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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  Reliable Small Truck - 2000 Toyota Tacoma
  By isotope200mev@msn.com - June 29 - 3:09 pm

  Purchased this vehicle new in 2000. 15 years later I only have 119,700 miles on the vehicle and plan to drive it for at least another 100,000 miles. Very reliable, performs well in mud and snow, high clearance....good overall off-road vehicle. Just replaced the front and rear struts/shocks (original equipment lasted close to 120K miles, not bad!). In addition to routine preventive maintenance, I have replaced the tires 2x and the battery 3x. I have been tracking my fuel economy since I purchased the vehicle and have received a15 year average of 21.43 mpg. Interior space is lacking (did not purchase the extended cab), however, I did put a camper shell on the bed. This is a sharp looking small truck and is fun to drive. Toyota reliability is outstanding!

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  I like My Prius - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By olmesbobbon - June 29 - 12:13 pm

  I am impressed with the Prius. Very good gas mileage. Roomy for a small car. Very good acceleration. Comfortable and fun to drive.

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  Great Drive - 2007 Toyota Avalon
  By vagentleman - June 29 - 10:16 am

  Had a I-30 Infinity, not interested in competing with BMW, more interested in a smooth driving and riding machine. Which is what you get with a Avalon. Limited has all the bells and whistles that Infinity offers, plus more at a much better price. Love the room inside, the smart key, the great gas mileage, the memory outside mirrors, the rain activated windshield wipers, etc. I think the interior looks great. I love the attention to details: when you "spritz" your windshield to clean it, the wiper makes several passes, pauses for about 10 seconds and makes a final pass to clear any drips! If the rear sunshield is up, it automatically goes down when you put the car in reverse! Cool!

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  The sport is fine! - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By corolla sport - June 29 - 9:06 am

  My s is great. Very quiet smooth ride handles great. I have had no problems with it so far. My mpg average at 37. My wife loves it. I paid 18,000 @ 0% for 60 months its worth it get an s not the le. Ive heard they have more issues. Negatives the wind does push it a little but if you cant handle that you really should have your license taken, needs a little more horse power but hey what do you expect is a 1.8 with excellent gas mileage. Get the s with a sun roof its really quiet even with the roof back

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  Love it - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Rosemary - June 28 - 11:50 pm

  This is what I wanted, Luxury with the quality of a Toyota. Limited is the way to go.

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  Love it. - 2006 Toyota Matrix
  By Eddsmetz - June 28 - 8:43 pm

  I just purchased a 2006 Matrix XR. I love it. A great deal of interior room. Enough get up and go to get me places. Oh yeah, the gas mileage is fantastic!!!! I highly recommend this car. I could not be happier, okay, if it was free maybe.

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  Big Beast - 2008 Toyota Sequoia
  By LGreen - June 28 - 12:40 pm

  First the bad news - -I cant say I "love" the Sequoia. Id rather be driving a Cayenne or a Land Rover Sport, or a BMW M5. But, with a big family, pets, nanny, and loads of sporting events and gear, the Sequoia does what its asked to do, with ease. The Sequoia really proved itself, in my mind, just a few weeks after we bought it (used, with 20K miles) -- we drove it over 500 miles with kids to South Carolina. The kids didnt peep or complain once -- not a single time! They were comfortable, enjoyed the view out, with their own climate control and multiple cup holders, not to mention the excellent rear DVD system. Ive also taken it offroad a few times and its been fine.

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  Great car!! - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By DJP - June 28 - 6:13 am

  I researched the cost of this car at edmunds.com before I went to the dealership to buy it. This car is very quiet and has one of the best rides of any car I have owned. This includes a Crown Victoria with air suspension! Gas mileage is 33-34 MPG in city and 40+ MPG on the highway! Best sedan for the price of gas now!!

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  Great Vehicle - 2006 Toyota Matrix
  By Bob - June 28 - 3:20 am

  The Matrix is a best kept secret. I had forgotten Toyota made it. The vehicle handles great. Has allot of room inside and I enjoy the leather seats mine came with. The transmission is smooth and the gas mileage is great. I get 32 mpg on the highway and 29 in town. The ride is quiet as well. I set the radio volume when I start up and never need to adjust it. I am very pleased.

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  Its a mixed bag - 2012 Toyota Highlander
  By saveenergy - June 28 - 3:15 am

  If you value reliability, comfort, value, good overall performance then this Highlander is hard to beat.