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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  So Far, So Good - 2016 Toyota Corolla
  By wayne - February 27 - 6:49 pm

  Bought the 2016 Corolla LE in Feb 2017. I didnt figure I d even have a shot at a 2016 model this late into the game but the dealer near me had bought a group of 5-6 and seemed to have them priced aggressively. I have always owned Fords or Chevrolets but I wanted to try a Toyota because Ive heard so much about their longevity. The last two cars Ive owned lasted me 12 and 13 years each. Im hoping to get much more than that from this 2016 Corolla. I put about 250 miles per week on it so far and the best thing Ive noticed is the mileage. Averaging 37mpg running city/highway miles. Hoping to get a little better than that when the summer gas mix comes out. It has the feel of a small car ride but the room inside seems spacious. So far, so good for this Corolla. I hope it gives me many years of riding pleasure ahead.

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  Transmission - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By Tom - February 26 - 3:00 pm

  Bought used with 14,000. Very well maintained. At 84K the transmission lurched. Learned that the ECM ($1,300) was defective and may have affected the transmission. Have never had a transmission problem with 8 cars purchased - some with 200K miles. I WILL NEVER BUY A TOYOTA AGAIN.

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  Nice Truck - 2009 Toyota Tacoma
  By Mateo - February 25 - 10:16 pm

  This is my first Toyota and I bought it without a test drive. I think overall it is a nice truck with a good set of extras. However, given Toyotas track record of excellent and dependable vehicles, I expected a bit more for the $$. For a new truck, there is already an annoying rattle/vibration at low RPM and it is especially noticeable when its cold. The transmission seems to hunt when it downshifts, giving the sensation that you are are driving on ice at times.

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  Good value truck - 2002 Toyota 4Runner
  By mike!!!!!!!! - February 25 - 6:46 pm

  I bought my 4Runner new with the sports package that includes running boards, hood scoop, bumper plate, etc. I have had no problems with it and it performs very good offroad. I highly recommend getting one with 4wd, which makes it much funner to drive.

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  Good, Economical car - 2016 Toyota Corolla
  By Chad - February 25 - 5:15 pm

  So far, so good. I chose this model because I didnt want to spend a bunch of money on a basic car to get me back and forth to work but wanted something with a reliable history. I wish the fuel tank was a little larger. Que Sera, Sera.

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  Fun to drive - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By chinodeb - February 25 - 6:00 am

  This is our 4th purchase of a brand new Toyota. First time to purchase the Corolla. It has more power than the 6 cyl. Camry we had. We purchased the car site unseen. The Corolla is fun to drive but I would not recommend it for long distance driving unless you want to stop every few hours and walk around. Toyota has come a long way over the last 18 years. They just keep improving and they get better and better.

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  Problematic - 2001 Toyota Prius
  By SoCaluser - February 25 - 2:00 am

  Weve owned lots of Toyotas and usually expect high reliability from the company. The 2001 Prius hasnt met that expectation. Our car has been the shop every couple of months with lots of problems including: tires wearing out, steering column noise, battery dying, mysterious engine stalls, electrical problems that disabled the radio and assorted other nagging things. Weve been quite surprise by the severity of the problems and the inability of Toyota to diagnose and fix them. Presumably, the newer version of the Prius have worked through the problems. But the 2001 was been a disappointment.

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  Pros & cons - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By dehaas5 - February 24 - 6:50 pm

  We just got in a head-on accident in our 2005 Prius. The cars "crumple zones" performed perfectly keeping the engine out of the interior, greatly reducing injuries. However, one of the rear seat belts did not "grab" sending my son flying into the back of the seat in front of him resulting in head injuries. Also, the gas mileage was never at 60 mpg as touted. Even with conservative driving (slightly letting off the gas) the best we could maintain was about 46 mpg. Also, the interier dash finish rubbed off easily and seats needed better fabric. Even with these flaws, we are considering re-buying, because other features worked great,it was very dependable and improvded exterior styling.

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  A Car For These Times - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By simpson - February 24 - 10:03 am

  The fact that (on purpose) over twice I have almost run out of gas to check mileage should help me brag on the 40 mpg of this little one. What a plus! I do not feel comfortable driving in windy times, as the car feels very shaky on the road when the wind or an 18 wheeler whizzes by. I dont feel safe in it in the way of being protected in case of an accident -- but, I do feel it is extremely dependable, economic, and the body style makes it undesirable, so far, for those who would want to take other cars :) - it is difficult to see to the right when making a turn - due to the seat/door panel, a safety concern.

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  Boring but reliable! - 1995 Toyota Camry
  By DWRJR - February 24 - 10:00 am

  My Camry has been exactly what I was looking for. It is an extremely reliable vehicle built with quality in mind. I opted for the 4cyl, which offers pretty good mpg for a car that size (26-29mgp), but it makes it a bit of a dog to drive. Definetly is not going to win any performance awards, but its guaranteed to be there!