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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  4Runner runs along! - 1998 Toyota 4Runner
  By Eli Fox - December 17 - 10:00 am

  I love my 4Runner. I almost got a Jeep Grand Cherokee, but I liked this better. It has leather trimed seats, alluminum instruments, a rear spoiler, and tons of goodies.

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  great - 2003 Toyota Camry Solara
  By moi - December 17 - 10:00 am

  This is a fantastic car! Concumer Reports also recommends it, and the 2003 has better reliability that the 2003 Camry.

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  Love it so far - 2003 Toyota Tundra
  By az_tundra - December 17 - 10:00 am

  Got my Tundra SR5 V8 4x4 Access Cab two weeks ago. Love it so far. Very quiet. Also got tow pkg and captains chairs--the chairs are VERY comfortable. The truck is pretty fast, for a nearly-full size truck. Like the torque. Im getting 16 mpg in town, and Im a lead foot 50% of the time. I plan to tow a 5000 pound travel trailer, shouldnt have any problem.

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  so far, so good - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By slsrav4driver - December 17 - 10:00 am

  Great car. The only complaint I have is that the roof rack is making some noise as I drive. The fold down/take out seats have been great--I can fit a lot into this little car.

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  My Corolla - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By Somzavox - December 17 - 10:00 am

  I love my car! It is my first new car, and it is great! It has tons of room inside (enough to fit 6 people...if they squeeze in the back!) It rides smooth and is the cutest car ever!

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  1500 mile check-up - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By mgriffie98 - December 17 - 10:00 am

  Just had my first 1500 mile oil change. Love the car so far. Milage is low yet for every day driving, 28 mpg. The only thing I hate is the steering wheel is to far away and the arm rest is too short. Im 61"

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  True Quality - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By John6202 - December 17 - 10:00 am

  I have driven this car for over a year and I am very glad and happy with the vehicle i bought. the car has been driven for 30,000 miles and has not shown any problems other then a few rattles here and there but my dealer has repaired everything to top notch quality with no hassle. I highly recommend this vehicle it will defintly last forever.

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  2014 Avalon Hybrid XLE Touring - 2014 Toyota Avalon
  By kadena - December 17 - 7:28 am

  I have had my Avalon for about three weeks. It came equipped with Michelin tires. I really like this car. I bought the Touring especially to get the Blind Spot Monitoring in the outside rear view mirrors and the Rear Cross Traffic Monitoring. I had to buy a lot of options that I will never use just to get these and to my opinion they are safety features that are well worth it and they work real well. The car rides nice, handles good with little or no road noise. Really plush and comfortable seats and interior. Great choice for me

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  5th family member = New Sienna - 2011 Toyota Sienna
  By EShoe - December 17 - 12:16 am

  We had to move from a Rav4 to a minivan when we found our third child was en route since the Rav4 could not comfortably accommodate 3 car seats at once. Explored the Odyssey and Sienna and decided on the Sienna due to some of the technological upgrades the 2011 model received. The removable jump seat in the middle row is great for our oldest to make her way into the back row since the other captains chairs are occupied with car seats and cannot fold and slide. Overall, the ride is smooth, quiet, and very comfortable. Fuel economy is decent (I like the "eco mode" notification for positive driving habit reinforcement). A great family car that will be with ours for a long time, hopefully!

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  Four door rocket - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By C4Man - December 16 - 3:00 pm

  What can I say, WOW! Id been researching this car for about two or three months before I finally purchased one. Took a couple weeks to find the one with the options and color I wanted, but Im glad I found it. Love this car. Fast and fun to drive. Six speed is velvet smooth and the 2zz engine provides seemless, smooth power delivery. Ive driven many cars this size and few come close to the combination of value and performance this car offers.