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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  I like it! - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By landman - December 12 - 5:30 am

  Wanted only leather and V-6, got it and very satisfied. The ride closely resembled that of my Benz, and is very comfortable. Not as stiff as nearest competitor. V-6 power gives me quick Interstate access in traffic. Gas mileage is as advertised, but I travel in excess of speed limit often. Leans in tight corners, and turns on a quarter rather than a dime. Overall, I like my Camry and think it will last a long time past the 72,000 miles I have now. No trouble; I dont know why I bought the extended warranty. Peace of mind I guess.

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  Great Camry - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By chunt5 - December 11 - 8:25 pm

  Our 2003 Camry, that we purchased new, has been a great car. It only has 20,000 miles on it but we have not had a single issue with it. It still drives and handles like brand new. I replaced the tires just because they were 9 years old. The only other part that we replaced is the battery in 2008. I like the Camry so much that I just purchased a new Toyota Tacoma.

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  LOVE my new Highlander - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By W.Vlad - December 11 - 12:20 pm

  Due to an upcoming move to upstate NY I needed to trade in my 2006 VWPassat for a 4-wheel drive vehicle. We were looking at 4-runners, Honda Pilots and Suburu Outbacks. I originally felt that the Highlander looked too much like a van (from the inside) and did not even want to test drive it, but after a week of looking around I agreed to try it. Needless to say it was a fabulous test drive and I could not be happy with the ride of the 4-runner or the Honda Pilot. The Outback is a great drive as well but for the money you get a lot more vehicle with the Highlander. I have had it for a week now and my husband and I both love it.

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  Great vehicle - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Swizzlestick - December 11 - 9:43 am

  This soft hybrid is a great drive with good fuel economy. I live in the Pocono mountains of northeastern PA and do both highway and suburban driving on secondary roads and average 27 mpgs during the summer and 23.5 mpgs in the winter (the gas engine needs to cycle on for the heater). My milage would be much improved however if I didnt live in the mountains (on a recent trip to Virginia I averaged over 30 mpgs on highway and secondary road travel). The build quality is excellent (of course, it is a Toyota!) but I was not impressed with the GY Integra tires. Upgade the tires to the Goodyear Fortera and you will have a premium luxury vehicle that gets great gas milage!

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  Red Hot Mama - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Cliette - December 11 - 2:10 am

  We just purchased this car a week ago. Im so in love with it that Im up early in the mornings, thinking about errands that I need to run. It rides smooth and has enough of pick-up to get out of the way of fast moving traffic. Im thinking about racing my son who owns a GSXR 600 motorcycle, but hes only 19 so I think I will pass. Im a mother of 3 in love with my RED Camry. Just wish I could program it to say my name when you turn on the engine.Wouldnt that be icing on the cake!

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  Wonderful car, good choice for dog owner - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By KE - December 10 - 6:40 pm

  Ive had my Prius (pkg 2) for about 2 weeks and absolutely love it. My previous car was a small SUV. Im getting more than double the gas mileage, with an average so far of 52 mpg per the cars computer, and slightly higher on my own calculation. Acceleration is more than adequate, even when entering the freeway with the a/c on. Im impressed with the cargo space. I have a couple of 50 lb dogs who occasionally like to get wet/dirty; I thought I "needed" an SUV for this reason, but the Prius has been great (with the addition of a washable cargo area liner). Its easy to get dogs in/out and there is ample space for them to ride (the floor space is equivalent to my small SUV).

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  Very nice Truck - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By Carlos - December 10 - 3:43 pm

  I just bought it a week ago, but I can already tell that this truck is gonna be with me for the long run. It drives great, very smooth everywhere. Compared to the ride quality of my brothers 02 tacoma trd, this truck feels much much better. Toyota has seemed to perfect the suspension, its soft yet very solid when needed. The power is great, and fuel economy is ok. The interior is by far the best in a truck, kind of like being in a semi luxury vehicle. Engine layout is outstanding for those of you that like to change the oil yourself. If you are looking for a midsize truck, this is a no brainer, get the tacoma, you wont regret it.

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  Simply an All-Around Great Small Car - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By Trent Ford - December 10 - 2:03 pm

  There is no secret what the Corolla is and always has been about: reliability and value. I purchased my 2010 Corolla new and have put 60,000 miles on it. Only non-maintenance issues so far have been a faulty gas cap (on warranty) and a plastic manifold guard that needed re-fastening ($1.75 for zip ties). The original brakes are still going strong, the tires will need replacing soon, but have lasted for 60k. The car is smooth-running, never rough idles and has produced fantastic gas mileage: 36-38 highway & 26-28 city. The interior, as with most Toyotas, is quite bland but functional. The materials are not cheap feeling as in other cheaper economical cars. The only cons about the Corolla are the acceleration, the road noise, and the paint. The car will cruise easily at 80 or 85 mph, but it takes a LONG time to get there. Acceleration is about what you would expect from a naturally-aspirated 1.8L 4-cylinder. As with most cars at this price-point, road noise is very noticeable above 60 mph, but livable. The road noise comes entirely from the poor isolation and not from the tires. The only issue I did not expect when purchasing this car is the quality of the paint. It chips quite easily and the clear coat has begun to erode on the trunk. Granted my Corolla has never experienced a garage, so your experience may vary. Overall this is a fantastic car that has lived up to and exceeded my high expectations. I definitely recommend purchasing one if you need a reliable, safe form of basic transportation.

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  Mission Accomplished !!! - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By CWY - December 10 - 1:16 pm

  Our 06 Prius (Package #3) delivers as advertised. Weve put nearly 3K miles in the first month since we drive the Prius all the time while leaving our other cars at home. As a result, were saving on fuel costs and polluting less while averaging about 47 mpg (plus not having to go to the gas station as often is also very nice). This car is sure easy to live with and tackles daily commuting better than any other vehicle weve owned. Its easy to drive, comfortable, has enough power to merge onto freeways or pass slower vehicles, very quiet at speed, roomy and has a very flexible cargo area (unlike the new Civic hybrid where rr seats dont fold).

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  Best Truck I have ever owned or driven - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By Morpheustj - December 10 - 12:20 pm

  After driving this vehicle I knew that I had to have one. I have owned Dodges, Chevys & Driven Fords. I have also driven the previous model Tacoma & this is so much more truck. I had people stop me constantly asking how I liked my 2003 Tacoma & boy do I have news about the new one. It drives rides handles like no other truck. It has more cup holders than I think anyone could ever use. Maybe.