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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  SPYDER MIGHT - 2001 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By edaug - March 2 - 2:00 am

  GREAT, FUN CAR TO OWN AND DRIVE.

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  Very happy with this truck - 1997 Toyota Tacoma
  By ryanmiller98 - March 2 - 2:00 am

  I’ve had my Tacoma for nearly 5 years and plan on driving it another 5. After 117K miles, the only problem was w/ the air conditioning - a difficult- to-diagnose leak costing $380 at the dealer. Other than that, Ive changed tires as needed, the engine oil every 4- 5K, and trans/diff every 15K. New plugs, air/fuel filters, EGR Valve - routine self-performed minor tune-up. Ive done a bit of 4WD (6X/year) - Handles solid in snow and trail. The check engine light I used to get? - hasnt done it once since I turned the gascap at least 3 clicks after fillup. I strongly recommend it and will likely buy a newer one - probably around 2008

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  RAV4 U - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By Marcus/markmils - March 2 - 2:00 am

  I was skeptical about buying an SUV because I dont want to like SUVs. I think full size SUVs should serve more of a practical purpose instead of just burning fuel (towing or hauling loads). I also was concerned about the high ride height and resulting safety. Well the ute class of SUVs are practical and fun to drive and dont burn a lot of fuel. The RAV4 can be a daily commuter without giving away ride comfort. I hate to say it but I rather like the RAV4 and Ive been a long time car owner. Good thing to be open minded!

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  new sequioa - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By tracy lee - March 2 - 2:00 am

  I just got my Sequioa and love it. I was comparing it to the Expedition, but there is no comparison. It drives like a car and rides like a dream on bumpy roads. I cant wait to see how well my Sequioa lives up to the Toyota name in the years to come.

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  The car I have been waiting for - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Larry - March 1 - 10:30 am

  Looks like a Lexus for 1/2 the price. Tan on Red is a eye catcher combination, which I just love.

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  Severe NVH issues - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By Stacy Wilson - March 1 - 7:55 am

  A surprisingly zippy little SUV, but too many negatives. The #1 issue that I have is the squeaks, creaks, and road noise inside this car. I recently discovered an industry term, NVH - which rates Noise, Vibration, and Hazzard. This Rav4 has the WORST NVH rating. Sure wish I knew about this term prior to purchasing this car. On the hunt for a top rated NVH vehicle. I purchased this vehicle brand new, 2015 Rav4 Limited. Within the first few months, the dashboard began squeaking and creaking - I have a TBI, and cannot tolerate this type of noise. Plus, the road noise coming up into the car from the tires, frame, etc - is brutal. The dealership said that Toyota has templates, of an absorbing type of material. The dashboard would be dropped, template installed, problem fixed. Well, that particular squeak and rattle anyway. They informed me that if they went ahead with this repair, they would need to drop the entire dashboard - separating thousands of contact points within the dashboard - and the end result would be LOTS of more squeaks. Wow. Also, very very tight seating, even in the front seats. Unless you are a petite person, and do not have any issues with serious road noise in the car while driving, it is a fun little car to bop around with, and the cargo room is fantastic.

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  Is it a "big little car" or a "little big car?" - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By priuspapa - March 1 - 6:24 am

  I was "hooked" with my first test-drive. I initially was looking at either the 2010 Sonata or Elantra but the Prius just blew me away with its sophistication and refined performance. So smooooth, quiet, and well-mannered. Ive been a compact car man my whole life but have never owned a car as unique as this one. Im constantly stopped by passers-by who ask me how I like it. My family, friends, and associates are all overly curious about "how it works" and the space-age digital graphic dashboard displays are amazing. Ive only had it for 2 months and about 3,000 miles so far but long enough to have opinions - mostly favorable.

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  rav 4 2wd 2.4 engine - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By jimbo - March 1 - 5:36 am

  Excellent build, peppy, fun to drive, roomy, excellent safety features. It replaced an 04 Matrix, and is a much more substantial car, though has fewer standard features. Gas mileage is not up to expectations. 20 mpg around town, not much better on highway.

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  The Total Package - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By USC Gary - February 29 - 11:03 pm

  Highly recommended for anyone considering purchasing an SUV. After driving BMWs for 16 years, the transition was relatively easy. Although the 4Runner is built on a truck platform, it drives like a car. It tackles bumps on the road with ease and offers a smooth ride. Deft touch in regard to road handling; negotiates curves with little sway. The base V6 offers more than enough power if you dont plan on towing a boat or trailer. You dont need to punch the accelerator to feel the surge of power. The list of standard features is considerable compared to others in its class. Comfortable and roomy second row for passengers. Toyota reputation for reliability and quality was a huge selling point.

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  Great Car - 2001 Toyota Corolla
  By JB - February 29 - 4:46 pm

  I was spending $320/mo. in gas at the time I purchased this vehicle, so there were two things I looked for in my vehicle: reliability and gas mileage. This is the premium package for both. I drive my car all the time and living 30 minutes from work I only spend about $100/mo. in gas now. I recently took a small road trip in 530 miles, I used 15 gallons of gas! So I averaged at 35 mpg! I could improve this number by getting a tune up, an oil change, and inflating my tires. I also used my air conditioner most of the way and drove at about 75 mpg. Not bad.