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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  BEST MINIVAN BY FAR! - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By CAILEYANN - March 6 - 10:00 am

  I LOVE MY 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA.IT LOOKS GREAT,RUNS GREAT.GREAT ACCLERATION AND POWER.THE INTERIOR IS ROOMY AND PLENTY OF STORAGE ROOM IN THE BACK. I WOULDNT TRADE MY SIENNA FOR ANY OTHER MINIVAN OUT THERE.THIS IS MY SECOND SIENNA THE LAST ONE WAS GREAT ,BUT TOYOTA WENT ALL OUT ON THE REDESIGNED 2004,GREAT JOB TOYOTA!

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  very sporty - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By tzn - March 6 - 10:00 am

  When i saw the o5 camry SE V6 i just fell in love wiht it....even thought i was in the middle of comparing it with the accord(research), i knew this car was the winner, and after i test drove the car, i was 110% sure i was getting this car.

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  Transmission - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Mac - March 6 - 2:20 am

  Love my Avalon. Had a Camry and always wanted an Avalon but didnt like the style of the previous model. The design on this car is impressive and gets a lot of nods.

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  A little scary on the Mountains - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By MJ - March 6 - 1:33 am

  First off I love the car. Ive driven about 8k miles and Ive changed the oil once and disabled the reverse Beep by the dealership. I traded in my 2000 Lexus GS and Im in love with the money Ive saved.Gas mileage 48 HW, 51 City. It took the car about 2k miles to break in. I dislike the following: sunshade, Navi (can not input while driving), no lumbar seating, cheap interior materials. I love everything else. This car has more room than my Lexus. I dont have the same confidence when driving on mountains/rain/wind. I tend to slow down because I dont trust the car yet. Perfect for under 300 mile trips! Excellent small bus car! Perfect for commutes, I dont even drive my 2008 MDX anymore!

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  This car is the best - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By eric - March 6 - 1:20 am

  Ive hit so many things like curbs and walls, and there was never any damage to the car what so ever.

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  380,000 and Still Going !!!!! - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By Rav-Fan - March 5 - 10:44 pm

  Bought my Rav4L new 12 plus yrs.ago. Most dependable vehicle I have ever owned. Drove it for over 800 miles a wk for work. Starts in sub-zero weather, when our expensive vehicles would not. Maintenace cost almost nothing. Usual stuff....tires,got 109,000 out of one set, battery, brakes, wiper blades etc. this vehicle has saved me a fortune !!! Im retired and now my trusted vehicle is used for leisure, golf trips, ballgames etc. If I covered the odometer, you would think the vehicle has less than 50 K. Going to buy my wife a 2016 Rav, safe, dependable, fun to drive.

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  TAKEN FOR GRANTED - 1999 Toyota 4Runner
  By res3 - March 5 - 9:44 pm

  I bought my 4runner in 05 with 130k miles on it and didnt blink, now i have 245k miles and have only put a starter on it(are you kidding me). This is the best toyota yet and i have owned 5 toyotas and currently drive a Echo for the gas mileage and it has 190k on it and still running strong. I think about other vehicals but always stay with ol 4runner because it has always been there for me and i look to break the 300k with this truck.

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  Best Truck of its Size - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By Sean - March 5 - 5:46 pm

  Ive waited to write a review until Ive had my truck for a while. Ive had it for almost 4 months now, and have put on almost 7,000 miles. I love it. Performs great on road and off road. Climbs hills that you would think be un-climbable. Smooth ride, plenty of room up front and back. Finally a truck that comes with a standard bed and 4 doors. I use 91 octane and get 17 mpg avg. A lot of engine noise but I like that so it doesnt bother me. I have had paint chipping problems with the Speedway blue as have more people Ive spoken with. Definitely worth checking out if you like that color. Verdict: Great truck to take out on the town, and then go 4x4 and climb some hills.

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  2nd 4Runner: excellent vehicle - 2015 Toyota 4Runner
  By Tom Doniphon - March 5 - 3:08 pm

  Replaced a 2010 Limited 4WD 4Runner last year with the 2015. 2010 was close to perfect. Never spent a penny on the vehicle. This one feels the same and it should: it is unchanged for the most part. Front seating comfortable, build quality perfect, A/C-Heat excellent, Satellite Radio works fine, good braking. We get 22-23 mpg on highway. Areas for improvement on the 2017 redesign: better navigation system, improve torque on the 270, have to get the offset crash test results up to 5 star. The current model gets only 3 stars in the offset crash. A nice tight diesel would work well in this SUV, we would buy a diesel over gasoline model, but that will wait as 4Runners seem to just keep going. Consumer Reports unfairly compared the 4Runner SR5 to Pilot top model. SR5 does not have the soft suspension so the comparison and low rating by CR is not valid. The 4Runner is a well built SUV, of sturdy feel, and unquestioned reliability. The price is quite low for such an SUV with leather seating. Bi-Xenon lighting would be a great addition, halogens are just average.

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  Sport Model (Love It) - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By JENNJEEPB - March 5 - 6:10 am

  This is our first toyota. Everyone we have spoken with stated we made the best choice. Take a look at used car lots, why do you wonder? you see very few used toyota on used car lots. People buy them and run them for 300,000 and 400,000 happy miles.