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 - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By hnh - November 15 - 2:00 am

  GAS IS REAL GOOD

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  Smartest car - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By Marianne C. - November 15 - 2:00 am

  The smart entry is fabulous- no more digging in my purse to find my keys- car starts without it in hand.Acceleration is superior to my 01 model.

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  EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT!!! - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By Harry and Slick - November 15 - 2:00 am

  Bought this new in May 2003 and we absolutely love this vehicle!! We are so glad we decided on the V-8 Sport model. The hood scoop, the suspension, and the towing capacity make this an absolutely excellent, hot looking vehicle that is a dream to drive. Build reliablity is next to none and there is no doubt that this vehicle will keep its resale value. We bought the black with the gray cladding and it really gets the attention when it is on the road. Tough and classy at the same time. WE LOVE OUR 4RUNNER!!!

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  Why didnt I trade in earlier - 2003 Toyota Tacoma
  By rivka - November 15 - 2:00 am

  I had my tacoma for about eight months and let me tell you, it was nothing but trouble. I was at the dealer at least once a month to fix stuff. mostly the power window kept falling off the track and wouldnt go up. also other annoying stuff-the brakes and rotors needed changing after 11000 miles, the transmission shifted roughly, and the worst part was that the dealer didnt seem to know what they were doing. I finally gave up and traded it in for a dodge 1500. so far so good.

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  toy hl rules - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By momo gin - November 15 - 2:00 am

  was shopping for honda element and crv, then went to toyota to see rav 4 (have 97 rav 4) saw drove 93 close out highlander limited fully loaded and took it out for test drive with the wifey. oh oh, one of those had to buy deals with 1000 rebate and 100 over msrp 700 miles in and nothing but praise for the perfect car/suv mix started with the rav4 improved with the max power of six cyl 3.0l in the highlander. power on demand, high vision, seat heaters, six speak jbl cass/cd, leather and moonroof, with toyota reliability. we are living in a good time my friends.

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  2004 sienna - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By zoemia - November 15 - 2:00 am

  love it, drive great, kids love it, lot of room

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  Ill never drive a minivan!!!??? - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By Mamagigis - November 15 - 2:00 am

  Never wanted a minivan, I looked into every possible SUV. They were all lacking. When I looked into the Sienna,I found the car of my dreams.I waited 13 weeks, due to low supply.I originally wanted the XLE,but got the Limited. Once I got the Sienna,it was even more than I thought it would be. Drives like a Lexus and looks as good. Thank you Toyota;You made a car that is great for kids, but even better for Mom. I will never drive anything else but a Sienna. I feel like I know a secret SUV drivers havent figured out yet.I hated the idea of a minivan, but after two kids, I needed convenience and I found it, along with style.

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  SE V6 Rocks! - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By Rob M - November 15 - 2:00 am

  This is a great car, very quiet ride at high speeds, comfortable seating position and seats, smartly laid out interior with a large guages and buttons. Build quality is top notch and the V6 engine is powerful and quiet. This car also soaks up bumps and poor pavemnet very well. Having driven several Lexus vehicles in the past, this car really feels a lot like Lexus in the way the car rides.

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  Need improvements - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By mart - November 15 - 12:03 am

  Bought 2008 rav v6 limited 4wd in august 2008. Vibrations at 80 km/hrs. 4x4 assembly was changed but did not solve problem. Finally replace the drive shaft. Now its fun to drive. Noise isolation is bad particularly in the back. Seats are not comfortable. Very hard. Other then that its a great car and VERY performant.

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  Utility is Back - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By fjaddict - November 14 - 11:56 pm

  I was tired of all automatic, highly refined car-like SUVs that you could not dare get dirty. FJ is just what the doctor ordered: it is rugged, rubberized on the interior and built for utility all the way around. It is outstanding off-road. I take it on trails when I go on photo expeditions and camping with my kids. It is well- mannered on the roads and proves to be a fun commuter as well. In short, this truck does an exceptionally good job on and off the road. Of course it has lots of plastic and rubber; it is built for utility. Blind spots everyone keeps talking about have not been a problem; paring sonar and side mirrors do a good job of fixing all that. I love my FJ!