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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  An absolute delight - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Marilee - November 8 - 4:00 am

  I had read all about the Prius and enjoyed my short test drive, but not until I took delivery and really put the car through its paces did I begin to smile broadly. The Prius is peppy, accelates well, feels responsive and stable and handles like a dream. The gas tank only holds 10 gallons, but since I get a combined (real world, not the EPA fantasy driving figures) 45mpg, that means I could drive 450 miles between refills. One really doesnt notice when the car shifts between gas and electric, except for the cool display screen. The only problem I had was the upgraded stereo conked out after 5,000 miles. A new receiver, installed under warranty, solved that.

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  slight thumping noise heard when applying brakes - 2012 Toyota Sienna
  By rebling - November 7 - 5:59 pm

  Our 2012 sienna van with about 3000 miles started to make a slight thumping noise when applying the brakes. Sometimes the noise is louder and there is more than one thump. I took my van in for service 3 times for this problem. The first two times the service dept. claimed they didnt hear any noises. The third time I drove the van with a mechanic and he heard the noise. He thinks there was a tsb issued on this problem and that the brake pads were moving and this was considered normal. However, I believe this is not normal and Toyota should investigate further. Does any other 2012 Sienna owner have this problem?

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  Great SUV - 1996 Toyota 4Runner
  By dinger82 - November 7 - 4:46 pm

  Love my SR5 Limited 4Runner. Its a 5sp!

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  Larger than Life - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By John - November 7 - 2:50 pm

  I have had this car for two days now and its great. I am averaging 35 mpg with about 65% city driving. It doesnt take the bumps in the road as well as I had hoped (it takes them similar to my 00 Tacoma). The 09 just looks a whole lot better than the older models. Its got the redesigned front and fancier lights. The display on the dash for clock, mpg, range, should have more than one display. You cant see what time it is unless you have it on clock. In which case you cant see mpg, range, etc. Overall I am very happy with my new car. These cars are flying out of the dealerships so get one while you can!

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  Almost Perfect - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By Gymswim - November 7 - 5:10 am

  I love my new XLE with Navigation, but I wish it came with more current information in its DVD. My version is 2001 Version 1...strange since I bought it in March 2002. The dealer says a new version of the DVD will cost $900. I hope theyre wrong or that Toyota will offer it for free to us this year.

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  New SE V6 - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By jim - November 7 - 2:50 am

  Great looking roomy car that rides and handles well. Good acceleration but some torque steer on hard acceleration. Nice looking interior but seats are very hard and are not comfortable for long trips. Only problem has been a rattle from sunroof so far.

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  Echo, 2000 - 2005 Toyota Echo
  By H. Crowe - November 7 - 1:16 am

  We bought this new and have never had a bad day with it. We sit up nice and high too, and we like where the instrument panel is. It handles great and great mileage. You dont know when you see a good car. Even tall people have found it comfortable, and plenty of luggage space too. Everyone we meet who have one loves theirs too!

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  Great Family Hauler - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By bostonMike - November 6 - 2:43 pm

  My wife and I recently came to the conclusion that with three kids, the purchase of a minivan was inevitable and that we were "uncool" a long time ago anyway. We bought the 05 Sienna LE AWD and love it. This is our third Toyota and we remain convinced that these are the best engineered cars on the road. Rock solid build quality, quality ride and well thought out nooks and crannies for storage make this a great vehicle. The Sienna w/ AWD provides a nice alternative to the Landcruiser (SUV) we had as the previous family hauler. We got a $2300 discount and a great deal on our trade in as well. My only complaint - 17 mpg driving around town, better the SUV mileage, but we expected 20+ mpg.

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  Quality, capability, value and FUN! - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By RedRaider - November 6 - 1:33 pm

  The FJ is a fantastic vehicle and a pleasure to drive. Very, very solid on and off the road. Handling on all road surfaces is predictiable and consistent. Although I have high expectations for Toyota quality (this is our third Yota) I have been extremely impressed. The FJ is manufactured in Japan and the interior/exterior quality is first class. We wanted a new FJ since seeing a pre- production version at a car show. We purchased a fully loaded 4X4 in October.

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  Great Van - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By chris - November 6 - 12:36 pm

  The Best mini van on the market. I highly reccomend it to all of my friends.