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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  Great car - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By jwilson778 - August 4 - 2:00 am

  After 18 mos one trip to dealer to fix rear axle seal. Smooth v-6, decent mileage very good storage for the size. 8 year warranty on engine (to address sludge fears). Traded Odyssey LX for this more reasoable sized car but still have the high ride height and got AWD

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  Papa Loves His Prius! - 2007 Toyota Prius
  By Papa - August 3 - 10:26 pm

  Well, I have had this new 2007 Toyota Prius for exactly one month now and I have driven it 1400 miles. Some would say that isnt long enough to know much about a vehicle. I disagree. This is a very comfortable and quiet car; hence those miles were easy to drive. I am less fatigued than I would be if I drove the same 1400 miles in a Subaru or a Saturn. (I have owned many Subarus and one Saturn.) This car is so much fun to drive! Its the future, but now. I feel like Im driving a car for the second millenium! I love that this car is so well thought out and safe. Toyota hasnt compromised much of anything as far as I can tell - plenty of power on the highway & great fuel economy wherever.

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  New to the Corolla Line - 2016 Toyota Corolla
  By HV - August 3 - 5:04 pm

  For my age, in the lower 60s, this is a nice conservative looking car. Im new to the Corolla line and for years Ive admired the new look. I bought one. I like everything about this car except for the stock tires. TireRack rated these low rolling resistance stock tires as one of the lowest in ride quality and it feels like it, i.e. some road noise. However when these tires wear out, Im looking to buy some premium low rolling resistance tires that will make everything about this car top notch. As a scientist, Im just looking to go from point A to point B with affordability, reliability and best fuel economy in mind.

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  Bullet Proof Camry - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Hamish - August 3 - 4:53 pm

  I drive in the Baltimore, MD beltway traffic and have found myself to be rather relaxed due to the visibility out all the windows, the potent 4 wheel disc brakes, and the beefy 3.5 liter engine. Merging into the flow of traffic is a snap and the ride is quite smooth. I got the 6 disc CD player and the 400+ watt system sounds amazing. The 7 airbags, the traction/braking control option, and the size of the car itself lends to a very confident and safe ride. I would recommend it to anyone with a family (roomy) or single (classy). Way to go Toyota.

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  Sienna CE Rocks - 2002 Toyota Sienna
  By sbarclay - August 3 - 10:00 am

  We have only had one problem with our Sienna, and that is who is going to drive it. My husband and I love the car and feel like we got a good deal from a great dealership, so we have never looked back with disgust. This car is going to be with us for a long time, and it seems to be keeping up with us.

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  2002 AVALVON - 2002 Toyota Avalon
  By Tim Corbin - August 3 - 10:00 am

  BEST CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED

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  FUN - 2002 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By BlueFrog - August 3 - 10:00 am

  This car is very fun to drive, with good response and handling. It turns more heads than a Boxter because there are fewer on the streets. It also costs much less.

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  Top quality in its class - 2002 Toyota Echo
  By wilhelm - August 3 - 10:00 am

  I test drove several cars in its price range, while some where cheaper and others had better base bells and whistles, it was the quality construction of the vehicle and tightness of the drivetrain that won me over. Id rather have a car that will last 20 years than an engine that wears out before the power windows.

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  We LOVE our NEW USED Avalon - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By toofdr3 - August 3 - 7:54 am

  We have always had great experiences with Toyota Avalons. My husband drove our last Avalon for years with minimal service required. We recently just purchased another used Avalon 2006 Limited without any hesitation. High quality, affordable, and it was nice to know that the value of the car did not depreciate as soon as we drove it off the lot (like other brands).

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  Fantastic! - 2005 Toyota Matrix
  By foxxy1 - August 3 - 2:13 am

  I just bought the car yesterday and I love it. Its very roomy; big enough to fit my 6"4 father and two small nephews. The handling is great and the gas mileage is so far so good! A very pleasant surprise! Highly recommend!