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 my Prius - 2009 Toyota Prius
  By dougb61 - August 5 - 11:00 pm

  Although the 2009 looks pretty much like every Prius since the 2004 redesign I think its still a good looking car. For a small car the interior is spacious, lots of leg room even in the back seat. The seats recline to an almost flat position if needed. The rear seats lay flat opening up the storage space of the hatchback for plenty of storage. Up front there are two glove compartments, a small compartment under the radio, a sunglasses compartment overhead, and two large compartments between the seats. On the road I find the Prius has plenty of get-up-and-go when needed and the touchscreen display gives me the feedback I need to maximize my fuel economy.

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  I love this car - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By Jerry - August 5 - 10:00 am

  I put about 10,000 miles a year on this car with no major problems, keep the oil changed and do the maintenance on required basis and this car will last forever.

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  Great job, Toyota! - 2011 Toyota 4Runner
  By Mike - August 5 - 10:00 am

  This is my second 4Runner, my first being a 2006 SR5 4WD. I have also driven a 2000 SR5. Toyota has done an excellent job with the redesign of this vehicle. It still feels like a 4Runner, but has better power, comfort and refinement all around. I am hard pressed to find a reason for some of the negative reviews I have read, as the vehicle is as good as it gets for a SUV. I am averaging 19.5 mpg, the seats are very comfortable, the engine has plenty of power, the turning radius is small, the suspension soaks up everything, and the vehicle just has an overall feel of quality. The 10 4Runner has remained true to its roots, but is better than ever.

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  Corolla CE - 2007 Toyota Corolla
  By Charles - August 3 - 8:56 pm

  I got a great deal on this little car more than a year ago and wanted to write a review. Its been a great for in town and it drives well on longer trips. Our two children fit easily in the back seat and the trunk has plenty of room for short trips. We have a manual and our average gas mileage is 32 mpg in town and 38 mpg on the hwy. I think it is the best bang for the buck when compared to other manufactures. My experience has been great with all Toyota products.

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  Good car… if you get a good one - 2008 Toyota Corolla
  By Dave - August 3 - 10:10 am

  The 2008 Corolla is a good car… if you get a good one. I bought this car because my wife and I really like our 2007 Matrix, which is in essence a Corolla wagon. Both cars have the same engine and transmission, but you would never know it. Our 2007 Matrix is smooth and quiet. The 2008 Corolla has a loud knock when the engine is cold, that diminishes when the engine warms up, but does not go away. When I had this checked out by the dealer, they confirmed it is piston slap also known as cold start knock, but informed me it is considered “normal” for this engine. I find it irritating to listen to this. I wish I had test driven the car when it was cold, before I accepted this car for delivery.

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  My Toyota Rav 4 - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Leanne - August 2 - 6:23 am

  I just got it had no miles and now I put 3,000 on it and LOVE it! I got it has a gift and I wouldnt have asked for another SUV!

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  Best big lil-car - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By Neo - July 31 - 3:56 am

  I used to drive an Xterra-BEAST. Hated it. Bought the Matrix bacause it looked cool and had some interior room. Some room indeed. I can put more junk in my Matrix than I ever hoped to stuff in the Xterra. Granted I cant climb mountains in the Matrix, but I didnt climb mountains in the Xterra. ...And I can drive past lost of gas stations with the Matrix...

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  Roadster Fun - 2002 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By dsmegst - July 31 - 2:00 am

  Bought used this year and got a yellow one with the 5 speed. (The other choice was Red with more miles) The first few weeks were a pain due to a faulty fuel line clip. (Fuel line popped off 2 times on the road. Not good) No more troubles after the clip was replaced. Absolute joy to drive, all the little imperfections melt away soon as I take the first corner. :) What a great little car.

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  The Corollinator as shes well known as. - 1997 Toyota Corolla
  By Jon Austin - July 31 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car out of college cause it was a decent looking car and it had all the options extra options I was looking for like CD, power roof, alloy wheels, spoiler, wood trim, etc. at 12, 000 mi. I detailed cars for a living through school and she gets a good hows your father once a summer. It now has 93,000 and Ive only had to put one set of front brakes and tires on it. Thats it. I took it in for brakes at 60k and they told me "Nah, you got another 20 some odd thousand left on them. To this day, the car has a great finish, one crack in the vinyl on the side of the drivers seat. If you want a decent car that runs like a tank....Corollinator!

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  Brake Trouble? - 2000 Toyota Tundra
  By scattytarheel - July 31 - 2:00 am

  Ive gone through 2 sets of disk brakes due to poor design of brake components by Toyota - or some other unknown reason. My Tundra was repaired at 29,000, but the service department had received a "bulletin" that this problem (vibration in steering wheel during braking) would possibly occur. My previous truck was a different make, but I was able to drive 98k miles on the original manufactures brakes.