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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  Very Special - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By Doc P - September 4 - 4:06 am

  This is one great SUV. Great off road and on. Excellent style and performance. The supercharger and TRD Edition are very special and well worth the money. Excellent driving. Love the front window and washable floor.

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  Love my Truck! - 2008 Toyota Tundra
  By Maurice - September 3 - 11:10 pm

  Toyota finally got it right with this beast! This is my first Toyota and I can agree that this is the best looking truck on the market. 381 HP and cavernous 2nd row is exceptional. This is not a work truck in my case, but has the versatility to either be a family mover or a HD truck if need be.

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  I like it more every day!!! - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By EWeber - September 3 - 7:33 pm

  I just traded my 2002 Camry SE V6 for my 4 cyl Highlander. At first I was concerned about not having sufficient power, but I have been pleasantly surprized by the acceleration. I find the seats comfortable and the visibility is excellent. My son has a 4 Runner and it rides like a buckboard compared to the Highlander. The ride is very similar to my Camry SE. There is an abundance of room for hauling passengers and cargo. Gas mileage has exceeded expectations and should only improve as the engine gets a few more miles on it. It handles very well and is considerably more stable in maneuvers than a Jeep Grand Cherokee that I tested. This is my third Toyota and I expect reliability to be great.

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  Smart decision - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By brad - September 3 - 7:13 pm

  I changed from a Lincoln Town Car, and couldnt be more pleased. I consistently get 39-41 miles per gallon. The drive is tight, and braking is superb. The acceleration is better than my Lincoln and I have no trouble picking up the pace when merging onto the highway. The drive is quiet, the doors close snugly. With excellent safety features, good overall weight, and a tax credit to boot, I expect to see a lot more of this car on the road (if you can find one).

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  2015 Tundra Rocks - 2015 Toyota Tundra
  By Dan Pitt - September 3 - 6:12 pm

  This is the third Tundra that Ive owned and I couldnt be happier with the new look and design. The Tundra is hands down the best overall 1/2 ton on the road!

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  Toyota quality - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By Carl - September 3 - 5:20 pm

  7 months and no problems. Fun to drive everywhere with the the new steering layout, Have trouble keeking away from wife, she likes the power and ride. BETTER THAN THE AVALON. Love the comfort of seats on long trips to coast and mountains. Interior well thought out and love back area for secure storeage. Would buy another.

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  My Toyota Tacoma - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By A.L.Slatkin - September 3 - 7:30 am

  I have wanted to have a Tacoma truck for quite sometime. I decided last month that it was the time to get one. So, I traded in my 150 Ford Truck 2000 and got a Double cab, 2wd, PreRunner 2005. It is just what I imagined it to be. Looks great, feels great and just the right size. Not too big, not too small. So, far it has been 3 weeks I am very happy with it. The truck runs very smooth and thus far I have had no problems. I am very satisfied with what I purchased.

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  Stylish, Reliable, Good Mpg, Bad on Snow - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Jill - September 2 - 11:13 pm

  I love everything about this car except the lack of power and maneuverability on snow - it likes to slip, slide, and get stuck in a couple inches of snow pretty easily (I live in Wisconsin). In non-snow and non-icy conditions, it drives smoothly and has plenty of pep for the size. I love the way it looks inside and out. It is roomier than it would appear from the outside. The cupholders are extremely handy - better placed than any other car I have owned. Best of all, I get excellent gas mileage - overall I get around 34-35 mpg, but on a long all-highway trip I am able to get 38. Thats hard to beat with a non-hybrid - and this car is comfortable! I would highly recommend this vehicle overall!

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  This is a great car! - 1997 Toyota Camry
  By lizzie - September 2 - 10:00 am

  I purchased this car with only 52,000 miles on it. This car is very reliable, what do you expect? Its a Toyota. Took this vehicle for our vacation, and we put 3000 miles on it. We had absoulutely no problems! Temp stayed the same, A/C never quite, and the ride was comfortable! Ive had no mechanical problems. One of the most reliable cars out there.

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  The Best Spontaneous Decision - 2003 Toyota Sienna
  By JeffreySR - September 2 - 10:00 am

  After Driving a minivan for 5 years, my husband decided to go with an SUV but the price range was so high even with 0% financing. We decided to go with another minivan but Toyota delearship was just across the street from where we were, so we decided to check them out. Wow! I loved the way it drive, smooth and quiet. Even if we had to pay an extra $5000 on the finance charge, we went ahead and bought the minivan because we know that it will be a better investment than what we had before.