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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  Very nice truck - 2006 Toyota 4Runner
  By Teacher Guy - November 23 - 10:13 am

  Always had Jeeps before. Bought this 4Runner and I have to say that Im very impressed. The 4wd system can run in 4wd on dry pavement, or you can run it 2wd. Locking center differential is electronic, so you dont have to worry about the transfer case binding on dry pavement (since it can be turned off). Interior room is very good, low, flat load floor in the rear is good, and ease of putting rear seats down is easier than the Jeep. The v6 is an excellent choice with plenty of power, and decent towing capacity for small jobs. I like the driver instrumentation and the stock radio has an MP3 player capability. Good fuel economy with the v6. Avg. 19-20 mpg.

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  Great car - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Arthur - November 22 - 10:56 pm

  Its been almost 15k miles and this car still amazes me as always. We had no problems with our two previous Camrys. Our last one had 148k trouble free miles and was still getting 30 mpg on a trip. This new one gets even better mileage, averages about 33 freeway.

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  Toyota Sienna - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By Daniel Georges - November 22 - 10:46 pm

  Owned Ford, Dodge,& Pontaic minivans. They were all good vehicles. So far I find this 2005 Sienna to be superior. You can feel the quality. Smooth ride,very spacious,built solid. Costs more than others, but if you want a vehicle that will hold up,its worth it.

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  Matrix XR - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By andrewcrose - November 21 - 8:23 pm

  Great car...was same price as fully loaded civic we had looked at earlier, but felt much more solid. Extremely comfortable, drives very well, and looks somewhat flashy.

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  Huge Savings! - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By KH 730 - November 21 - 4:13 pm

  Just purchased the 4-door Yaris a week ago as a second car & I am amazed at the gas mileage. We have a Jeep Commander but needless to say its going to take a break until the snow comes. The car is so easy to drive & pretty comfortable. I really like the radio with the MP3 cd read. Its definitely a great car and would be a nice choice for someones first car. The backseat is very spacious (for a small car) and the trunk has optimal space; I havent had to fill it up yet but it seems like itll get about 440 miles per tank, thats such a huge difference! Im averaging about 35-40 mpg only city driving, thats in comparison to 12-13 mpg. so it definitely benefits my budget.

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  We LOVE this Prius - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Toyota Prius - November 21 - 2:03 pm

  The gas mileage and the engineering that went into the design and of this car is supurb. It proves that hybird cars can be built and are in demand in this country. We waited 8 months for ours; now the anticipated wait is 18 months. We had the choice of the car that came in with its factory options or waiting for the next one. As supply equals demand perhaps specific options can be ordered and delivered as ordered. Meanwhile, like the VW of old, you take what comes in. One difficulty is determining where the curb of the road is - there is no visable fender to guide driver. Love it.

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  We LOVE this Prius - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Toyota Prius - November 21 - 1:46 pm

  The gas mileage and the engineering that went into the design and of this car is supurb. It proves that hybird cars can be built and are in demand in this country. We waited 8 months for ours; now the anticipated wait is 18 months. We had the choice of the car that came in with its factory options.

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  Good for cheap transportation - 2009 Toyota Yaris
  By John Drake - November 21 - 12:23 pm

  My 2003 Hyundai Accent 4dr got totaled in a rear end collision so I got a Yaris because it was the cheapest new car I could find. Its not a hot rod, but has good acceleration for around town and getting on the highway when I need to. Its roomier than it looks and at least for me, more comfortable than the Hyundai, and it feels more solid. Driving in daily stop and go traffic, Im getting 32mpg. The solid feel of the car combined with front and side airbags make me feel safe on the road in it. Handling is good and the car is a pleasure to drive. I hope the stories Ive heard about Toyota reliability are true, because I want to keep this car for a long time.

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  I Love My Truck - 1995 Toyota Pickup
  By mary garrison - November 21 - 10:00 am

  This truck has been an excellent vehicle. My husband and I bought it to replace a 1979 Toyota Tacoma (you can see that we really needed a new one). At the time, my husband was still working and only used the truck on weekends. In 1998 he retired because of Parkinsons Disease. The truck only has 44,692 actual miles on it. He doesnt drive very much anymore. I do most of the driving, and I have bad knees a d need tgo get an automatic so that it wont be hard on my knees.

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  Best Car I ever owned - 1995 Toyota Camry
  By Tim Cummings - November 21 - 10:00 am

  Best car Ive ever owned. Perfectly reliable.