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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  Great SUV, Great Blind Spot! - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By Wilson47 - January 14 - 10:00 am

  This is a great SUV! I really like this truck, but here are things to keep in mind. The third row is great for hauling around extra people, but when the seats are in use, I can barely fit my baby stroller in the cargo space. This car has a a huge blind spot! The rear 1/3 of the car! As long as you are aware its fine. The clock is too low! Those are my only complaints! I really like the car!

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  A must for a family - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By Cesar Ruvalcaba - January 14 - 10:00 am

  This is a must buy for a family, its very quiet, and the reliability is great. The Comfort is amazing and you wont even feel when its moving

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  Very happy with this car - 2009 Toyota Matrix
  By snowman - January 14 - 7:26 am

  I am very impressed with Matrix and the versatility it offers. There is plenty of room in the back, especially if the seats are folded down. It is zippy and handles very well on the road. I agree that the visibility out the back is a bit limited, and I am also under the impression the paint may be prone to chipping. I also like the higher seating position as it makes getting into and out of the vehicle much easier. No issues after two long trips, and I dont believe it is any noisier on the highway than most other cars.

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  Unstoppable 4Runner Sport - 2001 Toyota 4Runner
  By TommyP - January 13 - 8:26 am

  Have about 140,000 miles on the truck - bought it with about 20,000 miles. I have had to replace the tires a couple times, rear brakes blew out at 65K and front rotors changed a couple times. Rear key entry stopped working a long time ago but other than those things - perfect. Used Mobil 1 since Ive had the truck with good results. Regularly get 20-21 MPG, 18-19 when using 4WD in winter. The truck still looks and runs great. Every time I think of trading her in she gives me a reason to think twice.

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  Love My Toyota SUV! - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By Regina - January 13 - 6:40 am

  This is my third Toyota, and I have loved each one. But, this is my favorite. In this SUV, you sit up high giving you greater visibility. It has versatility because it allows you to transport many things with the back seat down. It has great features. Its a quality vehicle. Its fun to drive!

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  Best truck money can buy - 2001 Toyota Tacoma
  By Best truck out there - January 13 - 6:30 am

  I have drove tacomas all my life and this is the best to date. I do a lot of 4 wheelin and this truck will beat any jeep. I never have to worry about anything mechanical, ever. This truck is solid. I have big tires and a lift and it still runs strong at 103,000 miles on the clock. I had a chevy truck that was a pile of junk at 100,000. You cant even compare the two. Toyota is in a league of its own. I plan on driving this truck for decades to come. Great truck.

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  What A CAR! - 1993 Toyota Camry
  By ANDY87 - January 12 - 10:36 pm

  When I got my first car at 16 I drove around in an SL-1 Saturn 1995. Then I decided after a couple of years to try out an older Toyota to try out the dependability on my own. I must say this thing has nothing stopping it. Bought it at 129,000, and now I have 160,000 on it. The only things Ive had to replace on it in two years was a new distributor, an engine mount, and the timing belt.

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  Longtime Ford driver now in a Tacoma 4x4 - 2011 Toyota Tacoma
  By zzbluecomet - January 12 - 10:17 pm

  First, Ill say Ive driven Fords most my life and some imports. I tried the mini-SUV route and had a Ford Escape for 7 mos. I was in need of a truck, but not a full-size. The F150s are very nice and a natural choice for me but the Tacoma really has fit my needs. The build, detail and quality of this truck is very nice and very solid. I have the Off-Road pkg in Super White and it turns heads and gets lots of comments. I can see why Toyota has run most the other midsize/compact trucks out to pasture - I had a Ranger as my last truck and the Tacoma makes hit look completely out of date.

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  Toyota...American Stye - 2009 Toyota Sienna
  By chastek - January 12 - 6:50 pm

  Our van serves as daily people hauler and weekend plaything for a family with four kids. Its very roomy with plenty of interior storage and cleverly designed seats. The fit and finish is not as good as our Lexus, but is probably better than average. The powertrain is super smooth and it never lacks for power, even when fully loaded. We average 22mpg in mixed driving.

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  Great Basic Car!! - 2007 Toyota Corolla
  By Matthew - January 12 - 6:16 am

  Driving by myself it has plenty of pick up to get thru traffic. Load it down with wife, kids and luggage and it tends to slow it down to a craw. Great gas mileage (32 mpg adv). Great interior and exterior design. The radio isnt too good and the seats are not so soft. I need to take it to the dealership to because of the dashboard vibrates pretty loud. But with that said, if you are looking for a basic dependable car that gets great gas mileage, the Corolla is hard to beat for the price.