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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  Mixed Feelings - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By hi land er - March 4 - 2:36 pm

  I feel the advertising and the sticker on the window promised MUCH better mileage for a hybrid SUV than it gets in reality, even while driving with Toyotas fuel-ecomony tips. Overall, I like the car, how it handles, acceleration, interior & exterior (decent length for an SUV). I have had it since Oct 2005. But we paid a lot for it & I am still upset about the low gas mileage. I know its an SUV, but much better mileage should be possible.

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  Prius 101 - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Prius - March 4 - 1:03 pm

  I have had my Prius since June of 2005. I bought it to replace a Toyota Camry which I drove for about 7 years. The car is reliable, fun to drive and makes me very, very happy when I put in about $17 to fill the tank with gas prices climbing to over $3.00 per gallon. I find the feel of the car very spacious and roomy. The drawbacks are that the mileage, while excellent does not live up to what they say. When I drive really well I am achieving about 47 miles per gallon with work. I cannot seem to sustain anything higher. For a very brief moment I achieved 50 mpg, but it didnt last. The interior of the car specifically the plastic scratches very easily. Though all in all, its a great car.

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  Snow machine - YES - 2004 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By atoyotguy - March 4 - 12:05 pm

  My summer-only Potenzas had to go, so I put a set of Michelin X-Ice tires on my 04 MR2 and voila! An unlikely snow machine! Before X-Ice I got stuck in a quarter-inch of snow. With the X-Ice tires installed I went to a level parking lot right after a 6-inch snow, before any plowing had been done. Much to my surprise, and delight, my 2200 pound, less than 6 inch ground clearance car thought it was a snow plow! I could start, stop, back up, and park - all without any problem. Sure, the tires slipped some, after all, it was slick snow. But I doubt that the engine revved over 2000 rpm at any time. Ice performance was just as good. Summer fun, winter fun; you cant beat it!

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  Corolla XRS - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By Jim - March 4 - 1:13 am

  I really like the Corolla XRS that I just purchased. I looked at Mazda 3 , Honda Civic and chose Toyota because of relialbilty and the way they redesigned the exterior. Its a great practical vehicle with performance at an affordable price. Nice interior.

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  09 Corolla LE one week out - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By howardrm - March 3 - 11:16 pm

  Just got this last wk. Very smooth ride, very quiet! Best feature is quiet. Handling, brakes excellent; fuel econ. less than expected on hwy (one trip, 80 miles, 32 mpg). Lets see what happens. In town/backroads mpg is 28 so far.

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  Passenger seat Adjustment - 2010 Toyota Camry
  By JPhilip - March 3 - 8:40 pm

  I bought a new 2010 Camry LE. It comes with power seat for driver side. Its very difficult for a passenger side traveler to sit in the car. It does not have an adjustable height. If youre not a big person you feel like sitting in a half way folded seat.

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  Thankful for the decision! - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Josh E. - March 3 - 7:23 pm

  So far, since buying this midsize suv, my wife and I have driven over 3500 miles, including a move that took us through the Appalachian mountain range. I cannot be more pleased with my decision to buy this vehicle. With the 4-cyl, there is some hesitation when merging onto the interstate, but overall there is plenty of pickup for 364 out of 365 days of the year. Im impressed with the room in the 2nd row bench seat, and we have two large dogs that were comfortable for a 1000-mile move to North Carolina. 28 MPG in this car is not a stretch, especially with some mixed (HWY and City) driving. Fit and finish are outstanding!

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  Typical Toyota - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By dave - March 3 - 4:56 pm

  This car is a typical Toyota, built rock solid with excellent reliability. I drive through out So Cal and this car is very comfortable on long commutes. I am 6-0 tall and have plenty of leg and head room. The ride is excellent. Very smooth on the road and around town. Gas mileage exceeds specs. I get 24+ (rated at 22 mpg) on the highway. I also find the optional 3rd row seat a very useful addition. I am very happy with this SUV.

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  Great car - 2012 Toyota Corolla
  By Mike Pristas - March 3 - 7:07 am

  Very reliable and great economics

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  Good, but choose Sprt/Lim for goodies - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By Jose - March 3 - 12:43 am

  Great everything in this vehicle. I wish we had gotten the sports or the limited, because they have the power-lift gate, rear view camera, fog lights, DVD system and power folding mirrors (on sport this is optional). Were looking into adding the some of these features now. But overall were happy with the purchase. Feels like a solid vehicle.