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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  Power and Style Combined - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By kdr - June 12 - 5:23 pm

  Top of the line styling, best in class! The truck presents like a truck while at the same time scores as a top-shelf SUV from the inside out. The long bed is just that, long on functionality and big on capability. This class, size and design of truck ensures heads turn as you drive by and no doubt fills driver and passengers with pride.

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  2010 4 WD Limited RAV 4 - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By New RAV 4 owner - June 12 - 5:06 pm

  Leased 2 1/2 wks ago and took on a road trip. V-4 performed great in mountains; did not notice road noise others have noted; great cargo area; passenger seat comfortable, but driver seat tight for my 65" husband; agree that interior plastic looks cheap even for the limited; so far love the car and features; was much cheaper to lease than Honda CR-V;

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  More car for the money - 2006 Toyota Matrix
  By giltro - June 12 - 9:23 am

  Big guy in a little car, yeah right! This car is deceiving, truly has enough room for a 511 driver who weighs 275 lbs. Sporty and be ready to get some stares as you drive through town. Its just a great feeling!

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  Nice car, but last Toyota - 2007 Toyota Matrix
  By Ralphus - June 12 - 7:03 am

  This is a nice car. Excellent mileage, easy to drive, comfortable, for a small car. Lots of road noise, but its a small car. The deal killer for me, is you cant lock the doors with the remote if the door(s) are open. You get home from shopping, its raining, you have to get out, unload your stuff in the puddle filled driveway, getting your stuff soaked, fish your keys out of your pocket, lock the car, and get your stuff. Had I known about this "feature", I would have not bought this car. Instead of pushing the button, you have to hold the button on the remote to open the glass hatch. Its faster to use the key. Bad design choices.

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  I made a good choice - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By dmab63 - June 12 - 2:00 am

  Large vehicle, but very easy to handle. The ride is comfortable. The back seating has plenty of room and I have heard nothing but good remarks from all who have riden in the back, including myself.

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  Sequoia review - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By mariakal - June 12 - 2:00 am

  Excellent car for the money...comfortable drive...could use a little better pickup but moves smooth and easy...

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  hand me down - 1994 Toyota Corolla
  By cjsimm - June 12 - 2:00 am

  Bought this car off my brother who was the 1st owner of this car it had 180000 miles when i bought it have put 8000 more on it have only had to have brakes done and new battery cause the last one died.

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  Reliable & quiet - 1995 Toyota Camry
  By a1is4bits - June 12 - 2:00 am

  The Camry is at the top in overall reliability. I love mine too. We have had few problems with ours. I have replaced one CV joint and one CV boot, and probably should replace the oil pan gasket within the year. The car is the XLEV6 that runs so smooth that you have to make sure not try and crank it over again.

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  Nice & Reliable - 2000 Toyota Corolla
  By CorollaHS - June 12 - 2:00 am

  I have owned this car for almost 4 years. It is very reliable, fuel economy has been excellent, auto transmission is smooth, but not much fun to drive. The car can use more horse power when fully loaded (1 driver + 3 passengers) or climbing uphills. Not very comfortable for long distance driving, wind and road noise is high comparing to mid-size cars. Engine is also loud when accelerating. Not stable on windy roads.

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  Toyota RAV4 - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By Jeff C - June 12 - 2:00 am

  The RAV4 exemplifies Toyota quality inside and out. I find the design and engineering of the vehicle to be exceptional. You wont find a loose bolt on this vehicle anywhere. It has more than enough power for a 2.4 liter engine and it turns on a dime. The interior design is well laid out. Instrumentation is easy to read and easily accessible. Overall, the best small SUV on the market in my opinion.