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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  Tricks for MPG; bad phone; Open Trunk - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By akobet - September 11 - 1:53 am

  Ive had this car for two months, and its great. Ive found a few tricks to getting better gas milage. I noticed it only after getting better gass milage during the initial breakin period where I tried to vary my speed. After playing around and changing driving styles, I figured out the secret. With the car warmed up, when you reach cruising speed, take your foot off the accelerator completely, and slowly return it to the point where the car maintains speed. At under 42 MPH on level surface (or downhill) the TCH will completly switch to batteries, and on the highway it seems to put the car into an "econo" mode. I get over 45 MPG highway with this trick.

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  best investment ever - 1994 Toyota Corolla
  By Ryan Carroll - September 10 - 11:16 pm

  I purchased my 94 corolla when my last car was totaled by a drunk driver. I purchased w/about 150k miles, and now have 190k, still running strong. I used Penzoil High Mileage up until 3 months ago, switched to valvoline Synthetic Blend...still awesome car. I still average 33-35 mpg, and thats better than my wifes 06 cobalt. Low maintenance, high reliability.

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  OH YAH - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By hal9000 - September 10 - 8:20 pm

  We bought the first one in Montana the day it came in and we love it! Excellent off-road capabilities and very good stylin. Good comfort and surprizingly good gas mileage. So far the seqouia has met all of our needs to were we are going. The seqouia is awesome!

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  Way to go - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By secondprius - September 10 - 6:23 pm

  This is our second Prius, our first was a 2004 and we were so happy we bought another one, the 06 seems to ride a bit better, a bit more pep and feels a bit more solid. If this one goes well we will be buying a Camry Hybrid soon. Oh by the way we are not tree huggers we also own a Hummer and a Suburban XL but how can you argue with easy parking and a consistant 48mpg in the city and 46 on the HWY... We love all our cars but I cant argue with saving 6-7k a year in fuel.

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  Fun econo car with extras - 2009 Toyota Matrix
  By fingerstyle22 - September 10 - 2:13 pm

  Downsized from an 02 Ford Explorer. Off the bat, the 09 Matrix has greatly exceeded my expectations. First off, I ordered the car with extras: leather seats, darker tinted windows, backup sensor, Perma Plate protectant. Uniquely original design for 09: dramatic outlines all around; SUV to CUV/stationwagon functionality. However, with 17" tires, VSC, AWD, 2.4 liter 158hp engine and 162lb feet torque (double cams), electronic steering, the car slices easily through traffic, and corners like butter. Handles road bumps with a rock solid chassis. Excellent fuel at 20/26 variable plus or minus 3 mpg either way. 5 Star metallic paint! "Black Sand Pearl".

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  A great little car - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By janet13669 - September 10 - 6:00 am

  Ive had this about a week and i just love it. Its so quiet and smooth to drive. The gas mileage is supposed to be 40 mpg- but I have gotten more than 40. Its so small I can park it almost anywhere and its zippy as hell.

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  Overall the best value in its segment - 2013 Toyota Camry
  By zramil - September 9 - 10:37 pm

  Over 3,000km (1,875mi) so far and very happy with my choice. Not a perfect car but it does everything well for its segment at a great price. Tighter handling, better interior materials and dashboard design would be nice but this is a mid-sized family sedan for value minded customers, not BMW 5 series and Toyota did a good job with this generation. I havent had popping roof noise, AC odor and rattling dashboard issues that some drivers complained about. V6 has a very generous amount of power and most people would be perfectly fine with I4. Transmission shifts smoothly. Cabin is very quiet on Michelin tires. Ride comfort is great. I highly recommend the SE trim.

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  Best of the reasonable priced cars - 2008 Toyota Camry Solara
  By jeepers - September 9 - 6:16 pm

  Got an electric blue with all goodies. Have had convertibles for 40 plus years. This is the best all around car I have had. Why are they stopping making it??

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  I really love this car. - 2013 Toyota Yaris
  By septembersrain - September 9 - 4:14 pm

  I originally had this car as a rental. I actually felt its reliability and eager anticipation of me using the passing gear. I love how the car feels bigger than it is. The interior could use a bit more softer materials to make it easier to keep clean and scratch/damage free. It also needs arm rests, Unfortunately that isnt a standard feature. When given premium gas, This car actually gets quite perky! Needless to say, I returned the rental but bought one exactly like it with 3 doors instead of 5. I love it! The black pearl paint really glimmers in the sun....

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  Love my RAV - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Ifti - September 9 - 3:40 pm

  After months of due diligence I decided to go for RAV4. I am pleased with the decision I made and my friends and collegues are impressed too. Its zippy, good on mileage (22mpg city/30mpg highway), compact and good pick (better than my previous v6 dodge intrepid). Its great value for the price. Great looks and great performance backed by Toyotas reputation, I think its the best compact SUV in the market. Safety features, especially side curtain air bags, helped me get good insurance rates and peace of mind, of course.