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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  Perfect for Econ-Minded - 2011 Toyota Corolla
  By commonsense29 - February 13 - 8:58 am

  I bought this car used with 15,000mi. Since then, I have driven to about 45,000 in two years. In my time I have realized how great it is from an economical standpoint: I get about 30/31mpg city, 36-39mpg hwy, maintenance costs are low (so far only oil changes and one cabin air filter replacement), insurance prices are low, and driver comfort/peace-of-mind is high from great visibility, good safety scores, and ease to drive/manage infotainment. That said, the interior isnt quite as "fancy" (futuristic or sharp designs) as competitors, but is great for the price. I would definitely recommend to a budget-orientated driver.

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  Best of Breed - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By Rick - February 12 - 2:26 pm

  Fit and finish sold us on the Camry. It is a very "classy" ride and best of all. It handles nicely in traffic and will "scoot" on the highway. Nice "gizmos & gadgets" without getting tacky.

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  3rd and last Camry - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By 3rd and last Camry - February 11 - 8:13 pm

  This is my 3rd Camry and it will be my last one. I am getting at best 21 mpg, with 50% city driving. Acceleration is also the worst of the 3. I like how it looked when I got the car, but with high gas prices, I am very disappointed with the gas mileage. I am about to take it in for the 15K service. I cannot really complaint about reliability yet, but I dont want to jinx it.

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  So reliable! - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Charry - February 10 - 12:51 am

  You can own it for years

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  Yup. Its a minivan - 2011 Toyota Sienna
  By kevin - February 9 - 7:56 am

  Not really into minivans. We were looking at a Venza, but with 3 boys in hockey, we quickly decided we need the room. Plus the Sienna was about $2000 less than the Venza. Had it now for close to a month. Have had a problem with the stereo, and the transmission seems to hold gears a little long. The steering is also uninspiring. Im a little disappointed that there is no LED interior lighting and what is with the mast antenna? yea l stole that part from another review, but l feel the same way. After seeing what the 2011 Odyssey is going to look like, Im glad l bought this one

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  Satisfied with my SUV - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Dave - February 9 - 3:20 am

  Small on the outside (easy to park, squeeze between things), big enough on the inside (comfortable to drive, 2- person sleep, carry lots of stuff). Im not an off-road expert but it takes as much as I can. Gas mileage as good as my last sedan. I have no regrets.

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  LOVE My Corolla - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By sandy - February 8 - 7:50 pm

  We bought our Corolla 3 years ago and it works just as well as the day we bought it, despite having 64 000 km on it! The cost of the corolla is similar to American made vehicles but the quality is far better. I would highly recommend one.

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  Check the tranny fluid - 2008 Toyota Avalon
  By BillBren - February 8 - 6:46 pm

  Regarding my 2008 Avalon - On 4 occasions I have put the shift lever into reverse and it doesnt engage right away. On one occasion it shuttered when I backed the car up. The car doesnt seem engage in reverse and then slips. I had a very experienced mechanic check the tranny fluid. You have to drop a small pan in the 08 to check the fluid and it had small metal shavings in the pan. I reported this to Toyota USA.

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  The Matrix reviewed by an owner - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By Azilegirl - February 8 - 3:43 pm

  My husband and I bought an XRS with a 6 speed manual. Wed been eying the car since it first debuted at the auto show as perhaps an answer to our car dilema. My husband loves how the XRS has so much power. It handles very nicely for such a tall car. (The 17 inch wheels help). Its roomier than I had expected and I suspect part of the reason for that is because the seats are set high in the car. Riding in the car, you feel like youre high off the road.

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  love it in a way - 2003 Toyota Prius
  By frank60446 - February 7 - 10:00 am

  car is great except the promise gas mileage 38 mpg is not 45 and i was told they going to lower there rating every time i take a small trip to the store the mileage drops and when i am on the highway the milage drops i cant kept going 45 mph all the time which is about where i get the best mileage i am having a problem with the sterring wheel shaking when i first start it up problem is service department dont believe me