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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  celica - 2004 Toyota Celica
  By kels6382 - November 4 - 2:00 am

  i love this car it runs great it is built good and pushes out good heat

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  A real blast to drive - 2004 Toyota Celica
  By maxximum - November 4 - 2:00 am

  where should i start? well lets go with the exterior, when you buy the Celica either GT or GTS get the action package to make it look more fierce. The wing especially looks awesome. The interior with the action package looks and feels like racing bucket seats. At first you may even think the cloth seats have gel in them. tons of standard feats. and room for four but obviously real drivers want to be with theyre car more often than with people packed in there. every corner is like a dream come true and if anyone likes corners, then the celica is the way to take them out even at 90mph.

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  They are an Icon - 2000 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By WoodinveRodd - November 4 - 2:00 am

  Best car I ever had, no problems.

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  Fun drive - 2000 Toyota Celica
  By RTM - November 4 - 2:00 am

  Drives well at all speeds, responsive and quick. handles curves and turns nice with tight steering and decent suspension system. I am generally happy with the vehicle.

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  2004 Matrix XR FWD - 2004 Toyota Matrix
  By sirich - November 4 - 2:00 am

  As always Toyota products are above all. Fun to drive no problems so far. I own two Toyotas presently. This is my fifth one.

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  Couldnt be happier! - 2004 Toyota Matrix
  By Jax - November 4 - 2:00 am

  Ive had this car for almost a year now, and I couldnt be happier. I have the XR model, fwd, auto and I was attending a school 3+ hours away from home in the Appalachian Mts (good to have a car that heats up quick). Lets just say when we had our snow storms I wasnt stuck at school. I drove home every weekend. The MPG great, and it handles perfect for me. This is my 4th car (one died from the weekend drives) and I can honestly say, I will have this one until it dies, or I decide to upgrade to an XRS. It was very helpful with the hauling of all my junk when I was moving in and out of the dorms. A++

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  I Cant Imagine Myself in any other auto - 2004 Toyota Matrix
  By thelastrevolt - November 4 - 2:00 am

  I love this car. I cant see myself in any other car, even my old Toyota Camry. Perfect for band equipment, amps, guitars, great for road trips, plus looks amazing for a night on the town, to the movies, the theatre, musical, opera, or club.

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  My Matrix - 2004 Toyota Matrix
  By Ricker - November 4 - 2:00 am

  Great small wagon. They are hard to find, just keep looking. With the back seat folds down flat, it does as much as a small SUV, but with MUCH better gas milage. Done a lot with it since I lease one back in late Aug. I had one bad strut, that was put one at the factory that is going to be replaced by Toyota, but other then that.. I only had one oil change. I made the right choice.

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  Matrix - 2004 Toyota Matrix
  By Cary Lescure - November 4 - 2:00 am

  Bought a Matrix two weeks ago and absolutely love it...wow what a car. The gas millage is well worth it and the performance is outstanding. Wanted a sedan and when I came across the Matrix I couldnt refuse after that. The car offers more space than two sedans put together, the seats fold down and its like having a flat bed. Also it reminds of it being a minature S.U.V. which provides the interior space inside of one too.

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  Smart car, Smart choice - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By Lexdex - November 4 - 2:00 am

  What the Prius lacks in style it more than makes up for in substance. It offers remarkable fuel economy. The annual fuel cost for a Prius is less than a monthly fuel expeness of other vehicles. Another BIG bonus (especially for Southern California drivers) is being able to drive in the carpool lane without needing to have any passangers on board with you. An options package also includes an in dash AM/FM cassette/6 CD changer,with 9 speaker sound system and voice activated DVD navigation system among others, all for under $26,000. The Prius offers the driver to save both time and money. Not many cars on the market today can do that.