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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  worth the money - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By derrickandjodi - March 8 - 2:00 am

  I paid $3000 over MSRP, when most dealers are charging $6-7000 over. Im 62" and barely fit comfortably. The arm rest (center console) for the driver needs more padding. The gas mileage is awsome! There is more road noise than the Camery, but hands down makes up for it in mileage. All-in-all a great car.

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  A good family car - 2000 Toyota Sienna
  By TS4D - March 8 - 2:00 am

  My Toyota has been great, I just recently moved, and I was very pleased to have a bigger vehicle to ease my moving problems. I really like this vehicle overall however theres very minor problem. Sometimes when get into the car and buckle up, the seatbelt unfastened light blinks, even though I have my seatbelt on. I double check and refasten myself but the light is still on, until I repeat the fastening about 5-7 times. I dont know whats up with that problem but Ill have to go to the dealer to see whats wrong. Other than that the car is great for the family, for the kids, and for those long trips.

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  Solid, reliable, safe and efficient - 2001 Toyota Highlander
  By mdb - March 8 - 2:00 am

  My wife and I have been so pleased with her 1999 Landcruiser, we decided to buy a used Highlander for my commute and airport car. I bought my 2001 Highlander used in September 2003 and I have been very pleased. It is rock solid, runs great, no rattles, no squeaks and I average 22 MPG. I really like the high driving position and great gas milage, a rare combo in the SUV world. Mine has the 4 cylinder which has more umph then I expected. Finally, it is great on weekends for errands and hauling the kids to their events, meetings etc. Great vehicle!

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  my "toy"ota - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By Harm - March 8 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this vehicle new and have been driving it for three years. My "toy"ota has been totally reliable. I have not had problems at all with any part of the vehicle. It is both fun and easy to drive because of its size. I have documented an average of 28 mpg/gas on trips. I keep the vehicle clean and shiny and have had numerous comments on its beauty. AND, its a big hit with teenagers.

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  Selling after 2-years - 2003 Toyota Tacoma
  By JIMnPHX - March 7 - 2:46 pm

  First Toyota Ive ever owned. Was sick of my Ford Explorer and my Jeep with all the maintenance issues. Consumer Reports shows great reliability numbers so I purchased it. Over the two years Ive not had one problem with the truck. I average 17 mpg. Weve taken a couple long trips and the two kids (11 & 9) were very comfortable in the rear seats. However I did not enjoy the drivers seat on long trips. My right foot got cramped due to the angle I had to keep by foot at. I am 6-ft 1-in and just never felt at home in the seats. My wife is 5-8 and has no problems. We towed a pop-up camper at 70 mph and got 15.25 over 1200 mile trip thru the mountains of Az and Utah. 20 mpg on other trips.

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  1st car purchase - 2000 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By rower - March 7 - 10:00 am

  this car is perfect for those who love sport cars, but do not have children to tote around. It is probably the best bang for your buck on the market.

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  So far, so good... - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By Jwillis76 - March 7 - 10:00 am

  Ive only had the car a couple weeks, but Im enjoying it a lot. Its high enough off the ground and fast enough to keep up with the big boys. I hope it stays as smooth of a ride now as in 5 years when I can finally pay it off!

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  Good overall truck - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By frankuribe - March 4 - 10:00 am

  Good realiable truck, fun to drive tough for its size.

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  New Hybrid Owner - 2013 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By J. Pilon - March 4 - 5:00 am

  Just bought a used 2013 Toyota Camry Hybrid - 24k miles. Love the color, the features, the ride, the gas mileage! One odd flaw: for some reason, the driver seat in my very well taken care of pre-owned car is not very comfortable at all! It feels like there is a box under the seat! The cushion just doesnt provide enough comfort - which sucks for me - because I commute about 40 miles one way to work and am stuck in traffic here in Houston more than Id like. Im average height and build, so I dont think my size is the issue. The car is a little hard to get used to - hybrids make strange noises that non-hybrids do not! But overall, it rides very smoothly and accelerates like a dream! Im averaging about 40MPG highway - awesome. I love my new Camry Hybrid - just do NOT think the comfort of the drivers seat is all that great.

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  Owner Of Car Six Years! - 1996 Toyota Celica
  By JTODUH - March 4 - 3:46 am

  I bought this car used from a dealership at 40k mileage. I have never really had any problems with this car. Only problem I have is it is super slow. Other than that the car is wonderful to have. Great for a young teen who doesnt have a lot of money to spend on a new car.