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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  Good, Reliabile Car - 1994 Toyota Corolla
  By Mike Callaghan - January 22 - 2:00 am

  I purchased the car from my parents in May of 2002. They offered it to me for a price i could not refuse. The car had 48,000 miles on it and it was a 5 speed. As long as i have owned it I have had to replace absolutly nothing. I realize the car has barely any features. It is also very slow. But it works and I get about 32 miles to the gallon. For a 16 year old it was a great car. It is kind of hard to get in trouble with it. Before the car was given to me my parents replaced the alternator and starter.

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  Better than Expected - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By newHighlanderOwner - January 22 - 2:00 am

  Have had this car for about a month now and I love it. Was driving a Volvo and got sick of the repair bills, so Im looking forward to Toyotas famous reliability. The ride is exceptional and it handles far better than you would think a 5300 pound vehicle would.

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  beware of paint staining - 2003 Toyota Avalon
  By Hands501 - January 21 - 10:00 am

  Weve had the vehicle for two weeks, and love it so far. We did have trouble with the dealer, when the detailing department sprayed tire dressing on the tires. The dressing then stained the diamond white paint. The dealership had to buff out the clear coat and repaint the wheelwells and back quarterpanels (lower portion only). The service manager commented that the paint on the white cars was easy to stain. Purchased our 2003 model for $30,000, with moonroof, heated leather seats, floor mats, and diamond white paint, but only got wholesale for our 99 Chysler LHS.

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  Dashboard and oil line - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By joeball - January 20 - 4:25 pm

  I have 52,000 miles on my Avalon and the dash is getting hairline cracks everywhere. I was told it would cost $1,200. to replace .Then this week my rubber oil line hose failed that repair cost was $425. I almost damaged the engine but I was able to take it to a dealer for repairs . It seams the rubber on the Toyota is defective !! NOTE: the hose is 4 inches long and cost $78. On the internet you can buy 5 feet of the same Original Equipment Manufactured hose for $10.00 from part # 13016

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  Toyota-the way to go but... - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By Pink9847 - January 20 - 6:30 am

  This is my third toyota. My first was the 2000 echo, my second is the 2001 4Runner and the 2005 is my third. I bought the corolla for its great mileage and ofcourse, you cant go wrong with a toyota! Other not favorite features include no Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive, etc displays on your dashboard. The body is very weak. Someone hit my car when parked and the bumper caved in and I lost some plastic piece that goes where a light would be on a normal car. Now theres a bare hole. I love toyota but it could use improving. I think my echo had a better interior - sad.

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  Good Car, but Needs Minor Improvements - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By Brett - January 20 - 2:03 am

  Traded an 04 Corolla CE for the 09 Corolla LE. Overall, I have been impressed with the performance of the car, fuel economy, and exterior design. Averaging 34.5 mpg in mixed city/highway driving. I have 1800 miles on the car, and the volume knob on the radio stopped working today for some reason. I visited the dealership and they ordered a new radio without hesitating.

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  Slow acceleration - 1994 Toyota Corolla
  By Rick - January 18 - 11:36 pm

  My 1994 Corolla is really a 94 Geo Prizm (same as). I have over 220,000 terrific miles. Currently, however, I have experienced slow acceleration under 50 MPH and it hates air conditioning at those speeds. Twice the car has stalled after sitting out over night in heavy rain. A whiff of carb. spray does the trick. I have a very highly skilled Toyota mechanic and he has looked at everything and cannot find anything wrong. The car runs like a demon on the Interstate at 70 MPH and does not use a drop of oil. After sixteen years it still starts without touching the gas pedal. Still a great car but this issue is a major annoyance.

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  Expected better - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By Scotsman - January 18 - 11:10 pm

  I got out of a big truck (Titan) and into a little truck (Tacoma) to better fit into my garage. What a mistake. It turned out to be one of the most uncomfortable vehicles I have ever owned. The drivers seat was like sitting in a hammock with my rear end sitting in a depression and my thighs being elevated. Not good for extended drives. The back seat was not overly comfortable according to my wife. Fuel economy was not impressive, 17.5-18 mpg. Paint started out looking really nice, but ended up being very susceptible to chips and scratches. The steering was very vague, with very little road feel, and tended to wander. Soft suspension with any kind of a load. Lots of road noise.

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  Swagger Wagon Quality? - 2011 Toyota Sienna
  By paublo73 - January 15 - 2:36 am

  Bought this van when our 2nd child was on her way last June. Immediately loved the practicality and versatility of the interior. It just makes life easy with kiddos in car seats. Also have used it to haul various cargo and people and wondered what we did without it. It drives well for a van with a smooth ride although the steering and brake feel are a little light. The dash plastic is a tad on the cheesy side but the switchgear has a quality feel. Unfortunately so far we have had a window leak, a recall notice for the brake pedal bracket, and now have a stability control problem that has illuminated 4 warning lights and the central info screen. What the heck has happened to Toyota Quality?

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  excellent except - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By carolyn - January 13 - 10:23 am

  I love my 4runner except one thing. The fuel economy on this puppy is not that good. I go to the gas pump quite a bit in this thing. The 4 wheel drive is awesome and has pulled me through many a snow storm. Toyota quality is outstanding.