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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  Cant Be Stopped by Snow, Rain, Mud or Rough Roads - 2003 Toyota Tacoma
  By DANIEL - November 10 - 11:49 pm

  Great truck for light hauling, fishing off the beach and traveling off road. Excellent ride on street travel. Five speed transmission is smooth and useful with its 4x4 gear box. Except for routine maintenance, no repairs had to be made. Jump seat in extra-cab with storage, rear window slider and rear side windows that push out on an angle.

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  It had huge shoe to fit - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By HadèS_73 - November 10 - 8:13 pm

  We first came to Toyota dealers with the Echo in mind. We needed a very reliable car knowing we where going to do enough mileage to run out of warranty within 24 month so coincidently fuel economy was a must. After test driving the Echo we were disappointed at the highway speed stability. So we turned to the base Corolla, Wow! 14 months later and the car has cost only fuel, oil change and tires. The car still drives like new just a few squeak come up once in a while. We are from Quebec so this car as seen + 35C bumper to bumper city traffic to -35C morning cold starting and as perform flawlessly. Design is boring on the inside but ergonomic is a gem on the long run.

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  Great...would have been better w/4 Cyl - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By ljmiii - November 10 - 1:00 am

  Delightful. Overall, it is the best seven seat vehicle out there. Good comfort, quality, and driveability. I get about 23 MPG hwy, 35 MPG city though you can do better on the HWY by going slower. The car is great to drive on the freeway and ideal in the city but not so good on twisty roads. In fact my chief complaint is that the acceleration and braking so dramatically outperform the suspension... there is no reason for 268 HP in a car this tipsy. They should have gone with the Highlander/Camry 4 cyl, hybridized the performance up to the 6 cyl, and delivered better mileage (like the Prius).

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  Smooth on Highway, a Little Rough Local - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By sy - November 9 - 8:26 am

  Drove from Chicago to Las Vegas (1700+) miles smoothly. Plenty of horses, but accelerating from a stop, the transmission tends to lag a bit. Not sure if its torque steer, the SUV weight or needs better quality or premium gas, or the trans itself. However, once you get moving, this vehicle can fly. It rides very smooth on the highway even going 100+. Its a bit bumpy on local streets, especially for the rear passengers, but keep in mind, after all, it is an SUV. Exterior looks great, but the interior is a little "plasticky", I guess thats how you keep costs down. If you want more refinement, go with the luxury brands. Otherwise, this is what $25K gets you (w/o 4WD). Overall, good value.

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  My first Toyota - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By E.D - November 9 - 2:40 am

  I bought my 2005 LE Camry about 3 months ago and so far no problems. This is a roomy and comfortable car. Its also pretty smooth compared to my other car. Ive only noticed some slight hesitation when I try to accelerate quickly. This is a reliable, practical, comfortable and roomy car.

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  fun to drive, poor mileage - 1998 Toyota Tacoma
  By green98taco - November 9 - 2:00 am

  i love this truck, it goes anywhere, including offroad. its gas mileage sucks, but if i want to go into the mountains or some big mudholes, who cares? looks great, and fairly easy to modify. ill say it again, i love it!!!

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  Solid Car - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
  By dylancasb - November 8 - 4:17 pm

  I bought my 01 18 months ago with 58,000 miles on it. Since then I have put 30,000 miles on it. I have had no trouble with the vehicle at all. However, when I first bought it I had to put one quart of oil in whenever it reached 2K miles since an oil change. I began changing the oil every 2K miles and now it doesnt use any oil even if I go past 3K between oil changes (sludge can be a problem with this model engine and frequent oil changes are a good idea). The 4cyl is a little underpowered but it gets good mileage. The interior fit is sound throughout the car. The hood finish is rough and seems to be a common problem with solaras in these years.

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  Enjoying my *new* car - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By katie - November 7 - 12:56 pm

  We just bought this car and are so far very pleased. I have been dismayed by the few negative consumer reviews on this site, but most seem generally good and consistent with our experience. The interior plastic features are a little kitsch-y, but are neat looking. And, the clutch is... interesting... all things I can certainly live with if the car continues to run well and be fun to drive!

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  A head turner - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By Old fart - November 6 - 8:56 am

  When new, the truck got more than its share of attention. Good mileage and great ride are pluses. Cargo capacity when camping or hunting cant be beat. Also has gone places 4X4s wouldnt go. Air conditioner has been only problem with radiator and now A/C clutch needing to be changed.

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  Bad brakes - 1997 Toyota Camry
  By JJB - November 5 - 11:33 pm

  Had the Camry for about 7 years and it ran well the whole time. I did have to replace the brakes two times in 4 years. Also the alignment was always getting out of whack. First gear was a little tricky too, but that could have just been my car. Another thing to think about is the gas mileage - not as good as you would think. Spent a lot more on gas than I should have. All that aside it was a very reliable car, and the only real work I had to put into it was the brakes.