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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  Good Car, good value - 1998 Toyota Camry
  By luckydriver - November 8 - 10:50 am

  Purchased mine with 95K in 2005 (with no carfax) and it now has 160k in 2011. Since then I have had normal expected maintenance, breaks, battery, and tires. And then some things I did not expect, 1) Work to the front left axle or bearings. 2) a Bushing in the rear end. 3) Overheating engine caused by a failing water pump assembly. and 4) dripping oil beneath the car. 5) a Dear ran into the side of my car causing a huge dent in the rear quarter panel. The car shows exterior signs of damage from a previous owner, possibly a rear end collision.??? In six year the car has cost me about $.10 cents per mile for maintenance. (including body damage repair costs), if This car is great!

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  Great SUV - 1996 Toyota 4Runner
  By dinger82 - November 7 - 4:46 pm

  Love my SR5 Limited 4Runner. Its a 5sp!

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  New SE V6 - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By jim - November 7 - 2:50 am

  Great looking roomy car that rides and handles well. Good acceleration but some torque steer on hard acceleration. Nice looking interior but seats are very hard and are not comfortable for long trips. Only problem has been a rattle from sunroof so far.

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  Pay Attention! - 2015 Toyota Sienna
  By S - November 6 - 3:41 am

  For women on the go, (we live in the car), there is no place for a pen, trash, no up front drawer, doors have no side pockets" worth a flip", the console is so deep you need a flashlight to see what the contents are, if you drop something between the front seats and the console you cannot get your hands between these two, and definitely no place for your purse when you have a front seat passenger with you. The console needs to be to where you could take in or out as needed. The passenger seat needs to have an up/down button as the drivers seat does. The gas could be better because in 2006 the Honda Vans were getting 26-27 in town and on the road 31. This could also be for the Sienna. I like the van itself. I wish these men would let a woman design the front inside. When do you ever see a man driving a van.

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  Came from a Tahoe - 2010 Toyota Sequoia
  By Brad - November 5 - 11:20 pm

  We traded in our 02 Z71 Tahoe for this Sequoia and are happy we did. We have more room and the power fold down 3rd row. Being 63" it is a bit more difficult to get in as the seats are situated higher, but it is comfortable, drives nicely and so far works well for our family travel needs.

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  Good but not perfect... - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By m9431 - November 5 - 1:26 pm

  This is my third Toyota Truck and one selected after much comparison. For me the size fits my needs, and Im impressed by the interior design. The V6 is impressive, but not overly fuel efficient compared to Chevys great V8s. Chassis strength is much improved, handling is good. As others have noted in user forums, the rear suspension is weak, mine bottoming out after I added a 150lb. cap. I had to have my srpings rebuilt independently at my cost, not covered under warranty. Additionally, the 5-speed automatic transmission shifts very poorly, slow to make a decision and often like it doesnt know what gear it should be in! Hopefully Toyota will release new software to cure this problem.

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  Smooth & Powerful Drivetrain. Gas Mileage disappoints - 2011 Toyota Highlander
  By spottedone - November 5 - 7:59 am

  I purchased this Highlander Limited early August and have about 2500 miles on it. I just completed a trip from Phoenix to San Diego. I bought the car for the smooth, quiet ride and performance and it has not disappointed. I had test drove an Infiniti SUV and the Acura MDX. Overall, I am happy with the car. The gas mileage has ranged from 19.4 to 22mpg. My Low fuel warning light is coming on too early with about 4.5 gal remaining in tank. This is around 322 miles which is very irritating. I think the Navigation system is too complicated as evidenced by the large instruction manual. Cargo cover installation is a pain. We really need ventilated seats in AZ.

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  Go the Mile - 2014 Toyota Prius v
  By Ron Salmons - November 5 - 6:23 am

  a little lack of power

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  Do your homework before you buy - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By kaylavalet - November 5 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle has been a big disappointment. I have owned several Toyotas in the past and they have been great. This probably explains all of the high ratings for the Sequoia. Based on Toyotas reputation, I think this vehicle gets greatly overrated. Where do I start? With the constant clacking noise. I have heard or read this described as piston slap, valves, etc.... Dealer is in serious denial. Claims there is no problem. Oil sensor out. Computer diagnostic failure, etc....

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  Nice little car - 2004 Toyota Matrix
  By BoxerChamp - November 5 - 2:00 am

  Downsized from a full size SUV to the matrix. Lots of room in the back I love how the back seats fold back and leaves you with a large area for storage. The gas mileage is a plus too.