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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  A first rate vehicle - 2011 Toyota Camry
  By poetman - February 25 - 11:16 pm

  To sum it up, this is an excellent car: comfortable, quiet, with superior performance. It even handles well, better than two Lexus vehicles that I have owned. The fit and finish is flawless, as is the ease with which the controls can be handled, including the navigation system and the back-up camera.

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  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my car!!! - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By Stargirl - February 25 - 9:33 pm

  This model of Corolla is like no other. For the price you pay, you get way more car for your buck then say a Civic. It is so fun to drive. It hugs turns like a little race car. I love the 6 speed. The body of the car is really cute and does not look like a boring sedan. I highly recommend this car.

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  Sequoia - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By mpstone - February 25 - 4:26 pm

  Sixth and best (by far) SUV I have owned.

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  Only one car to drive - 2002 Toyota Prius
  By BIG G - February 25 - 2:00 am

  Typical Toyota, superior technology with all the creature comforts. Drives as smooth as a midsize car, with the handling of a small car. More than enough power for for day to day situations.

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  My little rocket pocket - 2003 Toyota Celica
  By st2002 - February 25 - 2:00 am

  I have had this car for 16 months. Has lots of power for a little engine car. Fuel efficient is decent. Handling and braking is simply awesome! The only bad thing is that it encourages me to drive faster than I normally would...and the insurance is out of this world.

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  Sienna=smooth, reliable..Ford-thbbb! - 2003 Toyota Sienna
  By cniehoff - February 25 - 2:00 am

  The 2003 Sienna XLE is a whole new world compared to our previous Windstar - smooth, QUIET, solid, comfortable, literally glides down the road, split rear seat (easier to remove than a solid bench eventhough it doesnt fold away), reliable so far (10,000 mi and not problem 1), EVERYTHING WORKS ALL THE TIME, sunroof, 2 settings of heat in leather seats, great JBL stereo, dash layout is nice, liter bottle holders in doors handy, roof is lower than Windstar so loading bikes on top will be easy. We are picky about cars and Toyota has raised the bar for our expectations - bought a corolla 3 months later and looking at an avalon for next purchase!

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  my corolla rocks - 2000 Toyota Corolla
  By joecalvert - February 25 - 2:00 am

  my experience with this vehical is that i have had zero problems (electrical or mechanical) with this car. it is a dream. it sat for 3 monthes over the winter and started right up no problem.

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  Great Car for the money - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By Arkansas Flyflinger - February 25 - 2:00 am

  I just bought my Matrix, and I love it. It handles great and am very satisfied with it so far. I will say that after driving both an automatic and a 5spd I would recommend that you go with a 5 spd if it doesnt bother you. It performs much bettern and is a joy to drive.

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  So much fun! - 2002 Toyota Tacoma
  By Jynxie - February 25 - 2:00 am

  I have wanted the Toyota Pickup for a long time, and finally I got one April of 2002. I called it "my Buff Little Truck" and it is! It has great pep in it and takes a bit of off road abuse. :)

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  not bad at all - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By blitzwood - February 25 - 2:00 am

  I love the economy and versatility of the v-6, only wish it had a little more torqe for better towing. I wasnt thrilled with the plastic panels, but understood the reasoning behind them so didnt really mind them. Thats until I backed into a parked Mustang, barely tapping it with the rear plastic corner bumper. Nothing happened to the Mustang, but the corner bumper had to be replaced. I couldnt believe how cheaply built this important feature was. Only thing worse was the cost to replace it. For example, this little 3"x4" red reflector costs $93. Nevertheless, Id still recommend it.