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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  Well built - 2005 Toyota Sequoia
  By chris - March 23 - 10:43 pm

  Compared with Nissan Armada and Honda Pilot. Bought Sequoia to replace our aging minivan. Love the car; well designed and built. Reliable and durable....cant wait for a long trip.

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  Excellent SUV for non-off-roaders - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Aka - March 23 - 10:33 pm

  Very smooth, quiet, comfortable ride. Excellent acceleration. Well-appointed interior. Third-row seats are cramped and its use makes second row also cramped, but useable for short trips. Fuel consumption fell short of EPA- reported averages in my hands. I could get only 26 MPG in town and 23 MPG on highway.

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  Absolutely Fabulous - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Robert - March 23 - 9:30 am

  Great car! I am a very frugal (okay, cheap) shopper who goes over everything with a fine tooth comb. This car is great. I owned a Geo Metro for 5 years and considered an Aveo. The Yaris is the best of the three with the most power performance, the most room, and the best at making me smile when I drive. IF I get rid of it before I retire, Ill looking to get another!

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  My Prius - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Cherie - March 23 - 8:03 am

  I find my Prius to have plenty of power when I need it. I enjoy watching the mileage indicator hovering around 50 mpg just driving around. I sometimes hit 58 mpg on the highway. I really appreciate that I only fill it up once every two weeks.

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  130,000 Reliable Miles and Counting !!! - 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By stutz1 - March 23 - 7:59 am

  After driving 130,000 miles on my 2008 FJ Cruiser, I have found this SUV to be very dependable. I love the plastic floors which I just spray down and wipe down. Dont miss carpeting . I enjoy the easy to clean durable interior fabric, however I would like to have as an option a leather interior. A fellow FJ owner told me there is a shop in Buffalo NY that sells leather skins that simply stretch over existing seats. Most people that ask me how I like FJ follow up with gas mileage question. I get around 18mpg which is fine for a vehicle that can tow up to 5000lbs.Im not risking life for mileage!This vehicle gets top marks (5 star rating) for rear and side impact crash testing.

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  A Lexus Convertible for a Toyota Price - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By mcvg - March 23 - 6:43 am

  Im very pleased with my Solara. This is a very quiet car with the top up and tons of fun with the top down. The JBL Stereo is outstanding and provides great sound even with the top down on the interstate. I have had the car in for one warranty repair to fix a small rattle, but a very painless experience. I like all the little gadgets on this car, though the fuel mileage estimator usually posts about 3 mpg too high. Overall a wonderful car and great for weekend trips!

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  Life Saving - 2007 Toyota Sequoia
  By Jenny - March 23 - 4:10 am

  Ive always been a skeptic about the performance of our Toyota Sequoia, but after a recent car accident I cant imagine a safer car. My sister recently endured a traumatic car crash with our Sequoia flying 10 feet in the air and flipping three times and she came out shaken but nearly unscathed. The Toyota Sequoia is built like a tank and guarantees both the satisfaction of a SUV and a safe vehicle. Its quite literally a life saver.

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  lots and lots of problems - 2011 Toyota Venza
  By georgejacobs - March 23 - 3:43 am

  Weve purchased our 2011 Venza new and have had it now for three years and 35k miles. We have had continual problems with the alarm going off for no reason. Its been in the shop three times but Toyota cant fix it. They did manage to silence the horn on the alarm but the lights still flash. On and off the steering makes a whining or creaking sound. Recently the sun visor on the drivers side broke--it wouldnt stay up or down, just mid-way where it obstructed the front view. The mileage is not quite what Toyota claimed--we get about 22-24 on the highway. For a vehicle that had a sticker price of $40k, its definitely a disappointment.

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  Love the utility - 2008 Toyota Matrix
  By Smittyman - March 23 - 2:56 am

  I have had this vehicle 3 months and I cannot believe the various uses I am gfetting from it. I bought to go back and forth to work in and I am happy with the 27MPG city driving I do. The most enjoyable is going to Home depot etc and being able to put back seat down and use all the back room for a vehicle of this class. My only complaint is I am 63" and when I get the seat back I drive straight are to reach the steering wheel. Passengers have more than enough room and ride comfortably. Maneuvers very well.

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  Echo Mistake - 2004 Toyota Echo
  By David & Anne - March 23 - 2:00 am

  Purchased as a second car for wife. The sheet metal is like tinfoil. We have had trouble with the paint chiping (silver) Toyota will not do anything we have been to arbitration and no good. The car rattles inside, plastic. All in all its a very poor built car will trade very soon. Seats are very uncomfortable. NO MORE TOYOTAS