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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  Better Than Reported - 2010 Toyota 4Runner
  By Bob Conklin - January 18 - 10:00 am

  Forget about the sour rating by C.R. This is a great vehicle so far for the month weve owned it. Nice, quiet ride, good handling, peppy V6, good mileage at 19 overall. Smooth shifting trans. Huge cargo area. High quality leather pkg. option adds luxury.

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  Very good all-around car - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By andjer200 - January 18 - 10:00 am

  In addition to being very stylish, the Venza has more than enough space for my family of 4. The fuel economy is impressive considering the size of the engine and the car. I calculate my mpg manually at each fill-up, and i normally get 21-22 mpg doing an almost even mix of city and highway. I recently drove down to Pennsylvania , a 400 mile trip one way, and i got a calculated fuel usage of 28 mpg. This was with the A/C on auto at 78 degrees, 2 adults and 2 kids, plus luggage. On the return trip i got 26 mpg because we did some city driving in NJ and NY. This is a very versatile vehicle - perfect for a small family.

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  Best buy for the buck - 2007 Toyota Tundra
  By My Tundra - January 18 - 10:00 am

  Almost bought another truck but gave the Tundra the once over. Spent more then planed, but after considering all others, there was no real choice. If your going to spend your hard earned buck, the Tundra beats others in many ways. MPG is great as I get 19.2 with mine, I only got 22.1 with my 4 cyl. The draw back is that my wife now wants to drive it all the time annd wants me to drive the van. Yuk!

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  First time Toyota owner - 2011 Toyota Tacoma
  By RRamirez - January 18 - 10:00 am

  This is my first Toyota vehicle. I have owned Ford pick-up trucks for the last 15 years but my 2007 Sport-Trac was falling apart so I decided to try something else. I researched the Frontier and the Tacoma and test drove both. I went with the 2011 Tacoma PreRunner SR5 V6 Access Cab, and Im glad I did. The Tacoma is definitely more fun to drive than any truck I previously owned. My first 2 weeks I put 1000 miles on the truck. I cant stop driving it! The interior feels "plush" like a car and it handles very refined for city or highway driving but over the hill-country here in Texas you know its a truck because you can feel it pull its way up the hills very easily.

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  Good Vehicle but Overpriced - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By Ken Hartley - January 17 - 6:20 pm

  OEM tires worn out at 37,000 miles. More noise than I would like on concrete highways. Wind buffets when windows are down to the point they have to be rolled up. Rear seats not very comfortable.

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  Late-in-life decision: Hybrid Purchase - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Lee Roach - January 17 - 11:36 am

  At 78 years of age I had decided that buying a new vehicle was frivilous. After all, my 95 Lexus SC 300 5 Speed only had 50,000 original miles. However, after reading about the Prius I made a decision to buy sight unseen, and not having driven. It should be noted that cars have been my hobby throughout life, beginning with a 31 Chevy purchased for $15.00 as junior in high school. This Prius is fascinating, actually one is driving a computer, literally. They may be rare now, but it is the future until fuel cell cars arrive, which I may not see. 50 mpg is also fascinating, the envy of particularly SUV owners. And, it performs well - does everything it isasked to do.

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  Best Car Ive Even Owned. Period - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By hotrodjohn - January 17 - 1:43 am

  I bought a 2006XLS in March 2006. Today, it has 206,000 miles on it without one single problem. I have replaced the tires, battery and brake pads. It still has the original spark plugs, water pump, starter, antifreeze, trans fluid and serpentine belt (which isnt even cracked!). This car has been nothing short of amazing. It is big, the back seat is the biggest of any car I have seen. It is fast with plenty of torque all the way through the powerband, feels like a V8. It averages 27 miles to the gallon with 80 percent highway driving. It is super quiet and smooth. The Camry isnt even close to an Avalon. This is BIGGER than Lexus ES350, yet cheaper. Im going to keep on driving it.

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  Own 2 Camrys and Love Them - 2006 Toyota Camry
  By JC - January 17 - 1:03 am

  Purchased a 2004 Camry SE with 4 cyl and auto trans, new, and loved it so much I bought the exact same model for my wife in 2006. Consumer Reports describes the ride as that of a more expensive car and they are correct. I have had absolutely no problems with either the 2004 or 2006, just normal maintenance. Hwy mileage is 33, city 24, as long as you drive sensibly and keep tires inflated to 32 psi. My tirewear has gone to normal lengths (25,000 for new car tire; 40,000 for replacement Costco Michelin tires).

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  Awesome - 2013 Toyota Tacoma
  By Sully - January 17 - 12:33 am

  I love the truck better now than I did when I first got it.

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  Tremendous Ride - 2007 Toyota Camry Solara
  By DVB - January 16 - 10:06 pm

  Had this car for 2 weeks. Nothing but fun. Bluetooth phone feature makes speaking on the phone safe while driving! GPS system gets me to unfamiliar addresses without getting lost; often right on the dime. Car looks, rides and handle great!!!