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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  Really fun car - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By C2 - January 18 - 9:23 pm

  I bought the XRS 2 1/2 years ago. Its a great, fun car for a real value. I wasnt excited about buying a Corolla until I found out about the XRS - then I had to have it. As soon as I test drove it, within minutes, I knew I had to have this car. Really fun to own and drive.

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  Great midsize choice - 2009 Toyota Tacoma
  By DCR - January 18 - 6:36 pm

  I traded in my 2004 Tacoma for the dbl cab v6 and I am very happy. The interior is much better and I have the JBL sound system and it is awesome. I pull a 5200lb trailer with it. I was worried it wouldnt do it but was pleasantly surprised, you can tell its there but the v6 has no problem towing it. The rear camera is a bit overrated because its a bubble type view but after awhile of using it you get accustomed to it. Overall these trucks are perfect for the mid-size class.

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  Features of Toyota Avalon - 2001 Toyota Avalon
  By John M Clark - January 18 - 1:10 pm

  My Avalon is a pleasure to drive in particular on long road trips. The response of the car is great as well as the comfort. Excellent gas mileage at approximately 29 mpg on the highway.

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  Incredible Car - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By Jeff - January 18 - 10:36 am

  My Prius has surpassed my expectations. I just put in my second tank of gas since I bought the car and was surprised that I had got 55.6 mpg (per my calculation), the on board computer reported 54.9. My first tank I got 51.5 mpg. I was not expecting the mpg to be this good since the press always states that actual Prius mpg is less than that stated on the window sticker. It may help that I live in very flat and warm Florida. In all other respects this car is very pleasing to drive.

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  Highlander drives great/holds a lot - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By Jim - January 18 - 8:06 am

  Fun car to drive and very functional with a large payload when you fold the middle seats down.

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  So far so good - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By kvp - January 17 - 6:10 pm

  I had almost decided to buy an Accord before I test drove a Camry. Its much smoother and quieter than an Accord. Even though the I4 Camry is rated at 158 HP, lower than the I4 177 Hp Accord lx and 190 HP EX models, I didnt feel a great deal of difference between Camry and Accord LX. Hands down, the Honda has a better quality interior. The Accord had a tighter and a bit more responsive steering and suspension (not by much). But I was immediately impressed by the silky smooth engine, soft shifting and quietness of the Camry. Also Camry LE was cheaper with 16 inch alloys and moon roof than Accord LX-P. I like it so far (fingers crossed).

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  Cool Car - 1993 Toyota Camry
  By mia2106 - January 17 - 3:53 pm

  I really do love this car. It is my first car and I think I did a great job. So far I had the transmission and radiator flushed, my oil changed. The car did not pass inspection because there is leaking power steering fluid. So now I have to get my rack and pinion replaced. Other than that, my car is in excellent condition. The interior and exterior is in great condition. The car only had 93110 miles on it, when I purchased it. The car runs smooth as silk.

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  General problems - 2009 Toyota Tacoma
  By pgrazioso - January 17 - 3:51 pm

  Our truck is three years old. There is a squeeking noise in the shocks. We had the radio replaced. Also the lights on the dashboard for the the controls. The accelerator pedal was recalled. Gas mileage is less than we expected. Now we have rust on the frame. All-in-all we expected better from Toyota.

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  Another satisfied customer. - 2016 Toyota Camry
  By M. Crosby - January 17 - 2:50 pm

  This is our 4th Camry and the second SE that weve owned since 2002. We have been impressed with the quality and reliability of the Camry product. No major repairs on any of them, just routine maintenance. We took this new 2016 on a 1,600 mile vacation with no problems and the car handled very well. This years SE rides smoother than our 2013 SE, maybe because of the 17 inch tires. The cab is quiet too. New features on this model include the back-up assist camera, which is a nice feature. The interior is nice and the finish materials are a step up from recent models. We are happy with this 2016 Camry SE and plan to continue to purchase Toyota products.

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  Tall person digs the Yaris S - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By cpwray - January 17 - 1:13 pm

  I am a freeway/open road driver from a more rural area. Seldom (to never) are we in a rush hour crawl. The Yaris posts near hybrid fuel efficiency with out the hybrids price tag. Power windows, locks and cruise control and fairly good CD sound along with power steering and A/C make this economy model more pleasurable than the economy models of 3 and 4 years ago. I am six-three 230 lbs and enjoy riding in and driving this car. My family has four Toyotas and I do not fit in my daughters Corolla. The Yaris is a different story: it has better interior room.