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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  From Explorer to Highlander - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By Toyota First Time Bu - April 6 - 2:00 am

  My first Toyota. Had been driving Ford Explorers for the past few years and I was pleasently surprised by the refining charcteristics of the Highlander. Throttle Responsiveness is much nicer than Explorer (2002 model comparison) as is handling, and interior design. Brake pedal feels a bit mushy in the Highlander. Overall, I would say the Highlander is very refined mid size SUV that competes or exceeds others in its class.

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  Eds new beach buggy - 2017 Toyota Highlander
  By Edward Terrenzi - April 5 - 10:46 pm

  Great vehicle. Loads of space . Room for 8 with third row. Hugh list of safety features and std features. Very smooth and quiet ride.

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  Wow - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By Cycle11111 - April 5 - 10:26 pm

  This is my first Toyota and all I can say is this car exceeds my expectations. I regularly beat the EPA mileage and if you also want it to move fast it does just great. Tons of room and very comfortable

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  Research - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By douglas geralde - April 5 - 9:20 pm

  Shop Around before you make any final decision to more than two to four dealership. Do youre home work.

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  Solid SUV - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By BRAVEHEART - April 5 - 6:53 pm

  Replaced a 2000 Subaru Forester S 5MT with this vehicle for me to drive to work for 2 years and hand off to college bound child. It is very safe, secure and surprisingly fun and agile. Went with 2.4L engine for better mileage and to prevent my teenager (and me) from excessive speeding. Huge cargo area, especially without 3rd row can hold all my sporting gear. Very smooth and quiet engine and cabin. Sunroof does not take up headroom. Back seat room terrific compared to Forester and averaging same MPG (25) but now with automatic, much larger vehicle, more features and more comfortable ride with same nimble and sporty ride.

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  11 4R better than 05 - 2011 Toyota 4Runner
  By jdg613 - April 5 - 6:44 pm

  Traded 05 4Runner for 11, and definitely an improvement. Quieter, more responsive handling, just as powerful. Miss the rear door close-assist, and dont understand lack of cross-rails for luggage rack, but addn of bluetooth phone and leather, electric, heated seats more than acceptable trade-off. This version even classier than 05, and mpg is the same (18/21). Feels bigger, more substantial, and just as good of quality. Like the stylish design, and the addl height makes me feel more confident on the road.

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  REAR ENDED GLAD I WAS IN THIS CAR - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By gatorsmom - April 5 - 6:36 pm

  I was rearended 2 weeks ago by a gentleman doing at least 45 MPH while I was at a dead stop. I thought for sure my trunk and the back of my car was demolished but to my surprise not even close. I had some bumper damage and lost my fenders but that was it! I will recommend this car to everyone I know because it is safe.

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  2001 prius - 2001 Toyota Prius
  By donna - April 5 - 5:00 pm

  I love my baby prius. It is fun to drive, fun to play with the computer screen, and it is fun to pass up the gas stations. It had some major problems when I first got it, but the dealership was very good at fixing the issues. My next car will be a prius.

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  Still lovin the Highlander - 2016 Toyota Highlander
  By Debra Handley - April 5 - 4:04 pm

  This is my second Highlander. The first was an 2003 LE. I recently gave it to my daughter with 139000 miles on it. Because I loved my 03 so much, we decided the new car would also be a Highlander. This time we went all out and purchased the Limited Platinum. This car has 4 owners manuals! Ive made it through them all. This car has all the bells and whistles! I particularly am enjoying the blind spot warning, lane departure and the cruise control feature that keeps you a safe distance from the car in front of you. I must admit this took a little getting used to, but now I truly appreciate the way the car speeds up or slows down on its own while using the cruise feature. The lift gate is also easy to operate. You must use the operating handle, but you dont need to manually unlock the door first if you are keeping the key in your purse. I do like the easy lock/unlock features on the doors as well. The interior is very attractive, spacious and comfortable. I love that I can fit my tote style handbag safely away in the deep storage unit between the front seat! Its also wide enough for me to fish around for anything I need in my bag, and there is also roo, for me to store all my favorite CDs in there as well. The back seat captains chairs are very comfortable and ride very well. There are retractable window shades for added comfort. This is great for traveling with babies! We havent even used the third row seats, but they are ready when needed. The cargo area without the third row is very spacious! Four adults could easily travel with all their luggage for at least a week or more including beach chairs and coolers! The entune system is great! It has local weather, traffic,Bluetooth pairing for listening to your favorite music on your phone, or on the apps you can install such as i❤️radio, Pandora, and others. You get a three month subscription to Sirius. The navigation system will not allow you to get lost! It reconfigures if you miss a turn without making you feel bad, it simply and redirects you without that annoying "recalculating" you get with other system. I love the sunny interior when you unshaded the cabin with the panoramic moon roof. I just love my new car, and am looking forward to many years of pleasurable driving!

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  MR2 - 2005 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By Rick - April 5 - 2:40 pm

  I live in NH and this is my commuting car. With four Pirelli snow tires it is acceptable except when there are more than 4 inches on the road. But in the summer, what a blast, screams around corners, turns heads and gets 31 mpg. Who could ask for more - well maybe a bit more storage space.