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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  Owned since brand new in 2003 - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By bagui1984 - April 19 - 9:06 am

  I have owned this car since 2003 when it was bought brand new. I am 29 now and the car now has a bit over 126,000 miles. I have not experienced the dreaded stripping head bolts yet, and hope I never have to experience it. Ideally, I would love to use this car until 300,000 miles. I bought the car because of Toyotas reputation on reliability. I have added lots of mods on this LE, Homelink, HID projector headlamps from a Lexus, Wood grain, Fog Lights from the XLE model, TRD rear sway bar, just to make this car a bit fun to drive. I love it thus far, no real problems yet and hopefully forever.

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  Best Car Ive Ever Had! - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By luvmycamry - April 19 - 8:50 am

  I have always had the best experiences with a Camry, and my 2007 is no exception from that! I bought it new in 2007 and I have loved it every time I drive it. It is very reliable and comfortable. I love how easily it maneuvers and always runs very quietly. It is so spacious throughout and the way the colors are done inside is nothing short of genius because it is so easy on the eyes! Also, I have close to 30,000 miles on it now and I only need to have my tires rotated every other oil change because there is always perfectly even tread wear on them. This is by far the best car I have ever had!

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  So many little problems - 2007 Toyota Sequoia
  By Ted - April 19 - 8:23 am

  I bought a Toyota for their supposed great customer satisfaction and reliability. I must say that this not what I have experienced. The car does start and run just fine. The problem lies in all the little things going wrong and the number of times that dealer visits are required. So far both mirrors have gone loose. The clock has failed, the rear hatch wont stay open, the power outlets have failed ... the list goes on. On top of that, the dealer and Toyota Corporate are great at stating that not all problems can be fixed under warranty even though the warranty has not expired. I still have 18 months left on the warranty and 10k miles to go.

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  This is my wifes car - 2006 Toyota Sienna
  By dad - April 19 - 3:36 am

  This is the first new car I have ever purchased, so compared to everything I have ever owned in the past, this is a dream. It has nice styling, LOTS of interior room, second row windows that roll down, LOTS of cupholders, and the "front and center" middle seat in the second row. Handling is superb, but the engine seems underpowered at times. Gas mileage is within the EPA estimates. Drivers seat is comfortable, even without the power controls. It seems that Toyota is very concerned with having the best minivan around, and they have gone out of their way to add little details that will appeal to the type of people to will drive their vehicles.

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  Love the Ride but annoying to Drive - 2006 Toyota Camry
  By Ed EE - April 18 - 7:23 pm

  First time Toyota buyer just loved the comfort and ride of this tight car. Clean, traditional and conservative styling. Very quiet ride - so much so that sometimes I didnt think the engine was still running. Peppy V6, good handling, gas mileage in high 20s. This top of the line XLE is so well equipped that it could have been a Lexus. But then Toyota cheaped out and didnt even include floor mats.

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  Super Satisfied - 1995 Toyota 4Runner
  By ogvaz - April 18 - 3:13 pm

  This vehicle has been one reliable SUV. I own a 2004 MDX, and it is not as reliable. I changed the front brakes for the first time at 100K miles, and the rear at 160K miles. It now has 180k miles and ready for another timing belt. No major issues with this truck except that I changed the radiator 3 years after I noticed some pinhole leaks in the top reservoir. I only did this because I was concerned about 4 wheeling in the hot desert. This work was also done at 160K miles when the factory hoses were changed out for the first time. I took it out 4 wheeling last December in the Anzo Borrego desert over boulders and steep inclines, and it still performs like a champ.

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  First 4runner and loving it... - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By jbrhymer - April 18 - 2:16 pm

  This is my first 4runner. Was eyeing the Tacoma for years, but having 2 dogs plus hauling snowboarding gear all winter, I decided on the 4runner. No regrets. Dogs love the back, rear window is awesome, handles off road, snow, ice, mud with ease (I did swap out the Dunlops for better tires). Looking for a mid sized suv that handles well on road, handles great offroad, and wont leave you stranded on the side of the freeway? Get a 4runner.

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  Brilliant car - 1995 Toyota Camry
  By Andrew - April 18 - 10:46 am

  The Camry is perfect Ive never had any major problems with it at all! Being that I just passed the 200,000 mile mark and it still runs strong! Brilliant! Even on my long trip to Seattle from Portland. It keeps its power as long as you maintain the car plus with the power button option it makes it even speedier! My mileage is great, close to 30. The interior design for me is awesome because Ive painted my interior to be black and chrome so its exactly like a luxury vehicle on the inside! Like brand new! Anyone can make these cars look expensive thats what I love about them!

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  Just fell in love with it - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By TOM NICOTERA - April 18 - 10:40 am

  My wife and I were looking at pickup trucks and went to see the new Toyota Tacomas as we had an 09 Tacoma. The new body and size is a great improvement over the earlier years. It also has much better styling and features. I am about 510" and getting in and out of the driver side can be difficult as my head hits the roof line of the door opening. My wife is about 52" and has no problems with it. Surprisingly I have no trouble getting in or out on the passenger side. The dealer we purchased through ours through was great to deal with and offered an excellent trade value for our 09 as well as very good price on the truck we bought.

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  Best car - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By James - April 18 - 10:40 am

  I was going back and forth between the Toyotoa corolla and the honda civic for the longest time. Everbody I know likes the civic, but I started to research the corolla more and more. The corolla has more room, bigger trunk and the gas mileage is about the same. I looked at the features that the corolla versus the civic would give me for the price. I liked the S model, becuase it had all the features I wanted from the LE except for cruise control and my dealer added when we negotiated price. The civic didnt come close to the price and also the corolla I read is the most sold car in the world, but in the USA its the civic. more room, cheaper, more features, less price!