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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  Revolutionary!! - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By Stevo - October 16 - 3:13 pm

  I have to say, I am so impressed with my new truck. I have been driving BMWs for the last five years and coming out of a 40K car to a truck I was not expecting the luxury drive as well as the power and handling. WOW! What an extraordinary driving machine. I love it so much. The TRD package is worth every penny! I am absolutely impressed with it and cant wait to plan some fishing trips.

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  Great Car - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Linda Clifford - October 16 - 1:13 pm

  I love everything about this car. It is comfortable, roomy, powerful, fun to drive and safe above all. Everyone who rides in it comments on how comfortable it is and how roomy it is. Gas mileage is as good as you could expect with a 6 cylinder coming close to 30 on the highway with cruise control. Not bad. I would recommend this car to anyone who loves luxury at a reasonable price.

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  Another Typical Toyota - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By Pete - October 16 - 9:33 am

  I have owned a number of Toyota pickups in my life, and this one is typical... thats a good thing. The new 06 Tacoma base is a strong runner, lots of low end torque, and when the rpms go up, it really pulls hard. The 2.7 is so much stronger than the 2.4 liter, and the good thing is that the fuel mileage is about the same... what a deal! Interior is much more comfortable, even with the bench seat. It actually has side bolsters that hold the passengers from sliding around hard corners. The dash now has a full set of nicely appointed guages. Hey, there is no need for a bed liner since the composite bed takes care of that. Yep, another typical Toyota, high quality, great performance and price.

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  Best Truck Ever - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By tbrown78 - October 15 - 11:16 pm

  Ive driven a lot of trucks, and this is hands down the best truck Ive ever driven. The ride is smooth, the engine is powerful, and most important the truck is capable. Dont waste your money with Dodge and Nissan, while they are good trucks they fall way short when you caompare them to the Tacoma.

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  I love what you do for me.... - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By NY Joe - October 15 - 5:46 pm

  I am 67" 250 and generally a hard to fit consumer. Thats especially true with cars. Previously had a pickup because of the size requirements. When I read of the new TCH, I was interested. Well I went into the dealership, sat in one, had plenty of headroom, leg + shoulder room. Its even plenty of room behind me for my daughter. The Tilt/Telescopic wheel really makes it comfortable for me as the wheel adjusts over my knees!! The new TCH looks great too! Ive owned it for 2 weeks and am getting 44-47 mpg combined mileage. Toyota definitely was conservative in its estimates. Plenty of power on the hills of the Hudson Valley. Gets lots of looks from kids here in Newburgh too!

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  Try it, youll like/love it!!!! - 2011 Toyota Avalon
  By eugene - October 15 - 2:46 pm

  This car drives well. It has a tight turning circle for a large car, smaller than the turning circle in my Volvo s60 (which was surprising). The trunk is slightly smaller than the 06 Limited I traded in. It uses regular gas and the maintenance is minimal. Since it is black, it looks great when washed and waxed. The interior is quiet, even when it is windy outside. Gas mileage is impressive, especially for a car this size. This is my second Avalon and it took some time for me to adjust to driving it. Take it easy; its a car to be driven smoothly. It has great get up and go when on the highway, passing and changing lanes. It takes a lot of composure to drive it. I am constantly tempted to drive faster, etc. But, if I wanted speed for speeds sake, I would drive my s60, which has a beauty all its own. This car takes you by surprise, urging you to want to take more road trips, which I plan to do. Go for a test drive and you might want to get one too. I purchased an extended warranty, since I plan on many road trips, where almost anything can happen. I also bought an after-market GPS to help find " things".

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  2002 4Runner Last Of The Beautiful Style - 2002 Toyota 4Runner
  By JeffJeff - October 15 - 2:00 am

  The truck is nice very nice. Ive had it for almost 3 months now and Im happy with it. My friends love it, my parents love it, people who I dont even know love it. It seems like everyone likes this SUV. At almost 4000 miles on it, it still has the new car smell. It rides great, sounds great and just is a great all around SUV. I had an 89 Camry before this and this was a great little car and I expect this new Toyota to be a great car as well. Well see as the months and years go by how it turns out.

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  RAV4 - 1998 Toyota RAV4
  By AndreaH100 - October 15 - 2:00 am

  I had one problem with the gas cap spring about a year after I bought it, but I took it to the dealership and it was fixed easily. Right now, I am having a problem with my auto door unlock and the auto windows that I need to get looked at. Aside from that, it has been a great car.

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  Hello Toyota - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By judsaba - October 15 - 2:00 am

  My Toyota Corolla is by far the best car I have ever owned. From every standoint, the engineers at Toyota have excelled in giving the buyer of the Corolla an excellent value for his money After a week of ownership, I have yet to find a fault with the car and I am quite happy with my new 2003 Toyota CE

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  Good Car - 2007 Toyota Prius
  By Nevada Bob - October 14 - 1:23 pm

  I love this car. I had a 2005 fully loaded. Got a 2007 Touring fully loaded and like it better then the 2005. Comfort of front seat (drivers) is much better. I drove from Las Vegas Nv to San Pedro Calif and then to Ontario Calif. Topped the tank off, a whopping 7.46 gal. WOW!! Most of this at 65 to 75 MPH.