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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  Still solid and comfortable after 3 yrs. - 2000 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By southern California - February 23 - 2:00 am

  Though it will never be a sports car, it handles quit well with the full time 4WD. The 4WD enables hard cornering with limit loss in momentum, but major loss of rubber. Feels solid and is very quiet doing 80+ mph on the freeway. Not the best-looking SUV, but it has Toyota reliability so far.

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  awesome - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By big bird - February 23 - 2:00 am

  this car is awesome! its very cheap, and extremely nice

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  My Corolla Rocks! - 1999 Toyota Corolla
  By Nienna - February 23 - 2:00 am

  My corolla has been a delight. As a single mother on a budget, reliability is everything and this car delivers. Its cute and fun, roomy and gets great gas mileage. Its door design is perfect for getting my son in and out of his car seat and theres tons of trunk space. Its made me a Toyotta owner for life!

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  Comfort, Value, Quality - 2001 Toyota Avalon
  By Panther Mike - February 23 - 2:00 am

  No problems with car at all. JBL stereo kicks butt. Smooth ride with plenty of power. Easily fit three adults (or car seats) in the back. Just a joy to own and drive.

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  great truck - 2000 Toyota Tundra
  By jammer29 - February 23 - 2:00 am

  I have 170,000 miles on it and it is still kicking A$$ !!! I replaced the breaks at 102,000 miles.

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  Awesome - 2003 Toyota Tundra
  By Robertt - February 23 - 2:00 am

  Not only is this a great, no super truck the dealership made the buying experience a pleasure. I have had Chevys in the past and this is a much tighter, more solidly built vehicle.

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  my tundra 4dr rocks - 2004 Toyota Tundra
  By johanna - February 23 - 2:00 am

  I bought this truck because I always wanted a toyota, but was just waiting for the full size version to come along. The wait was well worth it. It rides like a car, and inside is soo quiet. The stereo system is the stock 6 speaker, but puts out very well. Engine performance is awesome, although there seems to be a little lag when you first step on the gas. MAybe its just my driving style. It does need better gripping tires to perform in a 4wd situation, because I have experienced a little slippage due to the slick road tires that come standard.

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  Getting Dated - 2004 Toyota Tundra
  By Sarge Calden - February 23 - 2:00 am

  The Toyota Tundra is an extremely reliable truck. My truck endures urban stop and go, and if traffic opens up, Im gone. The 4.7 is flawless. 245 hp is good for nearly all pickup owners as is the 7,000 lb towing. I own 3 trailers and it pulls. Dont get the 3.4 if your towing, although it is bulletproof. Car-like ride is nice. Do proper maintenance and it will n

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  djnreview - 2000 Toyota Camry
  By djn210 - February 23 - 2:00 am

  Great Car! Extremely Reliable. Best performance for someone who puts alot of miles on car. Now have 75,000 miles on car with no major repairs. Put new brakes, tires and shocks/struts on car recently. Rides and performs great.

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  Reliable, comfortable car - 2000 Toyota Camry
  By toyowner - February 23 - 2:00 am

  Ive had this car for 4 years and have never had a problem...only routine maintenance such as changing tires and oil changes. Ive got 26,000 miles on it so far.