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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  Disappointed - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By john Wittig - June 8 - 10:40 pm

  Have had car towed to dealer twice for no start. My first and last Toyota. Never had new car towed before. Car has some good features, great fuel economy, great performance. Love cooled seats. Hid headlights are great. Stereo is great. I no longer feel reliability is there. Transmission is terrible very jerky. Will make last payment soon and car will be gone. Wife wanted Toyota for quality but is disappointed

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  nice body - 2002 Toyota 4Runner
  By Monica Fiorentino - June 8 - 10:00 am

  I just got the 4 runner s5 a week ago.I love it so far and my kids love it too.

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  More car for the money - 2002 Toyota Echo
  By rhasson - June 8 - 10:00 am

  I wish every purchase I made was half as good as this one. The only thing I could say I dont like about this car is that its not sporty looking. This car is easy to step into and has plenty of head room and good acceleration with the manual transmission I bought.

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  1995 Toyota Camry - 1995 Toyota Camry
  By Christina1 - June 8 - 10:00 am

  Great car - very reliable, however ho hum to drive. Has never stranded me anywhere. With all the mileage, I have only had to replace a battery, tires (normal wear), brakes, ABS sensor light, shocks, and struts. V6 has good acceleration

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  Our Dream Truck - 2001 Toyota Tundra
  By Merri - June 8 - 10:00 am

  We waited for 2 years to decide between the silverado and the Tundra. Our last truck was a Toyota 1986 just sold it. This truck rides like a car not a lumber wagon. I know my grandkids will end up driving this truck. My son of 4 when we bought the 86 is now 17 and drove the truck for 2 years. Very reliable!!

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  Love this car! - 2009 Toyota Matrix
  By Toyota lover - June 8 - 7:56 am

  Oh my I love this car! It is peppy when passing other cars, who needs the 2.4 ltr, sacrificing the gas mileage is not worth it. Gas mileage so far is about 32mpg and that doesnt include any highway. The handling is amazing and it runs really quiet, hardly any road noise at all! Sound system is nice and the interior is positioned very well. The back seat is adult friendly and you can pack a ton of stuff into the back when the seats are down. This car is great, the best one we could have chosen for sure. There is nothing bad about it so far! Buy one, youll love it!

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  Not thrilled - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Dan - June 8 - 7:53 am

  I bought the car used with 34k on it. The mpg is not good. I get 24 to 26 and I drive very conservatively. The performance otherwise is good. It is comfortable compared to my recent CR-V, but the mpg of the CR-V was better. I drive to South Carolina regularly from PA and the mileage leaves much to be desired even at a 65 speed. Looking for something better.

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  Very Satisfied - 2008 Toyota Camry
  By john - June 8 - 7:53 am

  Ive driven my 2008 Camry LE 1,375 very pleasant miles so far. It is very comfortable, roomy and fun to drive. Fuel economy is excellent. The 2.4L 4cyl 5A has plenty of pickup when needed on the highway. I would recommend this car to a friend.

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  Not Worth the $ - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By dee333 - June 8 - 4:46 am

  The only thing this car has going for it is its fuel economy. If you are looking for a new car because of the gas prices and dont mind giving up handling and performance, this car is for you. Otherwise, this is not a car for new drivers (very poor handling) or car enthusiast.

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  Toyota Corolla S - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By Wood - June 8 - 4:33 am

  My Corolla is a very good looking and reliable car. It gets great gas milage (31c/h combined.) For a economy car it has a decent amount of space, and overall it gets the job done. But one major flaw is that the driver cabin is very very uncomfortable, and seats need cushioning. Im 510 (average height) and when I pull the seat back for more leg room the steering wheel is too far away, and when I push the seat forward my foot rests too high on the pedal. Ive tried every possible adjustment and nothing seems to work. More seating adjusments. (add power seats or pedals)