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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  my camrey - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By merle slay - October 19 - 10:00 am

  I hate the lack of rain gutters, and the having to unlock the back doors upon exiting! The "cargo net" is a waste of money. The indentation in front of the windshield is a dirt carcher, and the doors dont cover the entry sills because dirt marks with dried mud form on the sills. Other than that, its an all around excellent car!

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  I love this car - 2000 Toyota Echo
  By cassandral - October 19 - 8:56 am

  I bought this car used with 114k miles. It is my first car and its perfect for me. I was shocked at how much room there is inside-it looks so tiny from outside. Im 59" and I never have enough leg room in my moms car-2000 Dodge Neon. In my Echo I actually had to move the seat up so I was closer to the wheel! But yet its also small enough that I can park literally anywhere. It handles really nicely on hills and on curves, and barely takes any time to accelerate. The trunk is huge and has a really cute secret compartment with the jack. I havent had this car very long so I dont know about the reliability, but the dealer gave me a free 3year warranty b/c even he knows nothing will go wrong!

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  Love it - 2017 Toyota Corolla
  By Seattle Driver - October 19 - 6:54 am

  I read all the reviews before purchase and I am really happy with this car. It is a great value. The safety features that come standard are awesome. I like the radar-responsive cruise control for highway commuting, as well as the lane alert. The design of the car is such that there are very few blind spots. The seat is very comfortable, and it is just comfortable to drive. The turning radius is great and it is very responsive. I live in a city with hills and I love the hill assist feature--no rolling back! It is also great for city parking. The temperature control and sound system are wonderful. The gas mileage is fantastic! And this is a car which holds its value and comes with years of mainteance support, keeping the mainteance costs lows. The only two areas that could be improved are consistent with what the fancy car reviewers say: 1) it could go from 0 to 60 a little faster. That being said, it is consistent with other value cars that I have driven. No better but no worse. 2) The gear shifts in lower gears are a little louder than they could be. There are quieter cars out there. But overall this is car is a great value! I needed a car at a good price, that would hold its value, had great fuel efficiency, high safety standards and low maintenance costs. This car wins in all those categories. And it is fun to drive. The bonus for us is that the trunk is big enough to take the two kids camping, and the 60/40 split means one person can sit in the back seat and we can still haul longer items. Very pleased!

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  Good to Go - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By Dan J - October 18 - 11:36 pm

  Great van to roll the kids around in. Dont know why other people have issues with MPG? I ran this on Oahu traffic (bad) with 19 MPG and now up in the NW getting 22.1 avg. Step a little lighter on gas, it is powerfull for a van but not a race car, standard gas saving tips.... The OEM tires were awful and I did replace them @ 29K. Now up to 40K with no issues.

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  Fantastic Car! - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By YarisLover - October 18 - 6:53 pm

  I dont have anything new to add to all the positive reviews. I like just about everything in the car. Sound system with proper settings pumps out great sound. Raised seating. Soft but solid steering. Smooth ride. Raised seating . Great visibility.

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  Hybrid excellence - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By NJpriusdriver - October 18 - 4:40 pm

  I love my new Prius. I am amazed at the build quality and performance of this frugal hybrid. I am averaging 47 mpg. This factor alone made it a must have. It is a smooth, quiet, comfortable ride!

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  Great Value, Good Looking SUV - 2016 Toyota Highlander
  By charles beckmann - October 18 - 2:25 pm

  Have only driven 1,000 miles with our new Highlander, but we love everything about this car.

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  Livin large for little dough - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By Ken - October 18 - 10:16 am

  3 months and 7000 miles have passed and this van has impressed me. On a family trip from NY to FL with 5 people, 400 lbs of luggage and driving 70-80 mph we averaged 25 mpg! It was like flying. Very quiet and comfortable. Turns and parks like a sedan. At 230 hp this van chews-up onramps like nothing Ive driven in 25 years. It is the Lexus of mini-vans. Hey, theyre not just for soccer moms anymore!

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  black mold - 2017 Toyota Camry
  By Tena - October 18 - 8:31 am

  I am asking if any one else has a problem with the windshield staying fogged up in the morning and black mold on the inside of gas cap ?

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  What EVERYBODY should be driving - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Anna - October 18 - 7:46 am

  AMAZING car. I drive more on the gas conservative-side and I get 39 mpg in the CITY (yes, thats for the full tank of gas, not just one trip)! If I remember correctly I got about 45 mpg highway with no effort. My mom has a Corolla and there really isnt a substantial difference in interior space, nor trunk space. I like the new dashboard and how it is positioned in the middle; its more visible and allows for more visibility out the windshield. I recommend this car to anyone who has a family of 4 or less, looking to save money on gas, like to be comfortable, and have all the reliability you could ask for from Toyota. What are you waiting for?!