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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  toyota sequoia - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By judy hall - October 16 - 10:00 am

  very nice, comfortable, colors are nice.

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  great suv - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By leejgreer - October 16 - 10:00 am

  Great SUV for a big person. seats 8 very well. has one of the best sound systems.

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  Great Value - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By Mike Collins - October 16 - 10:00 am

  If you plan on keeping your vehicle for the long run you cant go wrong with the Sequoia.

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  great vehicle - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By myvette - October 16 - 10:00 am

  a very fine vehicle....best in its class the safest suv in crash test.. side & curtain air bags a great affordable option very worth the $$$.

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  Fantastic Experiance - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By Miguel Rubio - October 16 - 10:00 am

  We test drove almost all thats out there and found this to be the best as far as comfort and affordability. Great traveling with the family. We are a baseball family that use to travel 50,000 miles per year.

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  Sequoia -- BEST SUV EVER! - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By MrHemi1956 - October 16 - 10:00 am

  The Toyota Sequoia is the absolute BEST SUV ever. Pure Toyota excellence in fit and finish -- and total perfection in engineering quality. I have friends with Explorers, Expeditions and some with GM products -- all WISH they had not made their purchase of an inferior product. Toyota HAS, in fact, eclipsed both Ford and GM in the SUV market. I totally LOVE this vehicle and when the time comes for a NEW SUV -- it will be a Toyota Sequoia.

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  Car of the Future Now - 2001 Toyota Prius
  By James O. Berkland - October 16 - 10:00 am

  Our 2001 Prius was a pleasant surprise on our initial test drive when it was a loaner while our Lexus was being serviced. Now my wife leaves the Lexus in the garage and we argue over who gets to drive the Prius. Day in and day out we average about 48 mpg, but occasionally get up to 54 mpg. Love the headroom, comfortable seats, quiet running and the CD sound system. At the Sonoma 4th of July parade in 2002 the 12 Prius cars won first place for the motorized division. In 2003 the 14 Prius cars took 2nd in the theme division, which was Pro-Environment.

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  Biggest, Cheapest, Efficient Car Yet! - 2003 Toyota Prius
  By clunyusa - October 16 - 10:00 am

  All around the Prius wins! A small footprint on the environment coupled with performance, interior room, including high seats and head room.

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  Dr. - 2003 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By Dr. Ley - October 16 - 10:00 am

  I enjoy owning and driving my LandCruiser. The only downturn is gallon of gas per milage. I guess most of SUVs do the same.

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  suv heaven - 2003 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By godevco - October 16 - 10:00 am

  Good performance and reliability. Fun to drive. Only major problem was the transmission had to be replaced at 85,000 miles. Regular maintenance is a bit pricey but necessary for optimum performance.