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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  The best little car available - 1996 Toyota Corolla
  By Jason - November 22 - 6:36 am

  I bought my corolla over 2 years ago from my mom, she had it for 8 years herself. She never had one problem with it and neither have I. Just replaced the timing belt and thats it besides normal maintenance!! It feels like a 5 year old car with 50,000 yet it has 180,000 and is now 13. If youre looking for reliability this is the car for you.

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  Rough Ride - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By kim - November 22 - 5:23 am

  I hate this vehicle. The ride is so rough and the road noise is very loud. Toyota should be ashamed of this. I regret not buying a Chevy equinox. I will never buy Toyota again.

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  Matrix XR - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By andrewcrose - November 21 - 8:23 pm

  Great car...was same price as fully loaded civic we had looked at earlier, but felt much more solid. Extremely comfortable, drives very well, and looks somewhat flashy.

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  Huge Savings! - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By KH 730 - November 21 - 4:13 pm

  Just purchased the 4-door Yaris a week ago as a second car & I am amazed at the gas mileage. We have a Jeep Commander but needless to say its going to take a break until the snow comes. The car is so easy to drive & pretty comfortable. I really like the radio with the MP3 cd read. Its definitely a great car and would be a nice choice for someones first car. The backseat is very spacious (for a small car) and the trunk has optimal space; I havent had to fill it up yet but it seems like itll get about 440 miles per tank, thats such a huge difference! Im averaging about 35-40 mpg only city driving, thats in comparison to 12-13 mpg. so it definitely benefits my budget.

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  We LOVE this Prius - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Toyota Prius - November 21 - 2:03 pm

  The gas mileage and the engineering that went into the design and of this car is supurb. It proves that hybird cars can be built and are in demand in this country. We waited 8 months for ours; now the anticipated wait is 18 months. We had the choice of the car that came in with its factory options or waiting for the next one. As supply equals demand perhaps specific options can be ordered and delivered as ordered. Meanwhile, like the VW of old, you take what comes in. One difficulty is determining where the curb of the road is - there is no visable fender to guide driver. Love it.

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  We LOVE this Prius - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Toyota Prius - November 21 - 1:46 pm

  The gas mileage and the engineering that went into the design and of this car is supurb. It proves that hybird cars can be built and are in demand in this country. We waited 8 months for ours; now the anticipated wait is 18 months. We had the choice of the car that came in with its factory options.

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  Good for cheap transportation - 2009 Toyota Yaris
  By John Drake - November 21 - 12:23 pm

  My 2003 Hyundai Accent 4dr got totaled in a rear end collision so I got a Yaris because it was the cheapest new car I could find. Its not a hot rod, but has good acceleration for around town and getting on the highway when I need to. Its roomier than it looks and at least for me, more comfortable than the Hyundai, and it feels more solid. Driving in daily stop and go traffic, Im getting 32mpg. The solid feel of the car combined with front and side airbags make me feel safe on the road in it. Handling is good and the car is a pleasure to drive. I hope the stories Ive heard about Toyota reliability are true, because I want to keep this car for a long time.

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  Greg01 - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By Greg01 - November 21 - 12:03 pm

  Great relibility boght brand new 145k miles service by my self have transmission oil changed twice no issues so far very happy with it

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  Greg01 - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By Greg01 - November 21 - 11:44 am

  Great relibility boght brand new 145k miles service by my self have transmission oil changed twice no issues so far very happy with it

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  I Love My Truck - 1995 Toyota Pickup
  By mary garrison - November 21 - 10:00 am

  This truck has been an excellent vehicle. My husband and I bought it to replace a 1979 Toyota Tacoma (you can see that we really needed a new one). At the time, my husband was still working and only used the truck on weekends. In 1998 he retired because of Parkinsons Disease. The truck only has 44,692 actual miles on it. He doesnt drive very much anymore. I do most of the driving, and I have bad knees a d need tgo get an automatic so that it wont be hard on my knees.