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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  Finally found the perfect minivan - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By AsilNrek - May 5 - 10:00 am

  After years of Dodge, Chrysler, Ford, and Chevrolet minivans, Ive finally found a quality van in the 2004 Toyota Sienna. Not only is the van a beauty on the inside and out, but driving it is actually enjoyable. It handles like a dream around corners without that sensation that you might flip or lose control of the vehicle. The power is there when you need it without that awful lag in acceleration common to other vans Ive driven. The seating is comfortable and the thoughtful placement of storage and cup holders throughout the vehicle adds to the overall pleasure of this vehicle. The rear folding seats are incredibly easy to do even with one hand.

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  Luxury - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By flo - May 5 - 10:00 am

  its the most comfortable vehicle Ive ever owned. Its luxurious and sensible. It works. I took an 11 hour drive, I felt like I only drove for a couple of hours--Comfort. It has all the bells and whistles and then some. Im still finding more.

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  Better than the last - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By maomao - May 5 - 10:00 am

  This is our 2nd Sienna. We really like the additional features to this re- designed model, such as the right sliding passenger door, the tons of cup holders, the great rear row fold down (my husband was developing muscles from pulling the seats in and out from the rear with our last Sienna), our 8th passenger seat in the 2nd row is a really plus (my son, age 5, sits in the middle smaller seat and his dad and grandma can sit on either side of him so we can keep the 3rd row of seats down for more trunk space), and the turn ratio is much better (I noticed my U-turns are tighter). Definite improvement and I paid less for this car than our last car.

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  CKs - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By CKeen - May 5 - 10:00 am

  Great ride...fun to drive!!! Power is acceptable. Plenty of room inside, especially great headroom.

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  Going for Best All-Around Value - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By BZ - May 5 - 10:00 am

  In researching cars over the years, I always start looking at the Honda Accord and Civic, but the local dealer simply wont deal. Too expensive and way too low on trade-ins. Found a car I like better anyway and the dealer deals: the Toyota Camry LE sedan with automatic and 4-cylinder engine. No wonder Camry is the best-selling car in America. Excellent value with best combination of standard features and price. Elegant classic look inside and out. Good performance and excellent economy. Thoughtful ergonomics and comfort. LE is so completely equipped that only optional equipment needed is driver and front passenger side and curtain airbags.

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  I love my 2007 Prius! - 2007 Toyota Prius
  By Paula - May 5 - 7:00 am

  I just brought my Prius 3 weeks ago. We took a trip to Houston and I went 227 miles before the 1st fuel block moved. I went 527 miles and I still had a little over half a tank. I went around 747 miles before I put more gas in the car because we were on our way back home from our weekend trip and wanted to make sure we had gas going on the back roads. I was very impressed with the mileage. The seats comfort was okay I moved around a little to get comfortable and I am 6"1. My husband had plenty of room. It said we average 54.2 miles while on that trip i tried to stay around 65 miles per hour. I am enjoying the prius. I traded in my 07 Yaris for safety reasons (smaller car). Glad I did it!

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  Great Vehicle - 2006 Toyota Sequoia
  By J. Muller - May 4 - 5:20 pm

  Fun to drive. Interior item locations not fully thought out. Some features are inconvenient to use.

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  Great car, great price, best fuel economy - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Joe - May 4 - 6:00 am

  I bought this car to commute in and it has been a dream. I moved from a Lexus to the Solara so that I could have a cheap commuter vehicle. No compomises in build quality and getting 10 more mpg. I also like the fact that my Sirius radio fits in the space inside the dash. Rear of the car looks like a SC 430. Sweeet.

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  Awesome truck, terrible mpg. - 2008 Toyota Tundra
  By TundraHorn - May 4 - 12:36 am

  This truck is amazing, Ive heard people talk about the kick in the engine, but I only feel it when I put it into reverse.... it kicks HARD!! But Toyota sure has gotten tougher, it cost me, but its worth the reliability and customer service.

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  Still a great car after 11 years - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By jw3YJ6 - May 3 - 9:48 am

  We bought this new and its been a great car for us. Still running great after 11 years! Repairs and maintenance beyond the usual scheduled work include: 2 batteries, 3 sets of front brakes, 1 set of rear brakes, tires, exhaust, struts, water pump (replaced under warranty), glitch in the steering, leaking power steering fluid. The brakes have always been soft on this vehicle and with aging and pot-holed streets the suspension is looser than it used to be. Highway fuel economy is about 29 mpg in winter (with winter tires) and 34 mpg in summer (with all season tires).