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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  Outstanding - 1999 Toyota Corolla
  By Jacob - April 28 - 5:13 pm

  I received this car from my aunt and uncle when I got my license. Since then, its been in 2 wrecks (1 major, 1 minor) and its still going strong. The mpg are amazing. I can get to and from Toledo (about 2 hour drive both ways) with only $20 bucks.

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  2005 4Runner Sport Edition - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By SBF2398 - April 28 - 3:33 pm

  I love this car! The ride and handling are great, the exterior and interior are beautiful, and all of the controls are very user-friendly.

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  Very Happy With This Truck! - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By Russ - April 28 - 2:50 pm

  After 15 months of driving, I still grin from ear to ear when I climb into it! Gas mileage is great for a truck with this type of power. Wheelbase with 4 doors and the 6ft bed makes it tough to park but Ill live with that minor annoyance. I simply cant say enough about the quality and detail of the Tacomas. It feels like it will last forever. I did a lot of research in this segment before buying and when you educate yourself, youll see that this is the right truck, hands down.

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  Great choice - 2007 Toyota Sienna
  By foxtail99 - April 27 - 8:16 pm

  This is my first mini van. I purchase the Toyota because it had the best ride and most power. I test drove five manufacturers. I am avg 23 MPG with a heavy foot. I have 3500 miles in 3 weeks (vacation trips). Only issues: the stereo is a little weak. The indash CD is nice, just the sound is not as good as I expected. It does play CDs the MP3 format. I have about 900 songs in the CD drive. The other issue, you can control the rear air fan speed from the front, but not the temp. You have to reach behind you and adjust the temp from the rear control. Not a safe thing, if the van is moving. I can do it, but I dont like to. Other than that, I absolutely love the van.

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  sweet little truck - 2014 Toyota Tacoma
  By Garrett - April 27 - 2:27 pm

  I purchased my Tacoma new in spring of 2014, it was my first new car purchase. I purchased it new due to Toyota resale value is ridiculously expensive. It has been a great truck, never have had to fix anything. My only complain would be the stock Dunlop tires suck and cheap shocks they put on base models, but I replaced my tires to bfg mts, and my shocks to bilstein 5100 and it made it twice as good. Gas mileage isnt bad I average 21 and power is not to bad considering a 4 cylinder. For a 4 cylinder it tows very well, truck weighs 3700 lbs and I towed 3200 lbs over 500 miles through mountains and never lost 55 mph and flats I could do 75 mph no problem. Overall great truck, very solid built and 2.7 motor not to bad just on really long climbs.

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  No buyers remorse here... - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By One Happy Driver - April 27 - 10:43 am

  This car serves as my main mode of business transportation and, essentially, my office. I have owned a lot of "business" vehicles over the years, but I have never owned one that was as comfortable and accomodating as the Avalon. Its powerful, spacious, quiet and a joy to travel in. The voice command and Navigation system takes a little getting used to, but once you figure out the correct lingo, it proves to be a practical and useful piece of technology. Toyota has finally designed an Avalon that is appealing to the "younger" driver in all of us. While I have often regretted spending a lot of money on other high priced vehicles, I definitly feel like I got what I paid for with this car.

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  2010 Corolla LE - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By HMS - April 27 - 10:36 am

  I love my new Corolla! I average 36mpg. I really searched for a car with great mpg that was affordable too. The LE has all the features I wanted. The radio is good, interior is roomy and comfortable. Excellent choice! Toyota really does a great job making cars for petite people! Thank you!

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  Fits Out Needs - 2009 Toyota Sienna
  By utahmom - April 27 - 7:20 am

  Has a very smooth ride and short turn radius. Good interior storage capabilities compared to other vans we have owned.

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  Highlander Hybrid Review - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Hybrid-Owner - April 27 - 5:36 am

  Well worth the purchase overall! I would like to see more features added to the highend limited model which should be included for the price. Things such as seat memory, rear backup camera or sensor, miles to empty info, more buttons on the steering wheel like other lux cars. The nav software is not user friendly but the trip info for the hybrid part is very cool. The EV button that many talk about would be nice to have to manually save more on fuel. Larger gas tank should be considered if the car really does not get 30+/- per gallon as it will result in more trips to the gas station with the car getting less then 400 miles per tank.

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  2007 Toyota Camry LE 4 dr Sedan - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By annec - April 27 - 5:03 am

  I purchased the Camry on reputation and recommendation. I am not a car geek and do not have the knowledge or time to deal with car problems. Well, I am becoming a auto expert by necessity. My problems are: hesitating then surge between shifts, windshield wipers that move with power that rocks the car to the point that it feels like it will roll over, plastic parts falling off, cruise control is so unreliable I dont use it, bad mileage, and, last but not least, half the windshild blacks out when driving at night through areas without street lights. The dealers answer, "It meets Toyota specifications." Any suggestions will help. Do I qualify for the lemon law?