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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  Best car Ive ever had!! - 2000 Toyota Avalon
  By clatterpastor - September 21 - 8:14 am

  I bought my Avalon with 92k miles on it. A friend had driven one from his fathers car lot and remarked at what great gas mileage he got on a road trip. I drove it and bought it immediately. The road manners are what you would expect for a luxury sedan of this type; not sporty but "safe" feeling. I have driven it on 16-18 hour trips for years and was always comfortable (511" 180). Mileage had always been 28-29 hwy. and 20-22 city. We now have 236K on the car and have only done brakes once, timing belt, water pump and seals twice, replaced the sub-woofer and thats all! It has been the most reliable car I have owned and that includes Mercedes, Hondas, Lincoln and Ford. I plan to buy another!

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  Good Car - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By Collin - September 21 - 1:00 am

  I have leased this car for 5 months now, driven 2500 miles and have had no problems so far. The car gets great mileage, I gas up once every other week. For those that say it is bad, fuel economy declines rapidly past 60 mph for all cars. Drive slower. I do agree with others, the steering is bad when there is a lot of wind. Also I dislike how the ABS comes on after every bump while breaking. Other than that it is a great car that looks great. I also like the sequential shift, it makes finding gears fun and adds class. Would buy again, but at a lower price. The interior is cheap for the high cost.

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  Great truck - 2001 Toyota Tacoma
  By pam - September 20 - 7:33 pm

  I use this truck for my gardening business and it has never failed.

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  The cool BIG little car! - 2006 Toyota Matrix
  By Arlene Hudson - September 20 - 1:33 pm

  Toyota Matrix. This is my first small car. I have always owned trucks. This was not a difficult adjustment. I am so happy with my Matrix! Lots of headroom inside. I do not feel the squished feeling some small cars have. I am tall and I am very comfortable behind the wheel. The pick up is great. The ride is smooth. It handles easy. Its great looking! I am getting compliments on the styling all the time! I got caught in a blizzard and my front wheel drive plowed right through. Great little car! See you out there!

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  Beautiful and Well Built - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By kiesa kay - September 20 - 2:34 am

  This car is completely reliable, good looking, and gets great gas mileage.

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  Excellent Truck - Buy one - 1999 Toyota Tacoma
  By kkser - September 19 - 9:46 pm

  4x4 x cab v-6 5spd - 20.5 overall gas mileage, good power, excellent capability off road. I have pulled 5500 lb trailer short distance with no problem or strain but I highly recommend a draw tight, no bumper pull. Interior is adequate for a 99 but I really like the 05s. Have not had one problem other than waterpump outage at 74000 miles - routine maintenance is all

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  Solid vehicle at a fair price - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By TerryTheSwede - September 19 - 5:10 pm

  The 2007 Camry is a well built car. It handles nicely, and offers a cofortable ride, and great features. I have had this Camry LE for only a month, but I have no regrets. My conclusion after doing a ton of research regarding safety, reliability, comfort and gas mileage: the Hyundai Sonata is thousands of dollars cheaper and matches the Camry in all respects except comfort. Bottom line was that I was going to be in that drivers seat for years to come and I was not going to skimp on the critical comfort factor.

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  Als Prius - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By Albert - September 19 - 4:13 pm

  My wife and I both love this car! Its fun to drive, and gets good mileage. Im a retired engineer, and Im amazed at the excellent engineering design and workmanship that has gone into this car. It way ahead of the competition. Its fun to talk to other Prius owners and compare notes. Looking forward to future Prius car clubs and rallies.

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  MR2 SPYDER - 2004 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By horsemom45 - September 19 - 10:00 am

  Great car! Its my second one. Handles great and economical.

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  An ECHO to shout about! - 2004 Toyota Echo
  By tallcooloneny - September 19 - 10:00 am

  This is my 9th vehicle in 20 years of driving, and I must say, it is the BEST one so far. I am a TOYOTA convert thanks to my ECHO, with build quality better than a $40k Caddy....lol