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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  Very dependable and reliable - Great Truck - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By G.D. - October 15 - 4:34 pm

  Brought this vehicle off the lot and only had one major problem (fuel lines replacement for $1,000) other than that I had no other major issues. Its great on highway at 25 or more per gallon driving 55 or 65 mph. I could go on but its a great truck. I currently have 198K and I have a second used 4runner (2004 V8 4x4) with over 250k that I bought with 203K and it still runs great.

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  Toyotas win my vote all day long. - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By colin - October 15 - 12:54 pm

  Hi I have owned volvos s80s 2001 2000.I have owned many cars in my time sedans and sports cars .my experience with Toyota cars are the best .from Hondas expensive to fix.expensive to buy .volvos poor reliability.Mercedes way overated.Pontiac clumsy and poor feel to the roads .uninvolving.to BMW very old fashion and drive heavy and noisy.lousy gas consumption to hugely expensive repair .rear shocks on a Mercedes 500 2003 sedan 600each example .Volkswagen very noisy and overheating pure build quality.step below the Mercedes Nissan very cheaply made and overrated .my 350z had more rattles in it than a rattlesnake.it never idled correctly.Subaru sti had worst high speed feel to it felt. Unsafe n brakes were horrible.Subarus feel like tin cans .mazdas worst of al cars .if any makes match longivity of a Toyota car is a Chevy .ford .but fix it again tomorrow..Camry v6 excellent car even at 176k miles .gets fab gas mileage 30mpg for a big car b v6 power.not very fast but acceptable.roomy.very clear instrument panels.I hav a 2003 Camry v6 black..paint still shines .cheap repairs .easy fix maintenance.one exception the timing belt and water pump every 90k.miles .Toyota are your best bet. Resale value .longivity.easy drive .comfortable seating roomy.Avalon Camry corolla your best buys .celicas mr 2.supra risky buys with head gasket problems and faulty instruments.Toyota make best cars but not sporty not fast not stylish can be boring to drive .but it beats a car in the shop all the time a car falling apart but looks good. A car that costs you an arm and leg to keep.a car thats super fast but the gas station is your daily stop with 93octane .iv had all the cars .Toyotas win my vote ..

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  First Toyota - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By RJ - October 15 - 7:03 am

  Seem great, first non USA vehicle in 40 years. Quality in workmanship best seen outside of Cadillac. Great gas mileage, great design, getting to like the keyless part of vehicle. One small rattle at highway speed when on rough highway, not worried about that being corrected. Getting used to more solid ride than the big three rides I have been use to, this is sport/solid ride.

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  Great Car - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By chris - October 15 - 2:00 am

  I am in outside sales. I drive about 45000 miles a year and this is a great car. Toyota has been very helpful also. I had the oil on the ground problem, will happen to every Avalon, and Toyota fixed it for free even though I was out of warranty. The gas mileage is great and the resale is great. With 110000 miles on the car right now the resale is still above 15000 (exceptional) would recommend to anyone and will purchase another.

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  Best SUV - 2010 Toyota Highlander
  By osman - October 14 - 8:03 pm

  I only had car for a month and love it. Compared to other SUVs best performance and handling. Powerful engine and smooth ride. Bit on soft side but secure. Brakes are strong and responsive, interior room is great. Kids love 2nd row space compared to 2nd row room for our BMW (3 series). Drives on snow with no issues and stability control kicks in when needed.

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  Excellent MPG - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By BOB - October 14 - 6:40 pm

  Great value. Very quiet and drives like a much larger car. I have noticed a different feel in the steering. I have gotten used to it. It would not deter me from recommending this car.

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  The Best Overall Car For Under 30,000 - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By talib bethel - October 14 - 6:20 pm

  This car is better than I could have ever dreamed. It has nice luxury interior (the wood grain is lovely), but it also has nice pick up speed and is very roomy. Im loving the reclining backseats (even though I dont sit in the back). The bluetooth is a very good and smart feature. The car handles great and is really easy to control. The keyless entry and push start is marvelous. Overall for the money this is the best car you can get for the price. The new body style is an added plus also. Dont forget to get the glass sensor added to your vehicle.

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  2008 Toyota Highlander - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By David - October 14 - 4:10 am

  Just purchased last weekend, so far so good. Vehicle handles very well and the ride is smooth over rough Illinois roads. I love the extra room our kids now have (compared to 07 Rav4). The engine is also well suited to this vehicle as it was way too much for the Rav4. The storage area is also large with 3rd row seats down. Overall pleased with the purchase and love the car!

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  Real Pleasure to own - 2004 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By GWS - October 14 - 3:33 am

  After having my MR2 now for over a year, I still have that desire to just find a reason to drive it. It is so tight and easy to handle. The sequential transmission is just plain fun. I have physical problems with my legs and had given up on clutches some time ago. Now with the touch of a finger, I have the same wonderful sensational feeling of driver control. I have owned several Toyotas and have always been impressed with the quality of craftsmanship that is put into each vehicle that Ive owned. When considering a sports car in this price range I was certain that nothing else could touch the dependability provided in this vehicle. If you dont test drive it youll be sorry.

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  Everything youd expect - 2007 Toyota Matrix
  By XRdriver - October 13 - 11:43 pm

  With the gas prices soaring, I decided to trade in my SUV and get something with better gas mileage. The snag was that I still wanted the cargo space that my SUV gave me. That is what lead me to the Matrix. Honestly it is doing the job in excellent fashion. I havent had it for long, but I know that it will prove to be a good buy. The drive quality is good, and responsive, the handling is better than I had expected. All in all it has everything that I was looking for. I definitely reccomend this if you are looking for space, fuel economy, and a sporty good look all rolled into one reliable, affordable vehicle.