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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  Nice SUV but poor Performance - 2017 Toyota Highlander
  By B George - November 9 - 4:42 pm

  I own this SUV since Feb 2017. I had own 2010 highlander and decided to go for new. Worst decision. The performance is extremely poor on 8 speed gear box. The vehicle is hesitant to start or accelerate from a stop signal, people will overtake you and look you like what the f*** you are doing. RPM goes all the way to 5000 still the car doesnt move. I heard about a new software released from Toyota for this issue and updated it, slight improvement but I hate it. Vehicle is stalling at lower gear and too quick gear change. I was really surprised Toyota is releasing a car with such worst transmission. I like everything else about this car, but whats the use when the heart of the vehicle is a failure. I am thinking of selling this car. I definitely think, the transmission issue would be really slow down highlander sales. Please be aware before you purchase.....

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  best car ever owned - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
  By j. m. stassi - November 9 - 6:06 am

  we have absolutely enjoyed this car and even had it customized to make it more of a guys car with 18" black chrome wheels, blacked out grill and custom headlights and tail lights.... well worth the money to make the car more california street cool. only negative is the obstruction of rear view due to backseat headrests made standard in 05 for rollover safety.

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  Best truck for the money - 2002 Toyota Tundra
  By tommy - November 9 - 4:23 am

  My truck has been a great ride for almost four years now. Everything continues to offer a smooth experience - except for the disfunctional cupholder. Low noise, decent on gas, no mechanical problems to speak of.

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  A great choice!! - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By ilex2 - November 8 - 11:26 pm

  I wanted a well rated small SUV with lower owner cost, so I recently bought a 2010 Rav4 and love how fun this car is to drive! PROS: The V6 has lots of power and better gas mileage than my last car (a Mercedes C300) and I love that the Rav uses regular grade gas. Lots of cargo space, roomy back seat, and the radios aux is great for using Pandora on my iPhone. Nav and back-up camera are great features! CONS: Hands free phone systems mic is poor quality. Braking is a little slower than Im used to. Cup holder insert is too small for a travel cup and without the insert, its too big. Not a big deal, but a little frustrating. Overall, I LOVE this car!

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  wonderful ride - 2005 Toyota Sequoia
  By LR - November 8 - 8:16 pm

  This SUV is superb! Granted, I only purchased my 2005 SR5 Sequoia 2 days ago but I am so pleased with my purchase. It handles amazingly well for such a large-side vehicle. I traded in my 2002 4Runner - which was a fantastic car and thought I would never part with it. But the Sequoia is easy to handle, is very comfortable, and all of the controls are within easy reach. I was considering the GMC Yukon but Im very glad that I came to my senses and decided to stay with the Toyota family!

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  Personal Use - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Sunny - November 8 - 5:16 pm

  Although I am still learning how to maximize my gas mileage, it increases each tankful. The secret is to maximize the coasting times. One tankful I tried to go minimum speeds to utilize the electric motor as much as possible and found I was not charging it enough. A good mix of driving and coasting seems to be the key. There are no two drivers whose techniques are alike so you have to learn as you go.

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  maxs 05 avalon - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By maxavalon - November 8 - 12:20 pm

  This is a big, comfy ride with lots of goodies (270 hp, 360 watt, 12 speaker sound system, dynamic laser cruise control, heated & VENTILATED front seats etc.) that you would otherwise have had to pay much more for. My only issues with it so far is a bit of torque steer on quick acceleration (it DOES GO!) and a pronounced nose dive when I had to stand on the brakes recently.

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  Very Pleased - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By cpaman - November 8 - 10:40 am

  I bought this SUV used with 40,000 miles. I just returned from a 3500 mile trip through the Rockies and was very pleased with the performance in the mountains. So far, I have had no mechanical problems.

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  Avalon xls 2005 - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Kathie - November 8 - 10:10 am

  Had a Sequioa went smaller, but still have all the luxury. Fast,Fun, comfortable. Lots of Trunk space. Can fit 2 sets of golf clubs plus golf carts. My kids like the room in the back and how the back sits tilt back if needed. Very smooth ride... feels like a lexus in every way.....

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  Great SUV - 2006 Toyota Highlander
  By Jay in NC - November 8 - 9:00 am

  This is a great driving SUV! It has a quiet ride on the highway, and it has all the creature comforts I need. The center console is easy to manage. It offers plenty of room for 5 passengers and the rear storage space is more than ample. I was pleasantly suprised by the acceleration of the 4 cylinder engine. I am very pleased with my Highlander.