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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  Value for money.. - 2006 Toyota Camry
  By Varad - January 22 - 4:33 am

  I bought this car for my wife and have done about 3500 miles in 2 months. The car is very quiet. 63dba@ 70 mph compared to 68dba for Accord. Good gas mileage. On a recent trip to Toronto the highway mileage was 31. Well laid out controls and the automatic on/off headlights are cool. Wont have to worry about running your battery if in case you forget to switch the head lights! Huge trunk, and comfortable thigh support for the driver and passenger seats. The lumbar support is awesome for long drives. Very good handling on potholes.

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  6 years later... - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By toyotacurrenla - January 22 - 1:46 am

  Ive own my 2006 for six years now. No issues other than replacing the battery. Daily driver and has put on over 100k on it so far. Great truck havent pulled anything to heavy but pulled 12 trailer with junk no problem. Great purchase and like it even more after my note ended.

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  Truck - 2007 Toyota Tundra
  By Steve Dickin - January 22 - 1:26 am

  Have owned for 2 months and driven 10000 miles, many miles off road in rough conditions. Truck is very quiet inside. Almost as quiet as my Infiniti I35. Great truck. Handles and corners very well. Irritations: I bought the truck sight unseen and couldnt believe it didnt have lights that automatically come on at night. Cant believe thats an option. Also miss not having Xenon lights.

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  2000 Toyota Tundra SR-5 Extended Cab - 2000 Toyota Tundra
  By Okey Thomas - January 21 - 7:40 pm

  I bought the vehicle new. I have 105000 miles on it. For other than normal maintenance, the truck has been in the shop five times, four of which were oxygen sensors which were later recalled. The fifth time was for a water pump. Other makes of trucks I drove before this were in the shop up to 20 times in the first year. This vehicle rides and drives very well and is very comfortable to travel in. We have a 2004 Camry and I would rather travel in the truck. The body is solid with no rattles. The interior is not coming apart and looks as it did when we bought the truck. We love it!!!!

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  A true Off-Road Vehicle - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By Anurakta - January 21 - 2:23 pm

  This is a truely amazing vehicle. Being an avid Land Cruiser fan and not being able to afford one, when I saw it, I was instantly sold. I have read a lot about this SUV for the last 6-7 months and now I can say I dont believe most of the complaints that I read. I simply like everything about it. The rear door is an added safety feature cause I have a 5 year old and now she cannot open the door on her own and run away. She has to stay back there and wait until daddy gets out to assist her during dropping her and picking her back from school. If you are a good driver and actually watch over your shoulders for blind spots, there is no problem with visibility.

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  Love my new Sienna XLE - 2006 Toyota Sienna
  By TXMom - January 21 - 8:40 am

  I have only had my new Sienna XLE for a week but so far I love it. I had a large SUV before getting this and I was worried about making the move to the "Minivan" but I am so glad I did. The 3 zone climate control is great. Having the dual power sliding doors makes getting the kids in and out much easier. Plus it gets a lot better gas mileage than my SUV was getting!

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  Best Truck Ever - 2007 Toyota Tundra
  By George - January 21 - 5:06 am

  I have owned Ford 350, 250, 150, and Toyota Tacoma. This is by far the best truck I have owned except for the Ford 350 Diesel. It is powerful, handles exceptionally well, great interior and exterior. Love the tail gate hydraulic assist. Resale value and quality is what keeps Toyota above the rest!!

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  Love It!! - 1998 Toyota 4Runner
  By Biffers - January 21 - 12:00 am

  I love my 4Runner. Always wanted one and finally found the right one. For its mileage, there is not one squeak or rattle inside. I went from a large truck to this, when driving it feels like youre in a station wagon :) I have a couple friends who have 4Rs with 300000 miles and up, proper maintenance and they will go a long time. Only thing is the fuel mileage in town is around 15mpg . Not too bad for a heavy suv. The comfort and ease of driving it well makes up for that though. Highly recommended!

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  Excellent Purchase for the Second Time!! - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By Mindy - January 20 - 6:30 pm

  We bought this car to replace my other Camry that is 10 years old. I will say it is such a fun car to drive! I love all the safety features it offers. I drive up and down the interstate daily and feel confident that I am in a safe car! I got all that I wanted with no compromise. We still kept the old Camry to drive around town to save miles on the new Camry and my husbands 04 Toyota Tundra. I will only ever own a Toyota! Excellent made cars and trucks.

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  A stylish green machine - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By 2010-V - January 20 - 4:36 pm

  After a three week adjustment period, I have grown to enjoy driving this car. I must say that it is vastly different from anything I have even driven before. It gets a lot of attention around town and on the highway and is quite different from any of the former generation Priuses. The styling and color (classic silver) are eye catching. Overall, I am very pleased with my purchase.