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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  one of the best SUVS on the market - 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By Tyson at Miami Motor - October 19 - 10:00 am

  overall toyota has done an outstanding innovation to its landcruiser while many people may perfer the sequioa becasue of the cheaper tag the landcruiser is well wroth the price it is a symbol of sucess you dont see many on the road ... compared to the sequioa its WAY more Prestigious

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  THE 4 DOOR TACOMA - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By JIM IN FLORIDA - October 19 - 10:00 am

  ,THE 4 DOOR IS GREAT FOR 4 PEOPLE OR FOLD DOWN THE SEAT FOR STORAGE.I SEE IN THE REVIEWS THAT WE ALL DONT LIKE THE CLOCK,, I CHECK IT AT RED LIGHTS,,HAHA,,I LIKE THE WAY IT HANDLES, DESCENT ON GAS,(LIVING IN FLORIDA WITH THE A/C ON ALOT CAUSES MUCH LOWER GAS MILEAGE)LIKE THE RELIABLITY OF IT,THE ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS A DIGITAL TYPE COMPASS ON THE MIRROR LIKE I SEE IN SOME OTHER 25,000 DOLLAR VEHICLES. I TRAVEL ALOT WITH MY TRUCK AN MAYBE A DIGITAL COMPASS/TEMPERATURE GAUGE COMBO ON THE REAR VIEW MIRROR.ID LIKE TO KNOW IF ANYONE NOTICES AFTER IT RAINS, THE WATER DRIPS RIGHT INTO THE POWER WINDOWS CONTROLS

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  A believer - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By Darlaskeez - October 19 - 10:00 am

  Had a 94 4Runner as a second vehicle, sold it w/168,000mi and still going strong, only very minor rust. Great vehicle, no major mechanical problems so bought another! Love the changes made in 10yrs. time especially handling and ride. I ski patrol in the Michigan U.P., my old vehicle always started, always got through any driving conditions (and Ive been through them all). Expect the same quality and reliability in my new 4 Runner! Never considered any other vehicle. Cant say enough, just buy one!

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  Adventure if you need it... - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By Mellow553 - October 19 - 10:00 am

  ...but still very behaved on everyday roads. I was a bit overwhelmed by my purchaseof this oversized vehicle,coming from a previous owners list of small german-imports.. I was very skeptical. Well, its been a week now and I can tell you that Im pleasantly surprised with the way this car handles and its smooth acceleration.

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  Luxury and utility - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By hmurphy - October 19 - 10:00 am

  My husband and I love this car! Its smooth and comfortable and looks great inside and out. I like the open layout and nice materials used throughout the interior. It drives like a dream and is very easy to maneuver despite its size. Its great for carrying a lot of stuff, and is very luxurious and comfortable for hauling passengers too. I cant say enough good things about the car. Its practical and indulgent at the same time.

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  The best SUV I have driven - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By bababa - October 19 - 10:00 am

  The Highlander is much heavier than the RAV4 I owned.

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  Corolla: Great Car! - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By cruisinmomma - October 19 - 10:00 am

  I have never owned a Toyota before. Its a great, fun, little car to drive. I look forward to driving it for many years!

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  Gotta Love Toyotas!! - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By Tdawg0284 - October 19 - 10:00 am

  I absolutly Love my 05 Corolla!!! I choose it over the Honda Civic. And I am very pleased that I did. I looked at an S and the LE. I ended up with the LE! I have the in dash 6 CD changer and the side airbags along with the antilock breaks. It is a perfect car for a college student. I know I have a reliable ride! I love how tall it sits. I dont feel like Im going to be run over by an SUV anymore. I am short so I have to sit closer to the pedals and my arms dont feel cramped in this car. Its so nice!

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  I love this car - 2000 Toyota Echo
  By cassandral - October 19 - 8:56 am

  I bought this car used with 114k miles. It is my first car and its perfect for me. I was shocked at how much room there is inside-it looks so tiny from outside. Im 59" and I never have enough leg room in my moms car-2000 Dodge Neon. In my Echo I actually had to move the seat up so I was closer to the wheel! But yet its also small enough that I can park literally anywhere. It handles really nicely on hills and on curves, and barely takes any time to accelerate. The trunk is huge and has a really cute secret compartment with the jack. I havent had this car very long so I dont know about the reliability, but the dealer gave me a free 3year warranty b/c even he knows nothing will go wrong!

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  Good to Go - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By Dan J - October 18 - 11:36 pm

  Great van to roll the kids around in. Dont know why other people have issues with MPG? I ran this on Oahu traffic (bad) with 19 MPG and now up in the NW getting 22.1 avg. Step a little lighter on gas, it is powerfull for a van but not a race car, standard gas saving tips.... The OEM tires were awful and I did replace them @ 29K. Now up to 40K with no issues.