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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  True Truck - 2001 Toyota Tacoma
  By Black T - June 23 - 2:00 am

  I wanted to trade my 2000 4 door VW Golf for something tougher. I got the same interior room plus rugged non-unibody construction, 4WD, awesome ground clearance, a huge "trunk", and much improved reliability. I lost the cars smooth ride, handling and on road performance, but I think this is a truck that I will have for a long time, hopefully forever.

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  A Little Disappointed - 2009 Toyota Tacoma
  By Maryland Mike - June 22 - 9:46 pm

  I bought the truck for home improvements and for utility reasons. I had a 4Runner before this and was a fan of Toyota. I love the 4Dr long bed and couldnt be happier with overall design and function. I love the fold down back seats and tie downs in the bed. I had trouble with passenger side window sometimes doesnt go down without driver first using driver side switch. Passenger side speaker seems blown out from the start. Transmission hunts after slowing to make a turn. Wiper speed switch seems to be reversed compared to old 4Runner, meaning what should be longer time between wipes is actually shorter time. That combined with passenger window issue makes me think wiring problems.

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  NOT a 4Runner - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By MARIA - June 21 - 10:13 am

  I drove an 06 Sr5 4Runner prior to the Rav4....and how I miss it. The Rav4 is cute...not really meant to be an off-road vehicle. The v6 is quick but the engine does whine slightly. I expect my MPG will increase as I only have 800 miles on the SUV (21 combined currently). Styling does need an upgrading and is expected in 2012. Some interior features need more strategic placement.

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  No Problem - 1994 Toyota 4Runner
  By zirkle - June 21 - 10:00 am

  Decent gas mileage. Knock on wood no work has been needed for 40K mi. (has 105K on it) tune ups turn up everything doing really well. Clearance? it has an 8 3/4" clearance w/31" tires, that will go anywhere the engine will take you. Extremely reliable and versatile. No other vehicle has all the same features with such style.

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  a year with sequoia - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By les - June 21 - 10:00 am

  great truck but very overpriced.perfect for long distance travel but difficult as an everyday vehicle.

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  Pros and cons of the Prius - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By mark - June 20 - 9:40 pm

  Not too many cons here....I love my Prius. I bought it in DEC 03 and now have 48K miles. MPG --I get 52-53 mpg average. Using no AC and under 68mph on mostly highway, I get 55mph avg. With AC on it avgs 52. WARNING -- for every mph over 65 you start to drop mileage. Over 70 will earn 50mpg or lower. Also, worse mileage with cruise-- burning a couple MPH uphill and then letting it pickup downhill beats the cruise average. Gas mileage drops when its below freezing- 48mpg avg. If I lived in upstate NY or the northern US, the Prius is not a good idea. Bottom line -- this is a great car!! Id buy another. Battery life over the long term is a concern but ill risk it with Toyota.

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  older and wiser - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By Les - June 20 - 3:23 pm

  As an older couple, we were not interested in off-road rock-climbing. We just wanted a roomy, reliable, comfortable SUV for travel, that was not so big that it would cause trouble with parking or maneuverability. The Highlander is perfect for those needs. It is easy to get in & out (no high steps, wide door openings, etc.)and has a plush comfortable ride. This is definitely not a truck-based vehicle. Instead, it has the soft, quiet feel of a luxury car. The Toyota reliability is obvious; it never fails to start or perform perfectly. There are none of the annoying myriad of parts breaking down that have plagued so many other cars we have owned.

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  Good car with a few flaws - 2013 Toyota RAV4
  By stego1 - June 19 - 7:23 am

  We bought this car to be able to take our dogs along with us as they love to go for rides. We also use it for daily transportation to work. The gas mileage has been great averaging between 28 to 29 MPG on winter-blend gas. (I expect the mileage to go up with summer-blend). We drive mostly city and 2 lane highways on our 32 mile round-trip to work. The ride is rough and we can feel every road imperfection and there is excessive tire noise. But, the car drives well with good power and smooth shifts and we are enjoying owning it. Would recommend this car but keep in mind its shortcomings. Even with these imperfections, it is a better car than the others we looked at: Ford Escape, Honda CRV, Kia

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  Quality Truck - 2000 Toyota Tundra
  By PLK - June 18 - 10:00 am

  Aside from small interior, this truck offers many benefits. economical, tough, great performance, reliable

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  Nice car - 2007 Toyota Corolla
  By Bill R - June 18 - 4:50 am

  Bought the car used about a month ago with 26k. Nice car. I agree it could use a telescoping steering wheel. Its a bit of a reach if the seat is back. Otherwise, its a fine little car.