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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  Its a truck - 2009 Toyota Tacoma
  By jimc47 - November 5 - 12:19 pm

  Disappointed with seat height, feels like my legs are jacked up. Hard to get in because of steps. If I kept this truck I would take the steps off. Paint seems to be too soft. Has a diesel sound at times when accelerating, I think mid grade or premium fixes that. No vehicle is perfect, so these are my complaints, I am now in the process of trading it off at 23,000 miles. Resale is not as good as expected either.

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  my rosiemy - 1995 Toyota Camry
  By blueeyes - November 5 - 10:00 am

  my 95 toyota camry has been a great first caar for my new family. it has ample trunk space for the stroller, pack and play and stil have room for luggage. as much as i love my car, i need to trade it in for a minivan.hopefully a toyota sienna!

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  Worth the wait - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By Poguetx - November 5 - 5:35 am

  It took 5 months and a special order to get the 2016 Tacoma 4 door with the long bed. Apparently that configuration requires a non-standard frame that they told me only about 5% of Tacomas come on. The downside of doing a special order was that they werent willing to haggle on price beyond the standard rebate. My old RAM was showing its age, and I hated the 14mpg. I was actually ready to replace the RAM last year, but everything I had heard about the Tacoma said to wait for the 2016, since it was restyled and had the much more efficient engine. I knew I was giving up a lot of storage space from the RAM, and that Id have to get an external tool box for the Tacoma. That meant getting the long bed, unless you want just 3 1/2 feet of bed space. Anyway, once it arrived, it did deliver the 20mpg on the sticker, so Im pretty well pleased with the truck. I got the mid-range TSS option package, with the larger wheels - it clears the bumps I used to bottom out on with the RAM. I kind of wish Id spent the extra money on the "Limited" options in order to get push button ignition, automatic climate control and head lights, and locking gas cap.

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  All You Need - 2009 Toyota Yaris
  By Eric - November 5 - 3:40 am

  We are very happy with our choice. The Yaris ended up being exactly what we needed. This car looks tiny but has a bunch of room. A 6-ft, 160 lbs man can sit comfortably in the rear seats. Keep in mind this is an inexpensive economy car. What got that, combined with reliability, quality and somewhat surprising performance. A Toyota will hold its value far better than other competitors in this area (Kia, Hyndai) - except perhaps Honda, which costs quite a bit more.

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  Car Dies in Snow and on Highway - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By Cathie - November 4 - 12:33 pm

  People are going to get killed in snow. Ive been stuck twice where both once you go into a skid you have no power to get out of it. It took me 45 minutes to get up a small hill once I skidded. The car loses all power. actually had a cop behind me as I tried to get my car moving so I wouldnt get hit. Dealer said Toyota made it so you cant shut off the Vehicle control Stability for SAFETY REASONS HA! This is dangerous. Ive also had 2 incidents on back to back weekends where my car hesitates, the dash board lights go on and I lose all power. This happened 3 times on the highway and 2x on back road same night. This is a dangerous car and I will be getting rid of it once it is fixed.

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  2001 Highlander Excellent Value - 2001 Toyota Highlander
  By Johnz - November 4 - 5:06 am

  Most reliable car I have owned. Comfortable. Lots of power for highway driving. Nicely finished.

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  4Runner owners little secret. - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By SR5 - November 4 - 4:06 am

  Ive never owned a vehicle that has the kick in the pants go-power this SUV has. No, I do not own the V-8 version either. Even with my sometimes Lead Foot I still get an average of 18 mpg. I hated the look of it when it first showed up at the dealers, now Ive taken to it. It will go anywhere my old Explorer would go and more. Just as comfortable and inside everything is put just where ya need it. Great Toyota quality, and dependability too! My only con is the ride could be be smoother, but it is an SUV. (and Im pretty hard on this vehicle.)

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  Happy - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By sa m - November 2 - 10:16 am

  Drives great. Silent interior. great pick-up. I have only had a couple of weeks of driving but it is so much better than the Rav4 I traded in.

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  I wish they still offered the 6 cyl - 2011 Toyota RAV4
  By Ted - October 30 - 9:00 pm

  Outstanding power and acceleration. Good mpg. Very good features for the time. I would absolutely by it again, especially with updated features of current model.

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  So Far, So Good! - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By jbm425 - October 30 - 5:17 am

  I bought a Toyota Certified 2007 Camry LE in 2010. I wanted economy in a more roomy package, and reliability. I took advantage of the controversy with all the recalls that year and got my car for a couple thousand less than it would have otherwise sold for without it. I also bought the extended warranty for peace of mind, and I get the oil changed and general service every 5K. So far, the car has been a champ. It may be a bit on the "vanilla" side from a performance and styling standpoint, but its lived up to the Toyota reputation for quality. The only problem Ive encountered are occasional hiccups with the Bluetooth, but not frequent enough to require service.