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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  Too expensive on tires - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By EDU - September 30 - 11:23 am

  Good for traveling but we have had to replace several tires and do more then normal alignments. More then one mechanic said the alignment was a problem. This has cost us money that should not be an issue. Also the noise level is bad and the CD players does not work well.

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  Good car, yet not a fun one - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Paul Revera - September 30 - 4:03 am

  I recently bought a Solara and was suprised at how nice the interior is! nice leather, nice sound, and the wood paneling adds a nice touch. Yet this car is no performer. The V6 is underpowerd and it is not fun to drive. This car should be labeled as a cheaper luxury car, which it is, but is not a sports car by any means. It is 1000% better than a camry, and is a very reliable car. Although I plan to get a Injen cold air intake, Greddy Exhaust and a TRD supercharger to make up for the not-so-fun factor about it.

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  Smooth Hwy, Little Rough Local Part 2 - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By sy - September 30 - 12:36 am

  Follow up to my 4/12/08 review. Hesitation when accelerating is a torque steer issue. The front wheel drive cant handle the massive horsepower. Changed oil and tried premium gas to no avail. This engine is meant for 4WD & not really for FWD. Changed my local driving habits for this vehicle, cannot punch it from a start or at slower speeds & step on it when its moving faster. Edmunds has an article, "Long-Term Test: 2006 Toyota RAV4" that goes into detail about this acceleration issue with FWD. Wished it came out sooner. Well probably spend a few more bucks & get into the luxury segment next time. One thing I do know, this engine is sound and should last for a very long time.

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  electrical problem - 2001 Toyota Sequoia
  By mannyboy - September 30 - 12:00 am

  I bought it brand new a 2001 model love it but lately having problems with my electrical.

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  Wouldnt buy again - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By mikeyCT - September 29 - 10:50 am

  Ive had my Rav for over a year now (16,000 mi). I cant say Im all that impressed. I had very high expectations for my first Toyota, but have found it to just be a lot of hype. If I could do it again I wouldnt buy this car.

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  07 Tundra CrewMax SR5 TRD 4x2 - 2007 Toyota Tundra
  By lil joe - September 29 - 9:56 am

  I have nothing but good praise for this truck. At 65" at 285 pounds, I fit better in the Tundra than I did in Chevy, GMC, or Ford. My little girl loves the reclining rear seats. The 5.7 that’s in it will hold you tight in your seat. I tested three 07 trucks before I saw this one, I got in the CrewMax and I was sold. For the same prices of the others you get so much more, motor, room, style, and "fun" from this truck. You better like attention, everybody looks when you pull up.

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  Nice Truck with Some Concerns - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By David Denzer - September 28 - 7:16 pm

  Before purchasing this truck I also seriously considered the Colorado and Canyon. Those trucks have smoother rides and maybe a little more on demand power than the Tacoma. But, those are the only areas where they might be better. The Tacoma has features that the others dont even offer, including far better technology (amazing on the Tacoma), sun/moon roof (a must for me as a former convertible owner), far more exciting interior materials and layout, and a really fun ride. The Tacoma also has great storage compartments in the bed of the truck, and the limited comes with the tonneau cover. Put all of this together and I dont know why anyone would buy any other truck in this class. This is a great truck. The truck could have more "umph" when you step on the gas, but the "ect" button really gives this a boost, and if you truly do "step on the gas," it gives you all you ask for. But, you have to step on it a bit more than on other vehicles. Once you get used to this, you have an amazing truck that promises a lot of fun and utility for a long time to come. And the looks! Nothing else compares. I love this truck! A major drawback is towing. This is the reason Ive given it four instead of five stars. Towing something larger like a travel trailer, even if it falls well within the towing rating for this truck, can be a very scary ride. The truck is so small that the trailer can control the truck, causing the sensation of losing control at higher speeds. I definitely do not recommend this truck for towing anything larger than say, a small boat.

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  2002 4WD Sequoia - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By Prefers Harleys - September 28 - 3:33 am

  Bought new in 2002 and now have 110K miles on vehicle with little problems. After 2 years, rear window got REAL sluggish, so we left it up for a year afraid it would break. Toyota told us they had replaced a lot of motors. Waited one year, did nothing, works fine now. Too big to really go brush busting but wife likes it. I prefer my 1985 Land Cruiser. Parking brake stinks and truck lurchs forward after applying brake on slight incline. 3 weeks after brake service can drive 55 mph with parking brake on before realizing its on. Sister bought an 06, no parking brake problem. Mileage improved after 100K. Now we get 16.6 mpg in Georgia. Only get 6 mpg pulling 3500 pound boat though.

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  Review of my 04 Taco - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By NealsToy - September 27 - 2:00 am

  Ive received plenty of compliments on the looks of my Tacoma. I love driving it. Lots of power when you need it the most. Solid build.

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  fuel economy blues - 2010 Toyota Camry
  By fuel econ - September 26 - 9:46 pm

  I love the style of this car. The interior and dash is plain jane to me. I bought this car and went with the 4 cyl thinking I would get great gas mileage for work. Very disappointed with 24-26 mile/gal. I dont drive aggressive either. I also hear a wisling on the windshield driving on the highway. The interior is very roomy . Other than the fuel economy I love the car.