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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  My Sequioa - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By Aida - July 20 - 10:00 am

  We absolutely love this car. It drives great and the seating is wonderfull. We can pack up our kids and friends and be on the move. A couple frustrating things about the vehicle is the long reach from the driver to the console. The CD, radio and A/C buttons seem so faraway. I am 55 and have to physically move forward to reach the controls. The other, is how awful the stereo system is. The sound is awfull... do something about this Toyota. We would more than likely buy another Sequoia but those will be the little things we look at. Overall, it is a great car. Love it, Love it, Love it....

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  Difficult to get past the issues - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By JMLEW70 - July 20 - 9:56 am

  I bought my 2007 Camry in Aug 2007 and it seems like I am having issues with reliability. The transmission is "driving" me crazy. It shifts erratically between gears and it stays in a lower gear when it should be shifting to a higher gear. Hesitation during acceleration is a problem. While the transmission is downshifting you can feel it thumping through the gears and an audible banging sound can be heard coming from the trans. The dealership said there was nothing wrong. The radio display has gone dark on me. After tapping the dash directly over the radio it comes back on. I even had a problem with the horn sounding when the headlights were switched on. None of these issues are resolved.

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  A Fun and Fantastic Ride! - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By Psykew - July 20 - 8:06 am

  Bought this car for both fun and family. All in all it has worked out perfectly. I thought it might be a little difficult getting an infant seat out of the back doors but I can do it even without adjusting the front seats. It gets up and goes with the slightest pressure on the gas pedal which makes it great if you have to zoom past someone to exit the freeway. Interior is really wide and you have a ton of headroom. Suspension rides like a dream. I take this crawling every other weekend and it takes every bump with ease.

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  06 Tacoma 4x4 Double Cab LB - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By ED - July 19 - 7:16 pm

  I received the truck with 8 miles and now I have 1100 miles. The quality is as expected-Great and Dependable. Which were the reasons for its purchase. Power is adequate but somewhat dissapointing in what I thought it would be. Gas mileage is between 18-19mpg. Rather plain inside, no thrill or gadgets which is OK. Truck is a lot larger than pre- 05. Very similar to the Tundra in size. Love the composite bed and the 4 doors are so handy. So far the truck has been wonderful..glad I bought the Tacoma. Toyota makes a great vehicle.

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  Great car - 2002 Toyota Echo
  By DICK STUART - July 17 - 10:13 am

  Purchased for my wife and now we fight over who will drive. I always drove big cars but this drives like a big car and the reliability and gas mileage and looks have won me over. You get more than you pay for in this car.

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  Its Good and Bad of it - 1999 Toyota Sienna
  By BCCooper - July 15 - 2:00 am

  Good-comfortable ride, reliable, engine fairly quiet. Bad-front-end wont aligned-constant pull to the right; 4 sets of tires in 120,000 miles-cant locate or fix the problem; replacing the rear lights rear door panel costs $65 at the dealership-you cannot do it; paint peeling off door handles; poorly designed sliding door handles/buttons fail to open or stuck open where the door could be closed-cost $175 per handle; dashboard lights that highlight the AC/Heater dial are shorting (sometimes they re-light with a tap on the dash-most the time not).

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  Chessy Interior Trim Ruins Great Car - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By New Car Buyer - July 15 - 2:00 am

  A quite ride with surprisingly good acceleration for a four-cylinder engine. Gas mileage could be better, and perhaps Toyota will offer a hybrid in the near future.

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  Good overall - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By tacman - July 15 - 2:00 am

  I traded my 01 Dakota in for a Tacoma because the Dodge was crap. So far, I like it. The V6/auto combination is good, but not nearly as fast as the V8 was in my Dakota. Also the V6 can get thrashy at high RPMs. The handling is ok, but not as stable as the Dakota was. The overall vehicle seems put together well but I already have 2 rattles, one in the drivers side dash and another that seems to be coming from the rear left speaker. Funny, because my Dodge had no rattles. Overall I rate it good, but not great, but at least I have piece of mind with the Toyota.

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  Stinkers - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By bic - July 15 - 2:00 am

  I have a problem with exhaust fumes getting into the car under heavy excelleration or when towing. All windows up. Both the dealer and Toyota confirmed it and said it is the gas outside of California and the car is performing to its standards and they can not do anything. It smells like rotten eggs. Toyota corporate said too bad but it is my problem. Also dont expect to see the dash guages with sun glasses on.

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  just ok, not great - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By tx* - July 15 - 2:00 am

  The car is OK if you like 4 door sedans. Dont buy it for the value though, it doesnt hold any. The road noise is a little too much on the highway but handles OK. My Dodge truck is a lot quieter. Watch out for the dealers though, we found they are the biggest liars and wont buy another Toyota for that reason.