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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  2007 Camry v6 XLE - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By clozer1 - June 8 - 8:54 am

  I sell cars for a living and have for the last 40 years. In the 80s it was all honda, nothing else measured up. Now I sell Toyotas. I never purchase new because of the depreciation. I am purchasing a used 2007 Toyota Camry, one owner with 149000 miles on it. The car is brand new inside and out and themileage doesnt bother me at all. It has been checked out by a master Toyota Technician and I am not scared at all because of the miles. People who look at a car and back off of it because of mileage are missing the boat when it comes to a good deal on a valuable piece of merchandise. Toyota is the Manufacturer of the last decade with fit and finish and value. Don,t be afraid to buy one.

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  Owner - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By wisegazer - June 8 - 4:33 am

  Excellent compact car, reliable and with the comfort of a bigger car. Trunk space is great. Other than gas, regular oil change and tire rotation nothing has been required.

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  Rav4=No worries - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By FunSmart - June 7 - 3:30 pm

  We I was looking for a car I back in 2006 grabbed the consumer report and this car showed the best rating of all (not only small SUV). I bought it used and through these years (today 2010) I have confirmed day by day that the reports were true. The Rav4 is spacious (you can easily remove the back seats) for cargo and passengers. The spare tire gives the sporty "Jeepy" look and unlike other cars there is no sacrifice of space to accommodate the tire inside the vehicle, so all that space left is yours to fill. Thanks to this the height of the base of the trunk is at or below your needs. Just go and compare this with other cars, you will find they are much higher.

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  Reliable - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By JRex - June 7 - 12:00 pm

  I love my Camry. Traded up from a 97 Civic, VERY glad I did. Camry is very plain, but what it lacks in eye appeal it makes up for in the checkbook. Great power for a 4cyl while still getting good (30 mpg) mileage. Wish abs brakes were standard. A perfect family car.

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  Quiet Ride - 2008 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Kiko - June 7 - 11:43 am

  Everything about the car is above average except 2 things. Pros: 1) Quiet and comfortable ride. 2) Comfortably seats 4 passengers including the driver. 3) Hybrid between a luxry sedan and a convertible so you have best of both worlds. Cons: 1) Navigation system was a bit disappointing. It does not speak the street names like the Garmin nuvi series. 2) Need more power as not very responsive when you hit the gas pedal. 3) Rear view limited when backing up.

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  A Grand Car - 2008 Toyota Avalon
  By jguen123@comcast.net - June 7 - 6:53 am

  Everything about this car (XL 2008) is tops. Ride, power, omfort, handling, interior, sound system is excellent. Build quality is great. Looks and feels superb. Although it is a large car it handles beautifully. If you are thinking about this car, put your worries to rest. You cannot go wrong with this one. I stayed at the bottom of the line with an XL and am not sorry I did. It has everything you need to arrive in style.

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  Dont Have a Fender Bender! - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Broken hearted - June 7 - 5:23 am

  I rear-ended another vehicle that left a dent on their bumper and did $3500 damage to my Yaris! Why so fragile? And the airbag didnt even go off. I love the car. I put the back seat down and use the hatchback/space like its a pickup truck for building and garden supplies, etc. Its amazing what you can get in that little car. My manual transmission and reasonable driving practices result in >40 mpg IN TOWN! I love this car, I just wish it werent so fragile.

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  Pleased Tundra owner - 2006 Toyota Tundra
  By B. Maz - June 7 - 4:16 am

  After having many chevy/gmc trucks, I was ready to get a truck I wouldnt be disappointed with. My SR5/TRD has been a pleasure to own & fun to drive. I look forward to the next time I have to drive somewhere. Having the tow package w/ 4.10 gears & the transmission oil cooler allows me to feel very confident that its capable to handle any task the domestic trucks will do. With that in mind, the gear setting is also why I dont get good gas mileage(& I have a heavy right foot, LOVE the power). To sum things up, I wanted a smaller truck with full size capabilities & found it in the 06 Toyota TUNDRA SR5 access cab w/ TRD Off Road.

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  Engine Dissatisfaction - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By Charles - June 7 - 12:30 am

  Overall, Im happy with the performance of this vehicle. One thing that Im not too happy about is the vibration/shaking of the engine when Im stepping on my breaks and slowing down or going in reverse immediately after I turned the engine on. My car is still under warranty and Its been to the dealer several times for this problem. Every time they keep telling me that everything seems to be running OK when it is not. They just dont get it! They dont seem to want to spend the time troubleshooting the problem because it costs them money and they feel that its a waist of time. So, I keep going back hoping that they resolve the problem. Hopefully, I gave you a descent summary of my problem.

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  Great run around car - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By Don - June 6 - 8:46 pm

  Purchased car to save mileage, have SUV for winter time, needed car to run errands. 10,000 miles and getting 35 mpg still. Great on 2 hr road trips. Comfortable and easy to park downtown or at mall.