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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  Love it - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By Tyler - October 2 - 3:20 pm

  I love Toyotas as i work for the company. However, even if i didnt i would still buy them. This car is very comfortable and makes long trips go very quickly. I love to drive it, although is kind of "uncool" to drive. But im a practical person, so it fits me well!

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  New ride quality a big disappointment - 2014 Toyota Avalon
  By rgilm123 - October 2 - 12:15 pm

  As a previous owner of a 2002 & 2009 Avalon we were happy when we saw the new 2014 Avalon and bought one without doing much research. We made a Great Big Mistake! If you liked the ride of previous Avalon’s you are in for a big disappointment. The ride is terrible! Overall the car is beautiful and the amenities are great but the poor ride cancels all that out. You will feel every crack and bump in the road. Not as a gentle ride but as a big old thump. Wish we would have taken the test drive on a rougher road before our purchase. We heard Toyota was trying to appeal to a younger market with new Avalon and it may appeal to them, but if you were a fan of the prior Avalon’s do not purchase

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  More time in service dept than on road - 2011 Toyota Sienna
  By daflip - October 2 - 6:06 am

  3rd row seat is defective and totally unsafe, power toyota in irvine has been terrible, we are stuck with a rental car for next few weeks. should have waited for the new odyssey!

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  AWD Tire Problem - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By Andy - October 2 - 5:26 am

  Weve driven our Sienna XLE AWD van for 17,000 miles. The van itself is a great design. The all wheel drive works perfectly in the snow. Toyotas decision to eliminate the spare tire and use run-flat tires was a major mistake. At 16,000 miles I had to spend $500 to replace two tires. The other two arent far behind. The run- flat tires make the van ride like a truck, are un-reliable, over-priced, impossible to find, and and short lived.

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  Solid as a rock - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By tacomadude - October 1 - 5:33 pm

  Had this truck for a year and a half now. This is my second truck (had a 2001 Dakota V8 for a year but it turned out to be a lemon, nearly self- destructed). If you want a truck that is trouble free and solid, this is your vehicle. I loved my 01 Dakota (when it was running), but it had too many problems to keep. The Tacoma, while not as powerful or agile as the Dodge, is built much better. As long as youre not expecting sports car handling or power, this is a perfect truck.

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  Great Value - 2008 Toyota Corolla
  By CorolloaDriver - October 1 - 10:30 am

  Traded in a gas guzzling, cramped Mustang. One of the best decisions I made last year. We are much happier with the Corolla.

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  Very Reliable - 2002 Toyota Prius
  By kelh - October 1 - 2:00 am

  The car is very reliable, no repair problems. It gets plenty of pickup for daily trips over the mountians. The heavy wind does pose a stability problem, as it gets buffeted around. Also, the tires are a little unstable on bad pavement, causing the car to be squirely.

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  Love it so far - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By TRD Lover - October 1 - 2:00 am

  Just got my 04 Tacoma. Previously owned a Nissan Frontier and I just cant believe how much better this truck is. The power is excellent and smooth. The 4x4 system works great and is easy to engage. Overall this truck is more than I expected.

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  Great Economy Car - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By HLB - September 30 - 5:46 pm

  This is my third Toyota Corolla. We have also had a 2001 and 2004 (still own). Overall, the interior could have been made with better quality materials, but for the price and level of reliability this is a great car. Right now, I drive a combination of city and highway and I am averaging 33 MPG (better than both the 01 and 04). So far, no complaints or issues. It has been pleasant to drive.

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  EPS review - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By BTC - September 30 - 11:10 am

  Very poor road feel. The EPS needs to be tuned for better handling characteristics.