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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  Toyota Sienna 2005 CE FWD Review - 2006 Toyota Sienna
  By Gilles Tremblay - December 13 - 2:00 am

  The ride is quiet. The handling is OK. The acceleration is among the best in its class, if not the best. Beats any Honda in the 0-60, even with 25hp less. Downside are the braking system (i have change twice the front brakes in about 20000 miles (about 30000Km here in Canada)), and the Dunlop tires are cheap: be prepare to change them very soon, if you dont want to use your spare tire (happened twice) ! The rest is very solid. I highly recommend this van.

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  My 3rd Camry - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By James - December 12 - 2:16 pm

  As of today, Ive had my Barcelona Red Metallic SE for one week, and I LOVE it! The ride is superb, and the looks turn heads --- not only because of the outside styling, but also the interior. The OptiTron gauges are beautiful, and really add to the aesthetics. Though only an i4, the car handles impressively --- LOVE the round-abouts! ;) I previously had a 94 Camry Coupe, and traded in my 04 LE for the 09. I have noticed the fit/finish is not quite as crisp/clean as in my prior Camrys, but IMO still very good. In fact, my 09 fit/finish appears to be improved over the 07/08 models. Great car, beautiful looks, nice handling, quiet ride, and overall a great car!

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  Best car in the world - 1992 Toyota Camry
  By ps3gamer - December 12 - 1:14 pm

  I bought this car over a year ago for $2,500, and it has been the best car I have ever owned. It had 113,000 miles on it when I bought it. Now it has about 135,000 miles on it, and it is still going strong. I have driven it all the way to Texas and back (from Alabama), and I would trust it to take me anywhere. I have only had to replace the front struts and an O2 sensor. Other than that, Ive only had to perform routine maintenance on it. Total amount of money spent on maintenance is less than $500. Ill take that over a monthly car payment any day. Rides great, is super comfortable, and I wouldnt trade it for most anything. And no, its not for sale. :)

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  First car I test drove, bought it, love it still - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By Dee - December 12 - 12:38 am

  Ive had my 2004 toyota corolla, for almost ten years now. Ive never had such a reliable car! I replaced the battery once, three years ago, and replaced my clutch. Other than that, regular (more or less) oil changes and new tires every couple of years and its been solid! Just got it repainted (got stuck behind a snow plow with the plow down....and no snow on the ground! Plus Sun damage), as opposed to getting into a New cat payment. So glad I did! Im sure at 160,000 miles, I still have a a few more years left in her! :)

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  Built to Last - The Most Solid SUV on the Road - 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By car108 - December 11 - 3:39 pm

  My 2011 LC Cruiser is by far my favorite car purcahse ever. While I understand why so many dislike the rather bland exterior styling, knock the plastic interior, and question the high price, one drive on and off the pavement will explain why this SUV simply can not be matched by anything else on the road. On pavement the Cruiser handles well and is MUCH easier to park than my old Tahoe. This car always feels solid and safe. Off road this car really comes to life. In the Low drive function in mud, on uneven ground, and on rocky gravel the KDSS suspension makes this car handle like a dream. While the interior is not on the level of a Rover, this car always feels solid, unlike the Rover.

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  Boring though solid and reliable 76k miles later - 2006 Toyota Camry
  By bennychase - December 11 - 12:05 pm

  I have struggled with the way the 06 Camry looks inside and out. The exterior design looks like a granny car and the interior is boring and moderately comfortable at best. However the car does feel solid and has been extremely reliable even with 76k miles on it. My Camry suffers from some of the quirks mentioned by other owners (lurching transmission when at a stop, sluggish acceleration response on highway etc.) but I have had no major issues and have not sunk any money on repairs outside of normal maintenance. I test drove a 2006 Hyundai Sonata and a 2003 Infinity Q35 and they felt cheap compared to the quality of the Camry. Though, the G35 and Sonata do look so much better!

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  Great car - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By steve - December 11 - 6:43 am

  I love driving this car I dont believe I will ever drive anything else. When time to trade I will get a new RAV4. It drives great, very reliable and looks great

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  Love my Toyota - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By DBrown - December 11 - 5:36 am

  After working for another Japanese auto manufacturer for 18 years I decided on a Toyota. The Highlander 4cyl was everything I was looking for as a single mom who still wanted to look good riding my teenage daughter around with her friends and easy on my pocketbook. The fuel economy is fantastic and the power of the 4cyl has not disappointed me yet. Under the hood is not even foreign to me as everything is clearly color coded so even I can add the necessary fluids. I love the automatic shift placement up higher which gives me more room for easy placement of personal items. Love my Toyota!

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  Solara V-6 Coupe sails - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Chynadog - December 11 - 2:00 am

  I have a fully loaded coupe which would be an SLE if not for the manual transmission. The manual is a bit touchy in the lower gears and sometimes awkward. However, it begs to be accelerated and sails at highway speeds. It is quite comfortable on long trips. I have taken it on 3,500 mile round trips on a few occasions and this car is a dream on the freeway. The leather seats are a must, as are the v-6 engine and detailed security and safety features. If I had to do it over again, I might buy the automatic instead. This car is a classy and sporty Camry.

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  da best - 2004 Toyota Sequoia
  By Immadman321@yahoo.co - December 11 - 2:00 am

  This is the very best car and priced a little high but completely worth it pretty much garenteed