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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  2000 Celica GTS review - 2000 Toyota Celica
  By hoodlum - October 26 - 4:20 pm

  One of the first GTS buyers. Love the 6sp manual. Unbeatable handling/brakes in class. Could use more torque. Great gas mileage. Visibility out back not great, takes some getting used to. Ride is very good considering the outstanding handling. No mechanical issues, have only had to change oil, fluids and tires for 80k miles. Cant beat Toyota reliability.

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  Get ripped off by Toyota - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By sdgirl2 - October 26 - 3:39 pm

  My 2004 Toyota Sienna had a faulty radiator. Who has to replace a radiator in todays cars? I contacted Toyota regarding this and they didnt care. I then had trouble with my power steering that has a recall on 2004 Siennas but guess what? My particular vin # is not covered under the recall. Coincidence? I think not! I was told by my mechanic that Toyota takes about 1 in 3 calls and does something about it. Oh, also you get to replace the Timing Belt at 90,0000 miles to the tune of $1500! I bought this car thinking I could get a good 200,000 miles out of it (because according to the dealer - this is a quality vehicle and thats why we dont dicker on prices!). I dont think so!!!

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  Love my 4 Runner - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By DOCINMISS - October 26 - 12:36 pm

  Interior finish of Limited leaves much to be desired. Poor lighting of controls is bad also. My SUV is trouble free. One service call for a burned out light. My Michilen tires show little wear for 70 000 miles

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  2008 Urban Runner Sport - 2008 Toyota 4Runner
  By Mark S. - October 26 - 12:33 pm

  I originally wanted a Tundra Limited Pickup because of the versatility, the sunroof, and the electric back window, but it wouldnt fit in the garage, so I waited until there was a 0% financing option and bought the 4- Runner. I love it with a few reservations. As Ive read in other reviews, the mpg indicator is somewhat optimistic. Ive been averaging about 20 mpg at highway speeds of 70 mph. If I keep it at 55-60 Ive done as well as 23 with the V6. The interior with the Urban Runner option is much nicer than the standard Sport, but I wonder how sturdy the Alcantara portion of the seats will be over time. The Tom-Tom GPS is great, as you can remove and use separately.

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  Fun But Also a Pain - 2004 Toyota Matrix
  By Tanamoor - October 26 - 7:56 am

  Pros: Good acceleration, great on trips. Comfortable inside, roomy for passengers, the seats lie flat, front passenger seat lies down - can carry long items. Has an AC outlet. I loved the 6 dsc CD changer and the moonroof. Nice looking exterior. The seat sits a little higher than most sedans and the shift lever is forward on the dash which is comfortable for me. Cons: gas pedal is very touchy. It is easy to stall out when starting from a standstill. Sometimes it has trouble going into 1st or 2nd gears. The engine is annoyingly loud. The "apron" or skirt deal under the front grill is very cheap and low to the ground so it gets scraped all the time.

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  World Class - 2006 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By Joe - October 25 - 8:50 pm

  Great roadability: steering brakes suspension. Great performance and acceleration. Only problem experienced is squeak in dash. Overall quality exceptional. I am completely secure in this vehicle in any terrain in any weather whether highway or outback. Nothing beats world class.

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  2008 highlander hybrid - 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By nathan - October 25 - 6:23 pm

  For a full sized SUV - its amazing. The limited edition is full of all the extras. A lot of the same stuff that others are posting here. Its not advertised for "offroad", but then neither was my truck.

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  XLE (VS) ES 350 - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Erick Strong - October 25 - 6:16 am

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  Best Purchase Yet! - 2011 Toyota Highlander
  By mcduv87 - October 25 - 2:59 am

  We previously had an 07 Tahoe and realized that our family didnt need all of the extra girth, nor did we want to keep paying $85 for a tank of gas. The Highlander so far has been a great vehicle! Were averaging close to 22 MPG which includes a good deal of stop-and-go in-town driving. The third row seat shouldnt be counted on unless youre in a pinch. The DVD entertainment system has kept the kids happy in the back seat on longer rides. We opted for the Limited edition to get all of the tech-options, but still managed to get a good deal -- close to 10% below MSRP.

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  Experience with 1997 Toyota Corrolla - 1997 Toyota Corolla
  By mjbjjt@aol.com - October 25 - 2:00 am

  We acquired this Toyota Corolla new. It has been a total pleasure to own and drive. In 50,000 miles, we have had no repair problems. It handles smoothly and effortlessly. It produces excellent gas milage, 30 mpg. We would not hesitate to acquire another Toyota Corrolla.