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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  Rav4 review - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By 3puttdoc - February 3 - 10:06 pm

  Went in to Toyota dealer during "Toyotathon" to look at limited edition Rav4. Was disappointed to find no V6 on lot, or at any nearby Toyota dealers. Had already decided that 4 cylinder/4 speed transmission would not do. Test drove Limited 4cyl/4spd transmission at dealers insistence and was blown away. Great pickup and gas mileage has been better than expected. Four speed is perfectly mated to engine and downshifts appropriately for steep hills. Cruises at 65mph with only 2200 RPMs. Perfect commuter vehicle for me. Car performed well in recent Virgina Blizzard/Ice storm. Waved bye bye to lots of pickups in the ditches and trees.

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  2006 Toyota Camry - 2006 Toyota Camry
  By Kym Longo - February 3 - 2:46 pm

  Went from a 1995 Nissan Maxima. Miss the power in the engine and the handling. The Camry makes up in ride and comfort. I drive around a lot in the Puget Sound Area and have to sit in traffic quite a bit, the comfort and manuverablility is great. Doesnt handle quite like the Maxima, but is comparable (cornering, driving with lots of water on the road). Not sure I would purchase another Camry.

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  Great Truck - 2006 Toyota Tundra
  By philip603 - February 3 - 11:10 am

  Most reliable truck I have owned. Real fun to drive. Have to deal with drive line bumping when stopped which I understand is common for 2006 trucks from Toyota and Ford. Not a problem in terms of performance or safety. Just an annoyance. Performs more like a car. Last year of a true midsized pickup. 2007 they went huge with Tundra. It is a great size for functionality, comfort and handling.

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  Can You Beat A Toyota? - 2002 Toyota 4Runner
  By B Sarlo - February 2 - 9:30 pm

  There are very few SUVs that can really match the 4Runner. The 4Runner is very reliable, and designed to perform at peak performance. Thats why I keep coming back to Toyota. Bottom line: they dont break down like some vehicles. Thats been my experience. Advice: take care of vehicle and it will take of you for a wonderful ride across America.

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  Will it make it to 300K - 1999 Toyota Camry
  By chambers - February 2 - 8:13 pm

  Purchsed from a friend in 2002 with 90k miles on it. I just turned 222k. 2 timing belts, 1 water pump (easy change when doing timing belt so did it just to be safe), 1 tune up, new struts, few sets of brakes and tires, that is it. I cant kill this Camry no matter how hard I try. Is it boaring, yes. Is it slow, yes. Is it the most reliable car I have ever owned...hands down. IF you are looking for a car for your teenaged kids, look no farther. As much as I would like to move on, I am determined to drive the Camry until something major goes wrong with it. My luck I will be writting another update in 2 years when I have 270k on it. GM, take notes, this is how a car should be built!!!

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  Enjoyable Ride - 2010 Toyota Sienna
  By chris - February 2 - 5:33 pm

  We recently purchased a 2010 Toyota Sienna XLE with EVP#2 after a lot of research. Not surprisingly, the other minivan we were eventually considering was the Odyssey. Both are great cars, and very comparable. After test driving both the same day, we decided that we preferred the quieter, smoother ride the Sienna offered. We dont agree that the Sienna gives an overly cushy or unresponsive ride.

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  The best! - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By rjkelly34 - February 2 - 10:20 am

  Ive driven all types of vehicles and none can compare to my prius! Not only does it make me feel good that i am doing my thing for the enviornment, the car is fun to drive! Really nice pick up, smooth, quiet ride and toyota reliability! the optional DVD navigation is the best navigation on the market. Easy to use and quite direct! I am averaging 50+ mpg with over 25k. With todays gas prices (3 dollars plus) I can still fill up for under 30 dollars and get close to 400 miles a tank (sometimes more)!! Do yourself a favor, get yourself a prius!! Youll be glad that you did.

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  The Venza - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By cec horlick - February 1 - 7:53 pm

  Overall I really like this car. Its very roomy and rides fairly well. I havent had any major problems with it in the first year of ownership. I was surprised with the amount of exterior noise from wind and engine. I have a bronze venza and it looks very nice in the sun. Good job with the color options Toyota

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  Still solid as the day I bought it - 2001 Toyota Tacoma
  By MCJ - February 1 - 4:26 pm

  This was my first pickup and I was drawn to it by the practical mix of "clean" and "dirty" space. Its big enough for most tasks, but still easy (and extremely fun!) to drive. Even though it has over 100K miles, it still feels as solid as the day I bought it (used with 15K). Im still amazed at how well it has held its value. When I got it, I found I had a lot of new friends which proves the saying: "The only thing better than having a truck is having a friend with a truck."

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  Great Car! - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By LisaAnn - February 1 - 12:53 pm

  I love this car!I went from a 1998 Volvo S70 where I got 25 mpg, and a wonderful ride to this. I dont miss my Volvo! Smooth, quiet ride, avg 41 mpg in city, and I do not know the hwy yet. MPG has increased as Ive learn to drive a hybrid (very different driving skill). Controls and monitoring system on dash allow me to keep my eyes on the road. (I did not get their GPS System because my portable Garmin sits quite nicely to the left of the steering wheel at eye level.)