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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  Toyota Reliability. Not This One. - 2000 Toyota Camry
  By Karen - March 23 - 3:13 am

  Bought the car used with about 13,000 miles on it. Regular oil changes and routine maintenance. Had 2 power window motors give out - expensive! Then at 91,000 miles, a connecting rod broke. Leaves us with a totaled Camry that we thought would last for another 100K miles. Toyota USA refused any help with repairs. Last Toyota Ill own.

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  my avalon - 1997 Toyota Avalon
  By pmp - March 23 - 2:00 am

  i love my car, its beautiful, fun to drive, and above all else very dependable

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  Best Family Vehicle Ever - 2003 Toyota Sienna
  By DaniAmbrose - March 23 - 2:00 am

  Comfortable drive anywhere for our family with three teenagers. We even comfortably transported seven passengers, and a load of luggage and gifts on a four hour ride home for Christmas. And believe it or not, we even brought home a dining room suite, including the china cabinet, in three trips using the minivan.

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  Its all good - 2001 Toyota 4Runner
  By Cobra_pwr - March 23 - 2:00 am

  I have the SR5 Sport Edition. Never seen a sharper looking SUV. This is the 1st vehicle I have owned w/o a V8, and truthfully the 4Runner needs one. Without the truck being in 4WD on wet pavement it is unreliable...though the VSC does help. The moon roof and sliding back window are cool and the gas mileage is not that bad 18-20mpg. Stereo system sucks, the speakers are trash.

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  Looks kind of cool, performance so-so! - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By Arshak - March 23 - 2:00 am

  If it wasnt my old Rav4 was totally by a Suburban, I wouldnt be in the market for a new car this rather short period of time. Well, another Rav4, I rather not. I looked at the Matrix and the CRV. I almost bought the CRV, except that I need something more fun and interesting to look at. I looked at the Protege5 too, but the smaller engine wasnt up to the task to have fun. Well, the Matrix wins, but it is not the king. It wins only by its slightly better acceration and interior roominess. It is not a real sport car to me, but then, it looks kind of cool.

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  3rd Avalon - 2003 Toyota Avalon
  By clifz - March 23 - 2:00 am

  Like this car for its ride reliability,good looks,safety features. Forward vision obstructed by pillars for someone who must drive with the seat far back.(like me).Great power,pickup. Wish they would eliminate that "style" sheet-metal crease that runs the length of the body. Its exactly the same height as the food market rolling baskets. Makes for a $400 dent removal. Really have no serious negative remarks. Of course, its a bit pricey. Also, see they eliminated the secondary sun visor. If I wasnt impressed by this car, it wouldnt be my third in a row.

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  Not Perfect - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By D Nguyen - March 23 - 2:00 am

  The handling of the car in wonderful, making it joy to drive, especially if you got the sunroof option like I did. The styling is refreshing and makes the car standout in the crowd. The downside is the road noise at higher speeds is more pronounced. My psg. side arm rest is pulling loose from the door already. (American workmenship?) Plus the recall,7 days after i bought the car, for loose bolts. I did buy one of the very first cars to hit the market. Maybe in the rush certain Q.C. was over looked. Hopefully they have been corrected.

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  Drive a Camry, Buy a Camry - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By DJKash - March 23 - 2:00 am

  Was not a big Toyota fan but this car is made very well. My car has every available option, including the DVD Navigation system. I love it!!

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  Fuel Saver - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By will199104 - March 23 - 1:06 am

  I have owned my Toyota Corolla for 4 years; I have never had any mechanical problems with it. The Corolla is a very reliable car but I am not impressed with the overall build quality of the car (very flimsy). The car is made from cheap materials, the interior plastic trims scratch very easily, the carpet is cheap and nasty it is impossible to vacuum. In my opinion the Corolla has a good exterior and interior design. Surprisingly it handles vey well is snowy conditions. This is a very fun car to drive. The engine has excellent pick up and gets excellent gas mileage 25/34.

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  Smoothe Jazz - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By Vishal - March 23 - 1:00 am

  Like the title says .. smooth Jazz. If you want to take the stress/work out of driving with ALL the room in the world, Sienna is your Van. Like an edmunds.com editor aptly said - the lexus of Minvians. This Van drives like a dream. Even after owning it for more than a year, I still sometimes cant be sure if the engine is on - Silky smooth. Ive put 17k miles on it all over west coast and look forward to enjoy it for years to come. Mileage is great for a car its size.