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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  2003 Toyota Tacoma V6 4 Dr SR5 - 2003 Toyota Tacoma
  By rjtoc2 - February 14 - 10:00 am

  Overall I really like my Toyota. I has a firm ride (which I like) and the V6 has plenty of power when you need it. I am a car care fanantic and so far, everything appears easy to maintain. Washing and drying is easy and is fun. Sitting in the vehicle affords a great view and surprising there are very few "blind spots" when driving.

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  V6JUICE - 2003 Toyota Tacoma
  By rpres44 - February 14 - 10:00 am

  The ride is excellent. The handling is excellent. The mpg could be a little better (17.05 over 7000 miles) but the larger tires give it a 6% error in miles driven (it shows less than it has actually gone). The clock cannot be seen by the driver w/o leaning over. The center console plastic scratches easier than other cars. Removing the oil filter is difficult unless done through the dr side front wheelwell. Draining the radiator requires taking off a large, heavy piece of brush guard underneath. But an excellent choice for a p/u. Should have side visors in front.

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  Corolla 04 LE Review - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By Calu - February 14 - 10:00 am

  Great car, met all my expectations, car a bit pricy for a sedan range but still a great car to own.

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  Wonderful experience - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By wowa1999 - February 14 - 10:00 am

  I would recommend this car to everyone. It would benefit from some minor improvements (see below) and I wish it came as wagon. Very good driving experience. Also the car attract attention.

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  8 time in the shop and still rattles - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By Phoenix driver - February 14 - 10:00 am

  I bought this Camry expecting quality and reliability. Ive had it 2 months and have had to take it for repairs 8 times. First the rear suspension made noises. That was fixed after two tries. Then the overhead light rattled. The handles on both front doors rattle. They added foam to both doors four times and it still makes noises. Now the radio has started rattling. There is a delay between prssing the accelerator and the car moving. Toyota says signal has to be processed by the central computer. However that is dangerous in an emergency situation. And the brakes are soft by design. You have to floor it. Im selling this Toyota and never buying one again.

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  01 Toyota Celica GT-S 1.8L Auto. - 2001 Toyota Celica
  By Christina_Pittsburgh - February 14 - 5:53 am

  There isnt enough space to say how much I love this car. Bought used with 43000 miles on it, it still felt brand new. After 7 years and pushing 170000 miles, it still has kick in the horsepower dept. and handling is stiff and reliable. If it werent for my daughter and the lack of space in the back seat I would definitely by an 05. Why would they discontinue this sporty, affordable, and I think beautiful and originally styled car? After 7 years, Im still in love with it.

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  RAV4 driver position - 2012 Toyota RAV4
  By cigsmh - February 14 - 4:35 am

  After a having the car for a month I am still fighting to find more or less safe position to drive. I am afraid to lose control of the car because my right leg is in awkward position and I cant figure why. I have Montana 2000 and I have took all the measurements of the pedals and seat trying to understand where the problem coming from. I even tried to drive bare foot - even worse. I tried different seat cushions and padding - no luck. This is leased car and I have 1 year return back if lost the job. I will have to use this option if I cant figure out how to fix the problem. We suppose to go to Safari tomorrow and I am scared to drive with my family.

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  1997 Toyota T100 SR5 w/208,000 miles alr - 1997 Toyota T100
  By gene - February 14 - 2:06 am

  I cant wait to say I have a quarter of a million miles on my truck. I drive it everyday both city and highway. I changed the front brakes twice and they are not any where needed yet. I changed the rears a third time only because the emergency brake cable froze. I have had two mufflers one I paid for and the second one was replaced by the dealer because they said any repairs they did was warrantied for life. No lightbulbs needed yet but I did revert to White Lights. Has the best headlights I have ever had on any vehicle. Rides great even on still original shocks. Minimum rust which I am getting fixed. Back bumper also needs replaced - rust. Overall I have been very pleased with my truck.

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  Glad I picked the Camry Hybrid - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By seiker0808 - February 14 - 1:30 am

  The car is comfortable and fun to drive. I almost bought a Prius but this has more toys and if Im careful I can get between 35 and 40 mpg. I love the nav. and the Bluetooth. The minute I started driving the car I knew I was going to buy it over the Prius even though I did really like the Prius as well. This is just more comfortable to me, more of, I can have it all this way. OK, not as good gas mileage as the Prius, but still very good and great for the environment. Love all of the controls on the steering wheel. To get the best gas mileage you have to use cruise control when possible.

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  Not as happy as I thought I would be... - 2013 Toyota Avalon
  By yardy - February 14 - 12:57 am

  I feel in love with the color and design of the car. But I am not happy paying the amount of money and not being happy with the ride in the city. My biggest complaint is the JBL sound system. I bought my car in Maryland and drove back to Georgia to snap, crackle, and pop. The radio fades in and out at will. Thank goodness I have a great Toyota service department near me. I will take the car in tomorrow, get a loaner and they will find out how to fix this problem from their tech department.