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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  Avalon love - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By kathe - April 28 - 7:53 am

  This is my 3rd Avalon & they just keep getting better & better--BUT, going with the nav system in the 05, lost my ability to have a trip "time" function which I miss--also not sure I like the automatic oor "unlock" when the ignition is off -- I felt a little safer when I had the ability to unlock manually when I stopped and turned off the ignition

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  Run to your nearest Prius dealer to get 1 - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Irene W. - April 28 - 6:20 am

  This is the first "new" car weve ever purchased, and it was well worth the (six-week) wait. Driving this Prius makes you feel young again, hip, and enviromental -- all at the same time! Surely, Toyota neednt continue to take "a loss" on the cost of the technology in this baby. I wouldve paid a lot more and waited longer, had I known what a gem this would be!

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  Hot car - 2004 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By idahoe - April 28 - 2:00 am

  This car is great to drive, and fun to show off in. It take off fast and i love it fast. It is a cheap price for all the attention!!!

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  I still love my truck! - 2000 Toyota Tundra
  By Edward King - April 28 - 2:00 am

  I lived in the mts of Southern California for four years and my truck has been with through all the good and bad times while I have been up there here. Wether it was hauling furniture to move, or firewood for the house, or landscaping products, my tundra was with me. WHen it came to get the hell out because of the wildfires, did I take the company chevy truck? Did I take the brand new sports car? Or did I put the dogs in the Tundra and leave out? I took the Tundra! That says it all.

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  great first car - 1999 Toyota Camry
  By tpwrm - April 28 - 2:00 am

  I got the 5-speed V6 version of the Camry used with 45k on it... having put nearly 20k on it myself in a little more than a year, Ive only had to replace the front brake pads and a tie rod. Its a great car, looks good in dark blue with the alloy wheels. The engine is smooth and quiet below 3k rpm but above 4 it starts making a nice sound and a lot of power. Only problems are a bad shifter, a tacky pattern on the seats and the suspension, which could be a little bit tighter.

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  04 Solara - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By A Dailey - April 28 - 2:00 am

  Great car. This is our first Toyota and wont be the last. I have always bought GM. But after having this car I will be getting more. The maintenance record on the Toyotas seem to be much better than on the GM line. The interior styles are also very nice looking on your cars. We are very satisfied with the new Solara.

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  2nd 4-Runner - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By Joseph W. - April 28 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle handles great, has great comfort and the design is neat. It is very roomy and the interior is laid out comfortably. Great acceleration and handling for a SUV. Drives and rides like a luxury car. V-6 is plenty powerful and has reasonable gas mileage for a SUV.

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  Nice car - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By Shaad - April 28 - 2:00 am

  The major selling points for this car are the V8 and the new exterior styling. The car handles well but is somewhat sluggish on acceleration. Interior amenities are superb. I wanted a Sport Edition but had to get a Limited in order to get the nav/backup camera option. I was also disappointed that I could not get a CD changer with the nav system.

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  quiet, solid, efficient, comfy - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By Mr V - April 28 - 2:00 am

  Pleasant ride. Astonishingly good torque for when you need it. Seat fabric, ceiling fabric look & feel quite upscale (way better than what Mazda 6 gives). Braking straight and confident. Tires optimized for low rolling resistance, so theyre the first thing to give way when cornering... if you dont mind a little controlled skid, you can corner aggressively. Very roomy, as opposed to (say) Audi S4: driver can sit up straight if so wishes, rear passengers not cramped, trunk space phenomenal. If I had to do it all over again (and if the wife didnt demand an automatic), Id wait for 2005, when Toyota will stuff a Celica engine & shifter into a Corolla body.

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  Great Experience - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By marshall - April 28 - 12:33 am

  I love this car. After two 7-series BMWs, I couldnt afford the maintenance/fun ration of a German car anymore. The only significant issue I have with the Camry is that the paint on the hood is problematic. It pits and flakes easily - first noticed after 3 months. Performance is strong, handling is fun, spacious enough for me - at 62" and 240 lbs. Camrys history of reliability was key to purchasing it, but the 6 cyl SE version is a beast!