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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  car making noise - 2013 Toyota Corolla
  By miranda5 - October 23 - 5:06 am

  I bought my 2013 toyota corolla LE last July. Ive had two big problems so far. 1) screeching noise when cold start ( it has been going on for the whole winter) 2) starts from last month ( my car has 3500 miles so far), there has been whistling noise come from the front of my car when I speed up ( with the window open, I can hear very clearly. When the window is closed, I can barely hear it). The noise is really annoying......it makes me so worried...Im so scared by car problems.... The reason I bought a new car is because I dont want to have car problem any more...but look at this........... Does anyone has the same car problems as I do?

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  OK car - 1998 Toyota Corolla
  By okie - October 22 - 2:56 am

  This car is for small people but has perks like the gas mileage. I have a 70 mile commute every workday and only spend 20 dollars on gas every week. It has flaws but they are minimal for the price. Anyone looking for a car with good reliability for its price and doesnt care about cosmetic problems will love it

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  Excellent product - 1999 Toyota Tacoma
  By Jerry61 - October 22 - 2:00 am

  My 99 Tacoma has served me well over 39 months that Ive owned it. One problem I had (fixed under warranty)was the airbag sensor went bad but it was replaced. I intend to keep this truck until it rolls over and dies.

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  Good lil car - 2002 Toyota Corolla
  By mshor - October 22 - 2:00 am

  My gripes with my 2002 Toyota Corolla is the seats, road noise and the cup holders. Seats: on long trips my back gets to hurting. Noise: I previously owned a Honda Accord and the quiet interior is something I miss. Freeway driving with the Corolla is quite noisy. The cup holders sit right in front of the stereo. If you have 16 oz. bottle of soda, you have to nudge it aside to adjust the stereo. I think they fixed this on the 2003 Corolla. Otherwise, this is a great little car. Its peppy, gets 35-40 MPG, and hasnt had any mechanical problems.

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  Land Cruiser Legend - 2003 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By Maximiliano Valencia - October 21 - 5:46 pm

  Im from Venezuela, and this is the best suv you can have in this country, it manages everything, here a normal street is an off road challenge, but the land cruiser pass through it. Excellent for hard conditions, you can find this suv from Africa to south america. From asia to middle east, is just great. You can never go wrong with a land cruiser.

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  Best Minivan out there - 2008 Toyota Sienna
  By Holajn - October 21 - 4:33 pm

  I come from a family of minivan users. Of all, the Toyota Sienna is probably the best one we have driven yet. It was priced cheaper than common competitors like the Honda Odyssey and Nissan Quest. The Sienna has outstanding power, it can get to 60 mph no problem (under 7 seconds to be exact!). Unfortunately, my family was involved in a severe accident in February 2009 with this minivan. We rolled over at 40 mph, thankfully nobody was injured. This car is incredibly safe. The stabilizer bars in the roof and doors kept the car very sturdy during the rollover.

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  2008 Toyota Corolla - 2008 Toyota Corolla
  By Suddhatma Mukherjee - October 21 - 8:10 am

  The Toyota Corolla is not a fast car but is powerful enough for daily city drives and occasional holiday outing. It is more of a touring car rather than a racer or a rally car. The steering is superb with fine cornering abilities. Only the power for engine is a small let down. City driven mileage is 9.86 kmpl but highway driven mileage is 11.0 kmpl.

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  Kunka - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By Kunka - October 19 - 12:50 am

  As far as gas this car is great. As far as space in the drivers seat it sucks . I am 59" 190. and should do okay in it buy it is SNUG and UNCOMFORTABLE.This car is also loud and distracting on uneven and bumpy roads. Its aggravating.

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  Jeannie - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Jeannie - October 18 - 6:30 pm

  Lots of room in front seats. With hatchback model able to fit more in - went camping with it and fit in stuff for three. Gas mileage not nearly what was projected. With 5000 miles on the car, I average 38mpg around town and 45 on highway (oppisite of what they quoted - and geting less as engine ages). The best Ive gotten is 50mpg - all freeway miles in rush hour traffic. Handles poorly on wet road - slips a lot.

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  Watch-out for this! - 2002 Toyota Sienna
  By Watch out - October 17 - 10:00 am

  Watch out for 2002 Sienna models leaking water from the roof rack (sealant not applied to roof rack screws)into the interior. It will only be visable by wet carpet. And an aweful moldy musty smell.I have three different locations where the carpet got wet. My mechanic said he has treated others for same problem.