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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  FJ Fun Jalopee - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By Punkin - June 15 - 7:26 am

  Unbelievably fun to drive. Its roomy and quiet. I especially like the backup warning system. The stereo is unreal, hard to tell where the music is coming from. The back door is huge and opens in the "correct" direction. The air conditioner? You could hang meat in here. Oil filter is very easy to change with a drain built into the engine compartment to make changing oil a clean job. My friends comment on how solid it sounds when a door is shut. Warning: Do not press the brake pedal with any force if you dont want to stop, right now. The build quality is awesome. I can see two of these in our driveway. Absolutely no regrets about buying this vehicle. Thank you Toyota.

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  THE BEST CONVERTIBLE ON THE MARKET - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Laura - June 15 - 6:16 am

  This is my second Solara convertible. There is none better on the market. I have two kids and wanted a fun car to have as an option to my suburban, but wanted my children to be comfortable in the back seat. Just about every other convertible on the market has such a small back seat that my kids would have to remove their legs to fit into it! The best part about the Solara is that it is a truly EXCELLENT automobile, not just great to look at. Ive had every great car you can own... Mercedes SL500, Jaguar XJ12, Porche 911, etc... This car is my FAVORITE of them all.

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  Awesome car - 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By John - June 15 - 4:53 am

  Ive owned this car for about 1 month now. Very smooth ride in city and highway. MPG is about 27 average. The MSRP was 49k and I paid 37k for a company demo model with 14k miles and I still got the 0% financing. I cannot complain much about this car but Navigation has a not so good user interface. Overall, if I have to buy a car, I will buy this again but MSRP $49k on highlander seems bit too high.

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  Awesome Car - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Toots - June 14 - 4:23 pm

  This car rides beautiful. The comfort is super. Its very quiet, cant hear it running. The stereo system rocks. What a fun car to drive and when I have the top down and the boot in, its spectacular! I love the car and would highly recommend it.

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  Very Pleased! - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By PDXprius - June 14 - 3:46 pm

  We have about 1K on our package 2 and my wife and I are very pleased. Purchased for the mileage (abt 46 so far) but also pleased with room, comfort, how quiet it is and the smooth ride.

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  Pleased - 1997 Toyota Camry
  By Pleased - June 14 - 5:26 am

  Bought this LE with 63,000 miles on it and now have 173,200 and counting. Got nine years on original battery. I use synthetic oil and grease. Best MPG was 39.3 interstate out of Texas. Replaced timing belt @ 100,000 and all four struts @ 160,000. Ceramic disc pads and new rotors @ 150,000. Basic maintenance and this car just will not give up. My 90 Camry was @ 348,000 miles & was still running last year! Test drove a 2007 LXE & it isnt near the car my 97 is.

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  Lady owner - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By ANNE - June 14 - 3:03 am

  This vehicle is wide, roomy, zippy, comfortable. Has plenty of pockets and storage places. Nice to have spare wheel out of boot compartment. So easy to get in and out of with higher seats and doorway large enough to allow for a tall person without unnecessary stooping. But topping everything is the ease of the electronic steering and the use of cruise control on longer trips on the flats. The only con is the surging of the auto gear system, at unexpected times.

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  Owned Three - 2006 Toyota 4Runner
  By Gene Craven - June 13 - 11:23 pm

  I have owned three limited models and have found them to be bullet proof. Just change the oil and keep on driving. I would recommend these suvs to anyone that is looking for trouble free vehicles. Great car to drive and own.

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  Toyota Grossinger - 2011 Toyota Sienna
  By sawsanz - June 13 - 7:06 pm

  Not only is my car an amazing fit for my family and I, but its performance is great as well. Also, when driving long distances with children its great to be comfortable which we definitely are. I I am most grateful to the sale person at Toyota Grossing, Sargon C, without whom I wouldnt have been able to pick the best fit for us. He made my experience wonderful and easy. There were no complications and it was the best customer service I have received.

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  So far so good - 2002 Toyota Camry Solara
  By MZT - June 13 - 7:26 am

  I have owned the Solara now since Oct. 2003 and have to say that is proving very reliable and generally a pleasure to drive. Still has a nice "tight" ride with a very quiet cabin. Its the only car Ive owned that has not developed a rattle or buzz of any kind. The engine doesnt feel or sound like a 4 cyl. but has lots of pick up and excellent gas mileage.