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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  Very nice family sedan - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By David NH - January 11 - 10:00 am

  Its been 2 weeks and so far so good. The SE doesnt absorb the bumps quite as nice as the LE and XLE, but you trade that off for the sport suspension. My biggest beef is the passenger seat is not as comfortable as others (Altima, Accord, Taurus, Maxima).

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  2003 Camry XLE - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By generalser - January 11 - 10:00 am

  The 2003 Camry XLE has exceeded my expectations for the first four months of ownership. The quality of ride, quiteness, mileage economy, trim,and safety features makes this vehicle a great value for the price. The only recommendation that I can offer is improvement in side view mirrors, ie seeing the parking or road lines along side, especially when backing the vehicle.

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  Satisfied Highlander Owner - 2010 Toyota Highlander
  By DRAC - January 11 - 6:20 am

  We purchased this vehicle as a second family hauler. We shopped the Chevy Transverse, Mazda CX-9, Ford Edge, and the Honda Pilot. The Mazda and Chevy had the looks but when fuel economy and reliability was factored in, we decided the Highlander fits our need. The ride comfort was also a deciding factor in this decision. Were averaging 19 to 20 city and 24 to 27 on the highway (75mph) with the Base V6 package. The higher numbers were achieve during moderate driving. (I dont baby anything I drive). Dont let the recent recalls scare you away from this vehicle, test drive one and you will see.

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  No more American Cars for me! - 2002 Toyota Corolla
  By JM Tucker - January 11 - 5:43 am

  Reliability is the name of the game for me my Toyo is tops! When I turn that key I want the car to start, and it always does. My 2002 Corolla is very comfortable(Im 510 and about 285 lbs.) and I enjoy driving it. I have 65000 miles on my 2002 and have only had regular oil changes and scheduled maintenance. This car is very affordable to maintain. I just bought my stepson a 2005 Corolla who is in college and he loves his as well. American cars have along way to go in comparable quality.

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  awesome car - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By Vanessa - January 10 - 7:13 pm

  Very pleased with the Toyota Corolla. Comfotable ride, great on gas. The only thing that I would change on the 2005 Corolla is more comfotable seats for long distance driving and remote trunk opening.

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  Quality Second to None - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By Tacoma05 - January 10 - 4:40 pm

  Ive been looking for a truck for years before finally settling on the new Tacoma. The Nissans didnt drive well after a few years, and the older Toyotas didnt come with much in the way of standard features. I got a basic regular cab 4x4 with the 4 cylinder engine and 5 speed manual. For a very basic truck, it comes loaded with many things that make it fun to drive everyday (cd player, ABS, etc). I was skeptical about the "knob type" transfer case shifter, but it has worked seamlessly so far. Overall its nice to be able to drive something that does what a truck should do, and still feel like a raised camry.

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  the best kept secrect in auto industry - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By car crazy - January 10 - 3:26 pm

  I have had this car about 4,000 miles and I am still amazed by it. After buying it, my wife made me sell her LS430 Lexus since she quit driving it completely. I really feel less tired after a long trip than I did in my Lexus. Many people have stopped me in parking lots and asked about it, and I have never met a person that has one that did not love it. If more people drove hybirds, we would be exporting oil not to mention what it would do to the environment. Believe it or not, this is about the 10th year that this car has been----and it is really perfected.

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  Camry XLE 2011 - 2011 Toyota Camry
  By bruinswin2011 - January 9 - 11:49 pm

  Test drove several competitor vehicles but landed on Camry (XLE) for its smoother ride, better comfort and quieter cabin. Other cars tested - Accord, Optima, Sonata, Fusion and Altima. Accord and Fusion lacked pep and road and engine noise were pronounced. Optima - although a nice car - seemed to fall short on interior quality and lacked track record for quality. Sonata is a good value but found driver seat lacked thigh support, thus was unable to get comfortable while driving. Altima was initially my first choice, but passengers found front passenger and rear seats uncomfortable. If you are looking for a car that has a quieter cabin, smoother ride and comfortable seats, check out the Camry.

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  Tacoma 4dr. double cab - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By aes - January 9 - 6:06 pm

  My new Tacoma double cab has lots of power. The ride is very smooth. The handling is great. The truck is very well built. I love the fact that the oil filter is right out in the open and so is all of the fluid containers and battery. The new truck design is much better than the old Tacomas. Plenty of room in the front and back. Plenty of cup holders front and back. The only thing that I didnt understand is why Toyota would give you a cigarette lighter but no ashtray. I also wanted the compass and temperature and it didnt come with the SR5 package.

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  Best value in its class - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By ValueWonk - January 9 - 4:56 pm

  The Venza is perfect for our current needs and has been a joy to drive in both city and rural/mountain driving. With two of three teenagers in college we no longer needed 7 seats and traded in a Honda Odyssey which we loved. But the Venza is a more luxurious car and we like the security of AWD along with all the safety features. Fit and finish are great, reliability has been perfect in the first 7000 miles. Backup camera as part of the navigation package is very helpful. Backup on its own has too small a display. Teenagers love the sound system and the MP3 plug and play capability. Looked at the Lexus RX350 but the Venza is virtually identical and is $8,000 less.