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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  Greatest comfortable economy car - 2014 Toyota Corolla
  By hjolly - October 21 - 9:24 pm

  As mentioned by someone else, this car generally get so-so reviews because it doesnt comply with auto-journalist enthusiasts vision of a great car : no turbo, no DI, no IRS, no 4 disc brakes... They miss the point. This "old technology" package accomplish equivalent or more than some of the fancier competition : comfortable and composed ride and decent power with a hard to beat fuel economy (Im at 38 mpg average (50/50) over 10,000 miles, despite the break-in period and harsh winter. Lots of plastic Inside but well put together with a somewhat elegant design. Real DEL headlights (not decorative) are great. Steering wheel /voice, Bluetooth, USB, back-up camera. Any equivalent for 20K $ ?

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  Finally - 2011 Toyota Avalon
  By James Woodruff - October 21 - 4:15 pm

  Love this car...!!! The look the ride...everything i hoped for.

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  Happy but Expected Better Performance - 2006 Toyota Sienna
  By Harriet from Texas - October 21 - 5:10 am

  Bodystyle=fabulous. Interior luxury=Lexus. Love flexibility of fold down rear seats & seat configurations. Automatic side & rear doors=priceless. Sound system=awesome w/ great source options. Absolutely agree- needs front cntrl of DVD player. Want to use it w/little kids, have to stop car & climb back. Very disappointed w/ power of engine - has to upshift on slightest hill @ avg wghts-& fuel economy=16.4 mpg @ 50/50 driving. Front psngr seat=very uncomfortable-only 4way- very short& it feels like I’m going to fall out of it; I am only 5’6”. Have not taken it for a long trip-I don’t see being able to sit in the passenger seat for > 1 hr. Back seats=great. Overall=happy but for price- should be thrilled.

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  A good reliable car - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By FRANKLIN VAZQUEZ - October 20 - 4:43 pm

  Solid performance, no problems of any kind, just what you expect from a good quality car company.

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  SUV that drives like a Car - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By I500X - October 20 - 12:00 pm

  Ive driven a few cars of similar size and type. They dont compare to this cars performance! The Highlander has great handling that gives the driver a nice feel for the road.. the steering is sharp.. the acceleration is good.. the brakes are excellent! The interior is pretty solid.. the only complaints i have is that it gets noisy at high speeds and the sound system could be better. Ive been using the Highlander for trips, moving boxes/furniture, moving heavy materials, and everyday use! Its very useful to have a larger car but the Highlander is not so large that it becomes bulky. It still feels like a car, rather than the truck (unlike the 4Runner).

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  Fun to drive - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By witt - October 20 - 8:16 am

  Only have 5000 miles, own a prius and of course mileage is better in that vehicle, but the room and solid ride is very comfortable .

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  my toy - 2001 Toyota Celica
  By lg - October 19 - 8:36 pm

  I bought this car after owning 1990 Celica for 11 yrs. I had test drove the Solara, but I just fell in love with the style and handling of the 2001 Celica. Its a great car to drive, if youre small. It does ride like a sports car and can feel rough on the road.

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  Surprisingly bad - 1992 Toyota Camry
  By Marv - October 19 - 5:36 pm

  I was surprised with all the trouble I had with it. I had to replace the rack, water pump, and radiator. When I managed to get rid of it, the heater didnt work and I was still having problems with the car overheating, there was a major leak in the air conditioning system, and the AT wasnt shifting well. I suspect that a previous owner must have badly mistreated this vehicle (and possibly rolled back the odometer), though its possible Toyota occasionally produces an individual lemon.

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  Loved my Toyolla - 1994 Toyota Corolla
  By s - October 19 - 10:53 am

  Bought it with 40k, now at 160k with only standard repairs needed- alternator, radiator. Alternator kept needed to be replaced after the first one, but that is apparently not that unusual for rebuilt ones. One of the rear door handles didnt work from the outside, had it fixed once but happened again. Overall: super reliable, not super fast but still fun to drive (5 speed manual), great mileage.

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  An Example Of Quantity Not Quality - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Al - October 18 - 9:00 pm

  Tremendously powerful engine! Beautifully designed spacious interior is a work of art outclassing many expensive luxury cars. Exterior shape is sophisticated with character and has "presence" on the road. The slip, slide and bang transmission is totally inadequate. It is hesitant, confused and has sloppy throttle response making the Avalon difficult and clumsy to drive in traffic. Build quality is very, very poor. Many maddening rattles, creaks and noises emerge from every direction. Paint blobs in many places. This is not acceptable for a car in this price range. What happened to “Toyota Quality”? More road noise and harsher ride than previous model. Engine has valvetrain noise.