyotas reputation for quality body work and the price paid for the car. Otherwise it is fun to drive and well detailed. Still have to get familiar with many features in the manual that we are still experimenting with. Looking forward to winter driving in Wisconsin - will extra battery weight provide better traction in snow or more prone to sideways sliding on icy roads?

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  great car for the money - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By vince - January 31 - 10:46 pm

  Very happy with the car except that is hesitates after coming out of a rolling stop. The dealer said it was a common problem with this trans. Ride is quiet and comfortable. I had to put after market leather in the car because the XL doesnt come with it. I have been using regular gas and the gas mileage seems to be ok.

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  Third Row Seats - 2010 Toyota Highlander
  By Larry - January 31 - 2:36 pm

  Without question I would recommend any Toyota product. I have been driving a Toyota vehicle since 2003 and have been very pleased. The Highlander is a great SUV. The only problem is the 3rd row seat. The cup holders take up a lot of the storage space. The 3rd row seat is now standard and is something my wife and I dont need. Toyota should go back and make this optional or change the design to eliminate this problem.

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  Astonishing MPGs - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By Jon - January 31 - 10:30 am

  Ive been driving my new Rav for about a month now, and Ill admit Ive been surprised (in both good and bad ways) Good (With 4cyl): Incredible gas mileage. I average ~30mpg interstate (with cruise control going 65mph) If I go up to 72mph, I drop to around 24/25mpg so the trick is to keep it slow. Additionally I can get a solid 34mpg doing 55mph on more rural travels. I also use the aux jack constantly with my MP3 player, dont know how I went 9 years without one. We had aftermarket heated seats installed in the cloth seats, nice in Pennsylvania! Bad: The cloth seats are NOT comfortable, sure, they could be worse (i.e. Subaru) but it may be worthwhile to go for leather.

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  Thank You Toyota Avalon - 2002 Toyota Avalon
  By R.T. - January 31 - 10:00 am

  This is the first NEW car I have ever owned. I did much research before buying this car. It is everything I expected it to be and more. I was involved in a head on collision while driving this Avalon. I thought I was dead. I honestly believe that this car saved my life. Thank you Toyota for building this car. I know that I will be more than happy in my next Avalon and I know that I will be safe.

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  Going for 300k+ - 1993 Toyota Camry
  By 93BodyStyleisBest - January 31 - 10:00 am

  Bought new and have had minimal problems--cruise control replaced under warranty, drivers side power window (at 190K). Other than that, just the regular stuff.

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  The nicest SUV we have ever owned! - 2004 Toyota Sequoia
  By atlantapa - January 31 - 10:00 am

  Was reluctant to buy the Sequoia becasue of the high price. Test drove Chevry Tahoe, Ford Expedition, and new Nissan Armada and none of them compared to the Sequioa. The Sequoia has the nicest interior, safety features, and engine of all the ones we tested. The engine while not as powerful as Chevy and Ford is very refined and is same engine used on Toyota Landcrusier, and full size Lexus SUV. The Sequioa also borrows the same transmission and brakes (2003 and newer) as well. This probably explains the silky smooth engine and transmission. Overall we have been very pleased with the SUV.

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  04 truck of year - 2004 Toyota Tundra
  By roy rains - January 31 - 10:00 am

  Best built truck on the road.