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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  A Fun Car to Drive, Easy to own. - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By Kyla Ensor - November 17 - 2:00 am

  I have had a very good experiance overall with this vehicle. The service has been easy and Toyota has been very helpful....now as for the car itself. This car makes the drive to work fun. You can haul just about anything in it because all the seats fold down and there is a huge cargo space in the back.....its surprising how much space there is. Perfect car for a chic in her 20s....space to haul, space for friends, awesome sound system just enough power to put some guys in their place. :^) Im 21 and I can afford this car, it looks good for work, works great for play. I think the value of this car vs. the price comes out to equal a great buy!!

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  awesome - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By tbrown - November 17 - 2:00 am

  this is my 3rd 4runner. the v8 is so smooth it was worth the extra money. the only thing that seems to be a waste is the folding cargo mat in the back. everything falls off unless its tied down.

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  I LIKE IT MORE AND MORE EVERY DRIVE - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By 4RunnrOVer - November 17 - 2:00 am

  The V8 is powerful! The appearance is elegant yet rugged. Nicely appointed interior without the nonsense "extras" of the Lexus GX 470. Comparing to the Lexus - 4RUNNER IS MUCH BETTER FOR $15,000 LESS!

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  Old Faithful - 2000 Toyota Camry
  By toyotahappy - November 17 - 2:00 am

  Bought this car almost 3 yrs ago Pro: reliable, just needs basic oil change to run smoothly, accelerates smartly for a small-engined car; turns quickly for a mid-sized vehicle; miserly when it comes to fuel consumption Cons: stiff seats, no daytime running lights; OEM tires are horrible; no drivers side lamps; no quick-wiper control; weak lo-beam headlamps - needed to replace bulbs w/ aftermarket PIAAs; added foglamps to improve visibility; replaced OEM tires with Michellin X-One Radials (200/70R-14)

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  Hopeful but doubting... - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By alien1297 - November 17 - 2:00 am

  Minor flaws of this car eventually led to a major disappointment.The air button broke and when it was repaired by Toyota, the dash became scratched since it is made from poor quality plastic.The car is ALL over the road on mildly windy days and I am in dire need of ABS that were unobtainable at my time of purchase on any Corolla model in my area. My worst gripe is the foul smell of rotten eggs that has been blowing out of my interior air vents everytime I turn on the heat. This smelly problem has been happenning since 1000 miles. Lastly, my brakes slip constantly at red lights and brief stops. Numberous attempts for redemption by Toyota have failed.

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  Love It!!!!! - 2006 Toyota Matrix
  By Pastormartx - November 17 - 1:33 am

  This is a very gun car to drive and I love the gas mileage I am getting. I average over 35 mpg on the hwy. and 30 mpg city - even better than expected. This car will be with me for a very long time so I chose a car I would love for a very long time. So far, it is definitely the right decision. I think several people will be getting a Matrix because of me!!

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  Time to Put it Down - 2007 Toyota Prius
  By jtn16 - November 16 - 9:09 pm

  I got this car used in 2011. I was averaging a commute of 400-500 miles per week as a college adjunct. The first year of owning this Prius was fun, mainly because of the novelty of going hybrid. Then I got established and didnt need to commute to 4 campuses a day. Got married. Got a dog. I took the car out to camp several times. It couldnt hold up well to our busy and slightly chaotic lifestyle. The hatch rubber handle melted my first summer with it and shortly after the whole back hatch broke due to its brittle plastic. Had issues with the power button throughout. I put only 50K on it. It might be time to let it go.

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  Great car - 2007 Toyota Matrix
  By annie76 - November 16 - 8:51 pm

  I bought certified preowned 2007 matrix in 2010. It runs great. I have had no major issues and have not spent more than $800 on maintenance in last 4 years. It has a great pickup and is a reliable car. I get 24-25 mpg (city) which I think should be higher but the car is designed for 25 mpg in city driving and it is still providing the same mpg gas consumption.

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  Barrys review - 1999 Toyota 4Runner
  By Barry - November 16 - 5:36 pm

  Highly reliable and fun to drive. Solid performance.

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  love Camrys but, this one disappoints - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By YodaFan - November 16 - 2:46 pm

  I like the new body design mostly. Only traded my 2002 Camry because of new body style. I never really test-drove the 07 much before purchase. Though I would probably still get a 2007, I am somewhat disappointed in Toyota on this one. Gas mileage is lower than my 02. Auto-tranny is not smooth in shifting. Initial acceleration performance is lacking; has hesitation while shifting through about 35 mph. Due to lack-of-power or transmission problem, car down-shifts (revs to 3000+ rpm ) with cruise control going up very slight incline (i.e. frwy overpass); then annoying up-shift jolt well after cresting incline.