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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  My little rocket pocket - 2003 Toyota Celica
  By st2002 - February 25 - 2:00 am

  I have had this car for 16 months. Has lots of power for a little engine car. Fuel efficient is decent. Handling and braking is simply awesome! The only bad thing is that it encourages me to drive faster than I normally would...and the insurance is out of this world.

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  Sienna=smooth, reliable..Ford-thbbb! - 2003 Toyota Sienna
  By cniehoff - February 25 - 2:00 am

  The 2003 Sienna XLE is a whole new world compared to our previous Windstar - smooth, QUIET, solid, comfortable, literally glides down the road, split rear seat (easier to remove than a solid bench eventhough it doesnt fold away), reliable so far (10,000 mi and not problem 1), EVERYTHING WORKS ALL THE TIME, sunroof, 2 settings of heat in leather seats, great JBL stereo, dash layout is nice, liter bottle holders in doors handy, roof is lower than Windstar so loading bikes on top will be easy. We are picky about cars and Toyota has raised the bar for our expectations - bought a corolla 3 months later and looking at an avalon for next purchase!

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  my corolla rocks - 2000 Toyota Corolla
  By joecalvert - February 25 - 2:00 am

  my experience with this vehical is that i have had zero problems (electrical or mechanical) with this car. it is a dream. it sat for 3 monthes over the winter and started right up no problem.

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  Great Car for the money - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By Arkansas Flyflinger - February 25 - 2:00 am

  I just bought my Matrix, and I love it. It handles great and am very satisfied with it so far. I will say that after driving both an automatic and a 5spd I would recommend that you go with a 5 spd if it doesnt bother you. It performs much bettern and is a joy to drive.

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  Smooth, Quiet Ride, Great Price - 2003 Toyota Tundra
  By smallpoet - February 25 - 2:00 am

  I dont require much passenger space, so no need to trade the long bed for the small second seating area. I am certainly having a hard time getting used to 16 miles per gallon. However, the mileage is pretty much on par with other trucks of its size. Edmunds "cost to own" feature shows it is the least expensive truck to own in its class (.40 cents per mile, compared to .47 and .48 cents per mile for the competitors). The ride is extremely smooth and quiet, and I do feel that the V6 provides adequate power for the light truck user. For folks like me who just fill the bed up with various items the V8 would provide excess power!

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  So much fun! - 2002 Toyota Tacoma
  By Jynxie - February 25 - 2:00 am

  I have wanted the Toyota Pickup for a long time, and finally I got one April of 2002. I called it "my Buff Little Truck" and it is! It has great pep in it and takes a bit of off road abuse. :)

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  not bad at all - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By blitzwood - February 25 - 2:00 am

  I love the economy and versatility of the v-6, only wish it had a little more torqe for better towing. I wasnt thrilled with the plastic panels, but understood the reasoning behind them so didnt really mind them. Thats until I backed into a parked Mustang, barely tapping it with the rear plastic corner bumper. Nothing happened to the Mustang, but the corner bumper had to be replaced. I couldnt believe how cheaply built this important feature was. Only thing worse was the cost to replace it. For example, this little 3"x4" red reflector costs $93. Nevertheless, Id still recommend it.

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  Great Car! - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By BATgirl - February 25 - 2:00 am

  I love my new Corolla LE. The car drives wonderfully – smooth, solid and reasonably quiet. The styling is great – looks like a baby Lexus. It is so roomy inside. The mileage is incredible; I have calculated that I have gotten over 35 mpg in mixed driving. I had been car shopping for well over a year, test driven all sorts of cars, seriously considered “treating myself” to a much higher priced car. I did my homework and I am so happy that I went with the Corolla LE – a GREAT car for the money (or more). I would much rather have my money in the bank – and the Corolla will help keep it there!

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  Not getting the gas mileage expected!!! - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By dwarrior - February 25 - 2:00 am

  I love my new car (its my first new one, last was a 89 929). However, I am concerned that after 700 miles, I am still not getting anywhere near the gas mileage stated. A full tank barely takes me 225 miles!!! Is anyone else experiencing this? I use Shell gas 87 octane. I dont drive that much, maybe three or four trips a day totalling 20- 30 miles. Could it be too much stop and start? At the dealership, the service rep told me it can take up to 900 miles to really break in the gas mileage. Please help!

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  A little bus - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By ebegoli - February 25 - 2:00 am

  We just purchased this car. It is really a little bus with lots of space and power and high mounted driver seat. It is very fast and handling is relatively nimble for such a big car. Fuel economy is OK at best (as a anti- SUV conservationist I feel really guilty about it, so I drive at 65 mph max where I get 26 mpg average). Interior design is beautiful with lots of space and in floor folding rear seats. Exterior is pretty good, but I could design a better nose. Finishing inside is OK. There are some misfiting plastic pieces and misaligned labels.