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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  straight dope on the fj - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By ditka - July 2 - 6:26 am

  This is a truck meant to go off road but it really bridges the gap between on and off-road drivers. In Four Wheeler magazine, the FJ had the best mileage, best pickup, best quarter mile, best braking and best engine/transmission combo of the seven SUVs tested(Feb 2007). For off- roaders, it also boasts an excellent stock suspension with over 19" of articulation and an engine tuned for torque with 278 lb/ft. The FJ Cruiser does have its drawbacks, however. The full-time 4wd means that you wont be driving from Denver to Vegas on one tank of gas. The rear visibility is pretty poor but a sonar rear-parking assist is available to compensate. In all I highly recommend the FJ.

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  Im happy with my choice - 2006 Toyota Highlander
  By billp8 - July 1 - 9:56 am

  I compared the HL with Jeep Liberty and Ford Escape. What sold me on the HL was the rear seat room, build quality, control layout, engine/transmission, and Toyotas reputation. I also like the rear hatch with the spare mounted below (versus the side-hinged door with gate- mounted spare on the Liberty). Mileage in the first 1000 miles is 17- 18 city, 21-23 highway.

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  Awesome 6 and economical milage - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By toy truck 2 - June 30 - 5:06 pm

  Picked up at Fitz Mall 200 miles from home, not too thrilled about the ride to pick up this vehicle.Wrong! Fun to drive and quicker than my V8 Forerunner though not as smooth and refined.JVC sounds better in Rav.Sunroof needs wind deflector,minor issue.Driving same speeds 55 to 75mph Forerunner got 19.0 mpg and Rav got 26.9 .40% better and exactly what I wanted,may even improve.

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  15 years and 215k miles and still like new! - 2003 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By mikkous - June 30 - 10:55 am

  Im getting to where some pieces need to be replaced but they are all original! The factory muffler lasted to 189k miles! I used to go through a car every 3-4 months (Mercedes CLK, Mini Cooper S, Suburban, 4Runner, Subaru(s)) but just love this vehicle! At 15 years old it still feels like new and is as comfortable as the old t-shirt my wife hates me to wear. This vehicle is not for everyone... its big. Its bullet-proof. The suspension is remarkable and you barely feel what youre driving over. Huge pot holes or 4 feet of snow are no issue. With sunshine I open the large sunroof and windows and enjoy the day. Im thinking of buying a spare for when this one actually breaks!

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  Love Our Sienna Van - 2009 Toyota Sienna
  By LoveOurToyota - June 29 - 8:36 pm

  We love our van. I had a hard time getting past the van stigma but once I did I would never go back. This car is so practical. We have kids, and the room and comfort of this car is amazing. It drives so smoothly. It is so much fun to drive this van. The automatic doors is a huge plus. I always worried about the kids hitting other cars when they opened the doors. You can close/open the doors from the inside of the van. This car is made for families. Toyota did a great job designing this car with so many family friendly features.

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  Great all around car for performance and camry - 2012 Toyota Camry
  By pennycali - June 29 - 8:05 pm

  I purchased the SE V6 after comparison shopping between a 2012 Acura TSX, Hyundai Sonata, and BMW 328i. I choose the Camry since it does everything well, a good value, and is reliable. Its not top of class in any category but overall bang for the buck, the Camry beats all of them. The Camry sport tuned suspension gives the car a sporty ride without being overly harsh like the BMW. The Camrys V6 is awesome. Smooth, powerful, and reliable. The Camry interior looks very upscale. There are some cheap plastic bits but its 10K cheaper than the TSX. The Camry styling is bland I have to admit but lets see if Sonatas can make it to 150K miles reliability.

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  Perfection - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Jim - June 29 - 5:16 pm

  As a Toyota owner since 1974, I was amazed at the level of perfection achieved in the 2006 Avalon Limited! I have always been sold on the quality, reliability, and attention to detail that Toyota has always put into their cars (I have owned Celicas, Camrys, and Avalons). But this 2006 Avalon Limited EXCEEDS the perfection that Toyota has always put in their Lexuses! It is truly an amazing machine in every respect! The Laser-Guided Cruise Control is a pleasure to use and probably the greatest safety feature invented to date! The GPS-Guided Navigation System is always "right-on"! I would recommend the 2006 Avalon Limited to EVERYONE!!

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  Satisfied Customer - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By Dave - June 29 - 1:36 pm

  I really like driving my Camry. It is a fantastic car. I recently replaced the tires and put Michlin X radial on it. The ride has become extremely quiet and very smooth. The sound system is just perfect and I get very good gas mileage from it.

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  15 years and still going - 2002 Toyota Prius
  By Bill A - June 29 - 4:23 am

  I bought this car used in 2009 from the state motor pool with 95,000 miles. It has now gone 155,000 and it is still getting 44 mpg on the highway. Since buying it it is has only done 40 mpg in town. Ive replaced ball joints, rear shocks, rear bearings, small battery, fan belt and the steering rack (a free recall). The fluids have all been replaced and the A/C was recharged once. Dash lights are starting to burn out and it cost me $85 to replace the green headlight on indicator. So far this is the best little car Ive owned in my 73 years of life. Now if it will just run another couple of years until the tires wear out.

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  great large car; great large truck! - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By schnooze - June 29 - 2:00 am

  very reasonably priced, great features and terrific reliability. if this sequoia were wrecked, id buy another to replace it!