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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  Love My Toyota - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By Jean D. Witt - December 1 - 2:00 am

  Got my new Toyota Camry XLE for Christmas and love it so much. It gets up and goes when I need it to and very easy to drive.

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  Fed up with Domestic Mfg.unrelible prods - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By ERN - December 1 - 2:00 am

  This xle scats up the mountains on I75 in Tenn.,passes everything.A very stable,comfortable riding car to drive with excellent gas mileage.I love it!

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  I love it! - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Alex - December 1 - 12:40 am

  This is my second car, first new one, and I thought it would best meet my needs coming off owning a 96 S10 light pickup. I also drove a Mazda CX-7, Honda CR-V, and Mitsubishi Outlander during testing. The Outlander and CX-7 didnt have the stuff I wanted at the price I was looking for, and the CR-V just wasnt as nice (interior, exterior, or driving experience). I got absolutely the most base setup I could, and I love the features. Granted, my last car set the bar low, but the power is just fine for me, and I got 24 mpg for the first 400 miles, running AC the whole time and not exactly accelerating gently.

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  Good family hauler - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By Ray - December 1 - 12:10 am

  I have owned my Sienna for less than a year, yet have already discovered this vans virtues. It is very much the Camry of minivans: it is not a particularly exciting or involving vehicle to drive, but it gets you and 6 friends from point A to point B with little fuss. The drivetrain is refined and ride comfort is very good. All the vehicles controls are simple to operate, and interior space is excellent. So far, Ive averaged 9.5L/100km (25mpg) in mixed city/hwy driving, which is better than some 4cyl cars. I cant really comment on long-term reliability, but I havent encountered any problems yet with the van. Overall, its a very practical vehicle to own, albeit not a very inspiring one.

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  My First Taco - 2017 Toyota Tacoma
  By Ken - November 30 - 10:02 pm

  This vehicle is unique, Ive had Fords 150, 250, Chevys K5, C2500, Dodges Ramchargers, Honda Ridge, MDX, but with that all said, and 58 years later, I pissed off the sales department, but heck, I signed the dotted line for 36x15k per yr, 2017 Taco Limited. I will say I due have a concern about the transmission, acting like a PMSing woman, but my bad azz days r in my mirror. The jury is still out in general, but for the 1,700 miles Ive put on so far, mostly city, 500 highway. Im ok with this thang. Acura MDX was my fav, but I needed an open air pickup due to the chemicals I transport. But Ive been complimented x 4 times, about the looks of the taco, me Im a fat ugly porkroll. But the lil runt gets a 8.5 on a scale of 1 to 10 with me.

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  Sienna is Best - 2006 Toyota Sienna
  By Sienna - November 30 - 9:43 pm

  The Sienna gives a very smooth and comfotable ride. It handles great. Gas milage is comparable with other minivans. It is very dependable and is absolutely great for the family. Everybody can get in and out very easily.

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  Toyota Corolla LE - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By Toyota Corolla LE - November 30 - 5:36 pm

  I trading in my 2007 Prius for the Corolla and already the ride, solidity and finish is as good as it gets for a vehicle at this price range. I find the clock is much better being more at eye level than over to one side. I dont understand why owners complain about it. It keeps your eye on the road. Truly a pleasurable driving experience. The automatic lights are great if you forget to turn them off.Only complaint is not having intermittent wipers. Overall, the best ever!!

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  So Far, GREAT! - 2008 Toyota Sienna
  By KYFamilyMan - November 30 - 4:33 pm

  We purchased this to replace a 10 year old Windstar. This was a HUGE improvement! Standard things are upgrades for us. The little things make this a special vehicle, like the grocery bag hooks, the fold away back seats, and the speed sensitive radio with 6 disc CD changer. No major road trips, yet, but looking forward to one soon. This van handles like a car, but has all the comforts of a van. Cornering is unreal. Gas mileage is in the 22 range around town. An average adult is comfortable in any of the seats, too. My only wish is for a DC outlet, or at least an AC outlet in the middle seat area, and the motor is a little noisy.

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  About the V6 SE Coupe - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By steven tarczali - November 30 - 11:13 am

  Nice car good power, not good in snow or ice. Feels sporty, however its a sporty upscale look but handles like the Camry sedan. Make no mistake, its not a sporty handling automobile. May have been better with rear wheel drive for handling. Doors, very big to get in and out of tight spots, however nice roomy interior for the driver and front pax. back seats are good for avg. person but not on long hauls. Good room for kids.

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  Security - 1994 Toyota Corolla
  By DELPINE - November 30 - 10:00 am

  WHEN i GET IN MY CAR, i FEEL CONFIDENT THAT IT WILL TAKE ME WHERE i WANT WITH LITTLE MAINTENANCE.