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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  Tacoma and me - 2001 Toyota Tacoma
  By terd - September 28 - 10:00 am

  my d-cab has a real truck feel, I mean I can feel every bump in the road, my 4 year old daughter said one day, this is a bumpy car daddy, the trasmission takes a while to down shift when coming up to a stop sign then giving it gas right away there is a big hesitation, the bed is to small, could be a little longer, and my shifter and 4x4 shifters wonder all over the cab, real loose........my steering wheel came crooked.......but other than those problems it has been an awesome car...........

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  A great first car. No Qualms... - 2007 Toyota Prius
  By jeffsteph - September 28 - 8:25 am

  Everyone I talked to loved their Prius buys. Im happy to say I am now a welcome member to the same club. Was looking for an economical first car upon making a move cross country to AZ. Settled in on the 2007 Prius that was coincedentally installed with GPS, JBL Speakers and backup camera. The Gas mileage is a solid 40-45 City/Hwy. So glad I made the choice.

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  Unhappy with I Phone Compatibility - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By SCT1023 - September 27 - 11:53 am

  I have owned this vehicle for less than 2 weeks and have had a major issue with the blue tooth and I Phone (3G) compatibility. While the phone synchs well, recipients of my calls cannot understand my voice. There is a compatibility issue that Toyota is not willing to recognize. I would recommend that all IPHONE users not purchase this vehicle. Absent that, the car is wonderful, but since I paid significantly for this feature, I am most unhappy.

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  Some Plusses and Some Minuses - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Company Car Driver - September 27 - 3:43 am

  V6 with 6-speed automatic is excellent - very smooth, quick to downshift, and very fast. The acceleration is great. There are too many design flaws. The front seat cushions are way too short - I feel like my legs are falling off the edge. Power adjuster needs more range The front doors are a long reach to close once youre inside. You have to lean half way out the car to close them. The power window lockout switch also locks the 3 passenger window switches on the drivers side! When I lock the windows, I dont want the kids and dogs to operate them, but I want to have control over them. The A/C compressor and recycle buttons are too easy to engage. They need a firmer detent.

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  my corolla s - 2007 Toyota Corolla
  By J.A.O - September 26 - 10:03 pm

  I have a 2007 Corolla S. One thing I like the most is the money I save on gas. Also I like the sporty design but they should add a remote trunk opener, a little big horsepower and room in this S model. Other than that this car is great.

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  Chromtec wheels does not mean alloy wheels - 2017 Toyota Highlander
  By Tim R - September 26 - 11:49 am

  I made the mistake of switching from an XLE to the Limited at the dealership before researching. I assumed the wheels where Chromed alloy wheels. They are basically glorified hubcaps made of plastic that is coated to look like aluminum. My Highlander is a 2017 and we have less than 5000 miles on it. So far so good but its too early to make a complete evaluation. I just wanted everyone to know that the wheels are covered with a plastic hubcap that is permanently bonded to the wheel. The toyota salesman will not colunteer this information.

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  06 Tacoma - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By debo1683 - September 26 - 10:43 am

  This thing is sweet. Drives like a car, power in all realms of the motor, low end torque, high end horsepower. What a pleasure to drive on a daily basis. The transmission, however is a little clumsy. No need to worry about the composite bed, either. Ive thrown some pretty heavy items at with no remorse. and to true Toyota standards... took a beating and begged for more.

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  2007 V6 Tacoma 4x4 4 door sport L/B - 2007 Toyota Tacoma
  By mark - September 26 - 10:03 am

  At 6k the LF wheel bearings, front axle and roter needed to be replaced. (never off-road or accident)Cruise control is useless-jumps gears constantly. Mileage OK at consistant 16.5-18 with a canopy. Blows occasional smoke on startup which got a little better with synthetic oil. Watch for sludge build-up on these motors. Check warranty carefully -Toyota will not look at this problem unless you are losing a quart of oil every 1k miles. Fingers crossed mine is not one of these problems. Thank god I had not installed the lift kit and voided the warranty!

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  Sadly Disappointed - 2011 Toyota Sienna
  By aj - September 26 - 10:00 am

  Been a loyal Toyota fan and currently have a 2006 Sienna XLE. Went to check out the 2011 Limited and have mixed feelings. The exterior is nice and the technology offerings is up with the times. The interior though is very cheap from the leather, stitching, and most of all the front dashboard. I will probably stick with my current Sienna which feels very luxurious or switch to a different maker. Feels like Toyota just released a superficial vehicle hoping no one would notice the low quality inside. Makes me wonder where else they did cost savings.

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  One great car - 2011 Toyota Camry
  By V - September 26 - 10:00 am

  I bought the 2011 Camry (manual transmission) this month and have been very pleased. I have to laugh at some of the critical comments Ive noticed: if you have driven a lot of different cars, as I have, you know that this car is quiet and comfortable inside like many luxury cars costing many times more. Along with its legendary reliability, it becomes one of the best values youll find anywhere. Its also built in the US, and has more American content than any other mid-sized car.