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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  Best car money can buy - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By camrylover - August 31 - 2:43 pm

  This car is just an all round beauty. It is SOOOOOO quiet and luxurious and honestly way better then the accord we test drove. Interior is user friendly and simple but nothing to complain about.

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  Someone if finally getting it right! - 2007 Toyota Prius
  By Jason - August 31 - 5:36 am

  My wife and I have thoroughly enjoyed our Prius. It is comfortable, fun to drive and so far very reliable. I just wish Toyota or someone made a small pickup hybrid that got 40-50 mpg! We have tracked fuel economy and found that in the winter months we averaged 48 mpg and the rest of the year it is 52 mpg. That is 70% city driving and the rest is highway. The lower gas mileage during the winter is a combination of cold air AND winter gasoline formulation, which means that ALL gasoline cars gets less mpg in winter, not just the Prius.

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  Very satisfied - 2012 Toyota Prius v
  By gunkie - August 31 - 5:29 am

  Ive only had the car for 350 miles, but I am very satisfied with this purchase. The last new car I purchased was 16 years ago (a 1996 Land Cruiser that I still have w/280000 miles and going strong). I have no buyers regret. I drive 60 miles round trip commuting everyday and Im averaging over 50 miles/gallon in the first week. Ive learned how to use the ECO mode and PWR mode efficiently and my initial forays into hypermiling are a lot of fun. I like the Entune audio system and the data/power hookups for the cell phone. After messing around with the voice commands, I can do all phone calls completely hands free and most audio commands hands free.

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  I like it - 2001 Toyota Echo
  By shipsmith - August 31 - 12:53 am

  The Echo gets great gas mileage-40 mpg. We drive it 100 miles a day.Its tall profile and light weight makes it subject to crosswinds. That is more than outweighed by the ease of entry and exit, and improved visibility due to the higher seating. The centered instrument display lends itself to being scanned quickly without attention being taken from the road.I suggest that it be driven rather than just looked at by the Edmunds "experts".

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  Nice ride! - 2006 Toyota 4Runner
  By dedhed - August 30 - 8:40 pm

  I traded in my 93 4-runner with 180k miles on a new 06. The 06 is averaging 19.6 mpg which is better than my old 93. The V8 has plenty of power to merge into traffic and pass when needed. The adjustable seat is very comfortable. The styling both in and out is eye-catching. I have had the truck for about a month now and honestly cant think of a negative thing to say about it. Toyota builds a quality product, and I will continue to drive them.

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  Terrific Vehicle - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Jane Faul - August 30 - 4:13 pm

  Owning this vehicle has brought me nothing but joy each time I have an excuse to drive it. It has plenty of power, surges with quick pick-up when needed, and is incredibly comfortable, smooth, and quiet. It has a perky appearance outside, thanks to its rear spoiler, and with its squared-off rear design, it provides more vertical interior hauling capacity than those vehicles with more slope. The rear spoiler seems to be a valuable feature, not only for appearance, but also for keeping the rear window clean while driving in traffic and rain. It handles easily and responds beautifully. It has plenty of room inside for four hefty adults in complete comfort.

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  V6 Camry XLE, Cant go wrong - 2013 Toyota Camry
  By Carlos Meza - August 30 - 1:56 pm

  Our car "2013 Camry XLE V6 Auto" has performed beyond my expectations. Our previous Camry was a 1994 LT V6 auto. It was finally taken out of service after an accident in 2014 with over 240,000 miles. With only one major repair ($1200) for a transmission CPU. With that kind of service I didnt waver and purchase another V6 Camry. Our 2013 Camry XLE V6 has a faster acceleration and a higher MPG than my previous Camry. I was surprise when this vehicle on the highway got 31/33 MPG at speeds between 70 and 80 MPH. My Camry now has almost 35000 miles on the odometer with no unexpected repairs. Note; I gave this car a poor WARRANTY rating because Toyota only warrantys the car for only 3 years /36000 miles.. Conclusion: Cant go wrong with a V6 Camry

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  V6 Camry XLE, Cant go wrong - 2013 Toyota Camry
  By Carlos Meza - August 30 - 1:56 pm

  Our car "2013 Camry XLE V6 Auto" has performed beyond my expectations. Our previous Camry was a 1994 LT V6 auto. It was finally taken out of service after an accident in 2014 with over 240,000 miles. With only one major repair ($1200) for a transmission CPU. With that kind of service I didnt waver and purchase another V6 Camry. Our 2013 Camry XLE V6 has a faster acceleration and a higher MPG than my previous Camry. I was surprise when this vehicle on the highway got 31/33 MPG at speeds between 70 and 80 MPH. My Camry now has almost 35000 miles on the odometer with no unexpected repairs. Note; I gave this car a poor WARRANTY rating because Toyota only warrantys the car for only 3 years /36000 miles.. Conclusion: Cant go wrong with a V6 Camry

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  Three for Three - 2016 Toyota Prius
  By Kevin - August 30 - 4:09 am

  This is our 3rd new Prius. First was bought in 2005 and major concern was would it start sitting outside in cold weather. Would the battery work and last? Local dealers hadnt seen a hybrid car when we had the oil changed locally. Bought a 2010 Prius II. 110,000 miles later all we change are tires and oil. With every generation they have gotten better. We finally stepped up to the 2016 Prius IV because we wanted the blind spot indicator. The cabin and ride are all improved. The headlights are better than the 2010 which were better than the 2005. There are many great cars available today, but the cost per mile to purchase and drive keeps bringing us back to the Prius.

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  A Keeper - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By bill - August 30 - 3:40 am

  I purchased the Highlander to have a reliable, economical to drive, and comfortable vehicle for long trips and for around town. It does it all. Quiet smooth ride, 21mpg around town, 26mpg Interstate. Power enough to pull my pontoon boat, yet easy to handle. Everyone remarks on how quiet the ride is, and the JBL stereo with sateite sounds great.