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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  Mr. Bill and his 2010 Prius - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By Mr. Bill - June 12 - 7:26 am

  The vehicle rocks - beyond my expectations, beyond my MPG beliefs - Toyota got it right. I am a hybrid convert - 53 Mile per Gal. and its fun to drive. 50 plus MPG and no only even comes close - thank you Toyota for your innovations, vision and products that are simply the worlds best in class outstanding job by all. Thank you.

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  Like it so far - 2017 Toyota Corolla
  By Rafayel Paremuzyan - June 11 - 3:44 pm

  We have it for about one month. So far we like it. As a family car it is great. The thing I like most is, the Adaptive cruise control and line departure alert. Also LED lights great when driving in dark

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  Love the Limited - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Chynzo - June 11 - 10:13 am

  Traded in my 2002 Avalon XL for the 2006 Limited and no regrets yet. Rides like a dream and interior and exterior appearance much improved from 2002 model. Quiet ride, great accelleration, good fuel mileage for the size of the car. JBL sound system is top notch. Could do without the Laser cruise control as it will slow you down so slowly that you are not aware of it when approaching another vehicle.

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  2002 Sequoia Review - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By jay - June 11 - 9:36 am

  Ive had mine about a year & have zero complaints. I bought it with 100K miles from a dealer who has sold me a number of Toyotas & I would not buy anything else. It is a used vehicle & friends comment that it looks very well kept. It drives great, visibility is great, never had any problems. gas mileage is not so good, but if you want great gas mileage, buy something else. If you want comfort & a reliable family SUV that protects you, you need to drive it!

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  Never Again! - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By donor - June 11 - 8:46 am

  I would never buy a RAV4 again. I had problems with the steering that took 2 dealerships to repair. I also hate the cup holders which allow everything to flip out of them. The lights automatically shutoff after 30 when you are unloading it, especially annoying in the winter! The tires have not lasted 20,000 miles! There are 3 bad blindspots. The car has slid since day one in rain, snow, sleet, doesnt matter!

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  Ride in style - 2001 Toyota Sequoia
  By J C Renger - June 11 - 5:33 am

  My Sequoia is used for personal and business driving. People are always asking what vehicle is this, how do I like it, how is my fuel economy. I let them know it is a Toyota Sequoia, I love it, and I have 2 wheel drive, get 15-16 in town, 18-19 on the road. When I tell them it is a 2001, they cannot believe it. I pride myself on this vehicle and maintain this vehicle through the Toyota dealership. I have attended several business meetings and the majority want to ride in the Sequoia when we travel to restauarants or other areas. No doubt in my mind, this is the vehicle to own, even if it is a bit pricey. It is worth it !

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  Poor Winter Performance - 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By kidsysco - June 11 - 3:30 am

  I would not suggest an FJ cruiser for anyone who intends on driving it in weather that is less than 30 degrees F. Which is not very cold at all, many places in the world get much colder. My FJ has a serious problem with ice. At a mere 27 degrees F the entire tank holding all of the windshield wiper fluid has turned to slush. I have anti- freeze in there rated up to -50 degrees F. It does not matter, the way that the tank is positioned inside the motor is poorly engineered so that the wind blows up against it causing things to freeze up more easily than any other car I have ever owned.

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  Best mid-size SUV - 2016 Toyota Highlander
  By Dogg - June 10 - 9:15 pm

  Extremely comfortable. Good looking. Proven reliability. This SUV is great. Zero complaints. I did not like the Honda Pilot interior, nor the past reliability, nor the "new" engine, transmission of the Pilot.

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  Solid Crossover Vehicle - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By robert_ca - June 10 - 6:56 pm

  The HL has pretty well met my expectations; it has a clean classic styling, a powerful smooth V6, great handling/breaking and no noticeable body roll, almost car like ride. The interior is comfortable with high seating positions and good visibility. There is plenty of storage throughout the vehicle with easily foldable rear seats with good cargo space in return. Overall the term CSU (Crossover Sport Utility) applies more to the Highlander than SUV, which is fine by me.

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  My 1st Hybrid - 2011 Toyota Prius
  By mpgboy - June 10 - 6:54 pm

  Excellent build quality, but I was expecting that as a long time Toyota buyer. The Prius is comfortable, quiet at highway speeds and easy to drive. I commute 100 miles round trip every day. In the early morning, it is a highway drive, in the afternoon it is 1/2 bumper to bumper and 1/2 highway. This car does well in both. I am averaging 53mpgs after 3 tanks of gas. If I drive at 60mph on the highway, I can get 56mpgs. The car is very roomy with a large cargo area