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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  1999 toyota Sienns Transmission Failure - 1999 Toyota Sienna
  By rkovar - April 24 - 10:00 am

  Overal we have bee happy with the XLE. With regular maintenance, it has given us much fewer problems than our previous Plymouth Voyager. However at 72,000 miles the transmission is going faulty. I have heard from a Canadian toyota dealer that the transmission has been an issue with the Sienna. One owner said that their dealer routinely changes the transmission fluid at 30,000 mile intervals. Toyota recommends 45,000. However, after searches on the internet it seems that engine failure due to oil sludge has been more of a common problem than the transmission. Personally, I dont think thats right for a $30,000. car that has been regularly maintained.

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  loved it now time to trade - 1998 Toyota 4Runner
  By 4runnerlover - April 24 - 10:00 am

  fire engine red, sr5, w/manual trans. love this vehicle. time to trade up to a 2003 ltd 4wd. Cant say enough about toyota vehicles this is our 7th in 22yrs

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  Corolla: Great Car - 1998 Toyota Corolla
  By bluejaychico - April 24 - 10:00 am

  If youre looking for reliable, this is the car for you. In 5 years, all I have ever had to do is change the oil. My Corolla has never given me a single concern. And the style never gets old. Great car in every aspect!

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  i like my rav - 2001 Toyota RAV4
  By kaat51 - April 24 - 10:00 am

  i have always liked the style of the rav 4. even more so when the 2001s came out. i too agree that they need a little more power and a little less outside noise inside. the only problem i have had was kind of unusual in so far as my headlights would go out for no apparent reason and then come back on. they fixed a switch the first time but it continued to happen and they never could find out why or duplicate the incident. eventually it stopped totally for whatever reason and has not happened since. explanation???? beats me!! overall i like my rav and to me you cant beat the exterior styling,very sporty.

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  Glad My Son Totalled My Dodge - 2003 Toyota Tundra
  By Butler Builder - April 24 - 10:00 am

  Im in construction and Ive owned mid- sized 4x4s to get around job sites. My son totalled my Dakota and I decided to move up to a full-size. The Dakota was a toy compared to the Tundra. Im on the management side so, I dont carry ladders or forms or lumber, ect. I think a used Chevy would be better for that stuff. But I do have to get around in the snow and mud and spend a lot of time on the road. This is a smoooooth shifter that everybody on the job site tells me they wish they owned.

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  2003 4Runner Limted - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By elvisdog - April 24 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my 2003 4Runner Limited this past January, and I have been extremely happy with it. This truck has outstanding comfort (more so than a 5 series BMW), passing ability (the V-8 has impressive power), and a handsome design (people comment on it all the time). Even though it has a car-like ride, it handled this past winters 26 inch blizzard of snow with no problem. I especially like the design and looks of the interior. It is an intuitive layout, with brushed aluminum and "granite-look" accents. I hate the look of fake wood. My advice to anyone considering purchasing a mid-size suv would be to not be lazy and test drive this vehicle.

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  ticking noise from engine - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By netster - April 24 - 10:00 am

  Great truck overall, fun to drive and sturdy. However, since I purchased the truck, there has been a ticking sound coming from the engine. The dealer said that it is the pully and would fix when toyota figures out a fix.

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  great car value!!! - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By LA camchick - April 24 - 10:00 am

  This cars styling is the first great feature. It is now designed to resemble as said before, a baby Lexus. Ive had the car for 1 month, and so far Ive had no regrets. I got the car for a great value due to additional rebates. and now i feel like i see so many sister silver corollas everywhere! You will not regret buying this; it is so NOT a little economy car. i havent noticed the sulfer egg smell others speak of. (my car was manufactured in 3.03) the steering wheel does feel a bit far away (but i have shorter arms) but it seems that even taller drivers are stating this! the stereo system isnt all that great (cant handle much bass), but is fine/OK.

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  Toyota driver for life - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By Chandler, AZ Driver - April 24 - 10:00 am

  I will continue with Toyota Camrys until they let me down. I turned in my old reliable 87 Camry for the new 03 and am so far very pleased. It was tough saying good bye to old betsy, but wow, the camry has come a long way in the last 16 years! I can just pray that I got a good one and that it lasts 16 years like my last one. The main advantage I will say is the 3 3 point seat belts across the back seats. That, with the crash test results are great for a guy who carts around his three girls. Also, very roomy interior allows me to get two car seats and another older child very comfortably in the back with room to spare.

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  This is the one to beat! - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By iounothing - April 24 - 10:00 am

  I just took delivery of a Sienna XLE with package #16 (DVD, heated leather seats, moonroof). I give Toyota an A- plus for designing a family hauler with every imaginable feature. They make incredibly efficient use of interior space, and while the car looks about the same size as other vans on the outside, it feels more spacious on the inside. Although I paid more than I would have for a fully loaded Honda, I got a whole lot more. I found the Honda to seem cheap and spartan, while Sienna has a Lexus-like feel, with superb fit and finish. The drive is competent, although I will say its a bit too muted for my sports-car tastes.