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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  Best Car ever Bought - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By NM - August 30 - 3:10 am

  I have had this car for three weeks now. I went from putting about $140 in gas a week to $35 every two weeks. It has a sleek design and very roomy. The only thing I would change is the location of the ECO button. It is fun to drive. Not as roomy as a minivan but more roomy than other cars in the same price range. It is put together better then the Honda, Nissan and priced less. I had MR2 many years ago (with many, many problems) and this is the first Toyota since.

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  Nice car - 2013 Toyota Avalon
  By megan03 - August 30 - 2:38 am

  Purchased 12/1. Great car. Awesome stereo. Got the Moulin Rouge with the Almond interior.....very difficult to find, dealer had to locate it. Curious as to why the Touring model they dealer swapped for this one had Michelins but my Limited model has Bridgestones? This car feels more luxurious and has more space in it than the Cadillax XTS I drove and much better and smoother performance. Also looked at the ES350 which actually feels cheap compared to this car.

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  Leather seats are horrible - 2011 Toyota Sienna
  By will - August 29 - 4:46 pm

  I just purchased toyota sienna 2011 exl with 8 seats with nav. The quality of seats are very poor, not comfortable at all. Because of this, we regret to purchase this car. We wish to purchase LE instead. When we were in the local dealership, this type of car was not available for test-driving. We did not have a chance to experience the seats. We test-drive a Sienna LE instead. We like how it rides. But my wife wanted to have an Sienna XLE with nav. The dealer had to get this car from somewhere else. & days later, we had this car and made a short trip. Gosh, it hurts my buttock and legs, it also hurt my wifes legs. Now, we simply hate the seats. We do not know what to do with the car.

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  The best car in the world - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By GBRACH - August 29 - 2:56 pm

  Best car in the world. Has no equal. We have bought 3 and will buy 08 when it comes out. My advice is to GET ONE! You will not be disappointed.

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  Not all its made out to be. - 2014 Toyota Corolla
  By Bill - August 29 - 12:21 pm

  My 2014 Corolla has 106,000. miles on it now and other than reliability I have been mostly disappointed with it. Ive always found that the ride to be choppy and harsh. There is a lot of vibration in the steering wheel and the road noise that makes it very tiresome to drive. The seats are comfortable, but because of the low roof-line, I find it very difficult to get in and out without hitting my head on the door frame. The steering is numb and the brakes are mushy. The visibility is poor because of the high dashboard and small windows. Visibility is especially poor at night due to the terrible LED low beam headlights! These headlights cause a sharp cut-off of light above center which is like having a black curtain hanging about two car lengths in front of you. This is especially bad while going down hill which reduces the visible distance to about 1 car length. At times you can literally see pedestrians leg without a hint of their torso. Its almost funny if it werent so dangerous. I hear the low beams cost upwards of a grand to replace too, cant wait for that! The most disappointing thing about the ownership experience of this car has been the paint. Three winters of sanded roads have left the clear-coat paint on the front bumper and hood badly damaged. The black paint is dull and actually looks grey in places. Other cars I have driven under the same conditions have fared much better.

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  Yaris... From Toyota :-) - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By XoQuixxoQAFXo - August 29 - 11:50 am

  Bought my Yaris on March 31st after comparing it to several other cars including the Honda Fit and Nissan Versa. Eventually I went back to the Yaris and easily found a nautical blue sedan with the power package with steel wheels, the keyless entry, side and side curtain airbags, and all weather package. After driving the Yaris for about 2 weeks, I absolutely love it! I love how I get 350 miles on one tank and it only cost $25 bucks to fill it up. :-D

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  Exactly what I needed. - 2011 Toyota Tacoma
  By gardnetm - August 29 - 11:02 am

  I purchased my Tacoma about a week ago, so I cant really speak for the reliability of the vehicle yet, but so far Im still looking for every excuse possible to drive it. I was looking for a compact (a relative term in the truck market today) pickup mostly for my short commute to work and for the occasional weekend trips to Ikea. I dont have a big budget or a need for excessive features in a vehicle. I just need an inexpensive, reliable, versatile vehicle thatll keep up with me and this truck fits the bill perfectly.

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  great truck - 2016 Toyota Tundra
  By nccheung - August 29 - 7:43 am

  first time to buy a truck. Had drive over 1200 miles for the last month. Great ride. Love it. Would be a perfect truck if the gas mileage could be over 20 mpg.

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  2010 Highlander Hybrid - 2010 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Ka - August 29 - 12:36 am

  Fuel economy so far has been better than EPA estimate (29-30MPG mixed). The car is roomy and drives smoothly.

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  My wife loves it! - 2007 Toyota Tundra
  By michaelsy1 - August 29 - 12:13 am

  I have the Timbermica green with the tan interior. 5.7 4x4 TRD. Two words: love it! The wife fell in love with it as soon as she drove it. It handles great, and for a truck with an off road package I dont think the ride is that bad. Fit and finish is great, and there is plenty of room on the inside for traveling or loading up the family for a Sunday outing. The 5.7 is quite and powerful. I would buy it again in a heart beat.