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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  Best on the Road - 2009 Toyota Tacoma
  By Danny - January 16 - 4:56 am

  The best small truck with a big truck feel. Plenty of power for off road work towing welders etc. Not cheap, but great buy.

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  Cruisin in the Tundra - 2005 Toyota Tundra
  By Nowell - January 15 - 11:13 pm

  I bought this truck to replace my pile of 2002 GMC Denali. Seem very durable and powerful with the v6. I have an automatic and am getting no less than 22 mpg on the freeway at 75 mph with the a/c on. 26 mpg with the a/c off at 60 mph. I had to add a cruise control which was a small engineering marvel since the vehicle is drive by wire. Being a mechanic it was just a sunday in the shop. It looks factory and works great. It could be the reason the gas mileage is so great. I love this truck and will never purchase a Ford or GM product again. I hope it runs 300k. You know how those slant 6 six run for ever.

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  8 passenger mini van - 2015 Toyota Sienna
  By I am a real person .Not a robot - January 15 - 9:15 pm

  Best 8 passengers mini van ever which I owned, with ease, roominess and comfort. Reliability is excellent. Larger than my previous mini vans. Cargo space behind the 3 rd; row seat is generous. No complains.!!

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  2006 4Runner Limited - 2006 Toyota 4Runner
  By melady - January 15 - 7:03 pm

  Well, what did I expect? Its a truck, after all- and it drives like one. I was used to car-frame SUVs, and must say I miss their agility and ability to handle curves without slowing down to 25 mph! Mine is top of the line, but it feels cheap inside. Ive also been used to German vehicles, and have learned that once youre used to that level of quality, its hard to retreat to the Japanese style of imprecise steering and general loosey-gooseyness in the handling department. Affordability is excellent, but next time Ill definitely go back to a German vehicle that makes driving a pleasure, not something that must simply be endured.

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  Best Vehicle Ive ever owned - 2000 Toyota Echo
  By JDR - January 15 - 6:30 pm

  Ive had no problems with this car at all. I replaced two sensors over 101,100 miles other than that the car is nearly flawless, comfortable even for tall people like myself. The dash board design is simple and easy to view. The stereo system is outstanding with six speakers. The gas mileage is phenomenal. Ive owned many cars and this is by far one of the cheapest, fun to drive, and above all else reliable. Low maintenance costs. I cant say enough about this car except that Id buy another one if they still made them.

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  A great and fun vehicle to drive - city or hwy - 2014 Toyota RAV4
  By fray1 - January 15 - 5:23 pm

  I got the top trim level and added remote start, homelink, and a trailer hitch. Remote start and heated seats are great on those chilly, Midwest mornings. I am a conservative driver, having traded in a 2008 Prius, and I am routinely getting between 32-33 mpg on the hwy, and about 27-28 in city driving in Eco mode. This vehicle is fun to drive, and dollar for dollar is the best deal on the market. I test drove the Honda CRV, Subaru Forester and Crosstrek, and the Mazda CX-5, and none could compare pricepoint and features. Reliability and comfort have been fantastic!!

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  Great vehicle but pricey - 2017 Toyota Highlander
  By Lee C - January 15 - 2:54 pm

  We love the Highlander but did not love the price. The safety features are the best, comfort is a close second.

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  Disappointed - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By Wally - January 15 - 10:23 am

  We just completed a 4200 mile trip in our new Prius. We drove the speed limit, and had the car in eco mode the whole time. We averaged 44 mpg. Needless to say, we were not happy with the mileage. The car rides well, but the road noise is almost unbearable on some road surfaces. The fit and finish is good, but the quality of the materials seems to be a little on the cheap side. The outer door panels flex when you close the doors. The plastic wheel covers over the allows dont help. When we limit our driving to in town driving with short trips on the road or freeway, we average 49 mpg. The car seems to be overpriced for the features offered.

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  Swagger Wagon Quality? - 2011 Toyota Sienna
  By paublo73 - January 15 - 2:36 am

  Bought this van when our 2nd child was on her way last June. Immediately loved the practicality and versatility of the interior. It just makes life easy with kiddos in car seats. Also have used it to haul various cargo and people and wondered what we did without it. It drives well for a van with a smooth ride although the steering and brake feel are a little light. The dash plastic is a tad on the cheesy side but the switchgear has a quality feel. Unfortunately so far we have had a window leak, a recall notice for the brake pedal bracket, and now have a stability control problem that has illuminated 4 warning lights and the central info screen. What the heck has happened to Toyota Quality?

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  Owned for 20 months - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By jeff - January 15 - 1:36 am

  I wanted to write this review for two reasons. First, to indicate my impressions on the car. Second about Edmunds ratings. The car itself has been great and all that was advertised. I have averaged about 36 MPG, 42 on highway trips. The trunk is smaller than a normal Camry, but it has enough height to make it very usable. I have it loaded with leather and Nav, most people dont really see the difference between this and another loaded Camry. Very please thus far and have had no problems. Edmunds seems to rate this vehicle low, but i dont think they rate almost any hybrid high unless it is like the high end Lexus LS ($100K). Edmunds tends to rate on pure power and not usability