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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  Great truck, not-so-great mpg, Good buy! - 1997 Toyota 4Runner
  By Maki - February 24 - 6:16 am

  My first SUV. Bought it with 69K miles, now has 73K. Love the styling in and out, though THE FRONT CUPHOLDERS ARE HORRIBLE!!! Everyone complains about them because theyre in an awful location and they vibrate! Im planning to retrofit the newer 4Runner cupholders as others have done. Other than that, its a great truck! No problems whatsoever. Just change oil/filter every 3K and add gas, you can go anywhere. I take it snowboarding every weekend, drives great in the weather though I use chains in the snow...no 4WD. This car is a classic example of Toyota quality and no-nonsense styling. Toyota covered all of its bases, except the aforementioned cupholders and a little lack of grunt.

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  Its a Toyota - 1998 Toyota Tacoma
  By eric - February 23 - 6:06 am

  Great small truck, much better gas milage than my previous Toyota V6 4x4. Also seems to have more power (not for towing though). Only complaints are seats lack padding, and turning radius could be tighter. A limited slip differential would be nice, but overall I am very satisfied with this truck and I have owned 5 different Toyotas and Nissans

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  Great Car for Great Price - 2009 Toyota Yaris
  By Charles - February 23 - 2:43 am

  I purchased this car as a third car for my commute. I have a Tacoma but the gas was killing me. My wife drives a Prius but we did not feel like spending 24,000 for another car. We got the Yaris for 13,000 out the door and it has been great. No problems at all. Fun to drive, first few tanks of gas has been averaging 36- 39 mpg. Very fun to drive.

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  Good up till now. - 2002 Toyota Prius
  By lehctimfishing - February 23 - 2:00 am

  Very pleased with car. Good gas mileage at 46.7mpg(owned 79 rabbit diesel)much greeneer than other car. Have tire problems now and needs alignment, warranty good for one free alignment up to 20,000. Have 24,000 on car now. Made mistake not looking at warranties closer.

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  My Corolla Rocks! - 1999 Toyota Corolla
  By Nienna - February 23 - 2:00 am

  My corolla has been a delight. As a single mother on a budget, reliability is everything and this car delivers. Its cute and fun, roomy and gets great gas mileage. Its door design is perfect for getting my son in and out of his car seat and theres tons of trunk space. Its made me a Toyotta owner for life!

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  great truck - 2000 Toyota Tundra
  By jammer29 - February 23 - 2:00 am

  I have 170,000 miles on it and it is still kicking A$$ !!! I replaced the breaks at 102,000 miles.

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  my tundra 4dr rocks - 2004 Toyota Tundra
  By johanna - February 23 - 2:00 am

  I bought this truck because I always wanted a toyota, but was just waiting for the full size version to come along. The wait was well worth it. It rides like a car, and inside is soo quiet. The stereo system is the stock 6 speaker, but puts out very well. Engine performance is awesome, although there seems to be a little lag when you first step on the gas. MAybe its just my driving style. It does need better gripping tires to perform in a 4wd situation, because I have experienced a little slippage due to the slick road tires that come standard.

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  djnreview - 2000 Toyota Camry
  By djn210 - February 23 - 2:00 am

  Great Car! Extremely Reliable. Best performance for someone who puts alot of miles on car. Now have 75,000 miles on car with no major repairs. Put new brakes, tires and shocks/struts on car recently. Rides and performs great.

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  Reliable, comfortable car - 2000 Toyota Camry
  By toyowner - February 23 - 2:00 am

  Ive had this car for 4 years and have never had a problem...only routine maintenance such as changing tires and oil changes. Ive got 26,000 miles on it so far.

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  Good little commuter car - 2016 Toyota Prius c
  By D White - February 22 - 2:01 pm

  While this is not the car you want for long trips (wouldnt be comfortable after a couple of hours) or the car for a family with lanky teens (Back seat legroom is tight even for my short wife!) it will get you from point A to point B with great gas mileage and in relative comfort. Acceleration isnt great, but I didnt expect it to be with an engine smaller than many motorcycles. It will hold weekend luggage for three, but not much beyond that. Sound system and Bluetooth are adequate, and the microphone for my phone is actually better in the C than in my V!