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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  SUV of choice - 2001 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By Hector Campos - May 18 - 10:16 am

  Previously owner of Range Rover. Performance and reliabilty of the Land Cruiser is far superior. The engine is strong, body has very nice profile and rides very smooth. Bought this vehicle because of outstanding performance & reliability of a new Camry we have and the quick decline of RR.

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  I love my Matrix xr - 2005 Toyota Matrix
  By catathome2 - May 18 - 4:36 am

  my matrix handles like a dream, and I feel safe in it. It is not really powerful, but I dont care for a lot of power, it just gets me speeding tickets that i dont need.

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  could be better, but still great - 2002 Toyota Celica
  By 01gts - May 17 - 10:06 pm

  Great handling package, good power

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  Good Car, Great Value - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By MD Customer - May 17 - 8:46 pm

  This is a great car. It is very reliable and has low cost maintenance. Great for a family or a single person. I purchased my car used and it was the best car purchase. I sold it at 93,000 miles but it is still a great car with a lot of life left. I also learned the resale value is great which was another bonus.

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  An amazing Hybrid sedan ... Wow Toyota! - 2013 Toyota Avalon Hybrid
  By bimmer18 - May 17 - 8:44 pm

  For the last 9 years Ive been driving my Sweet BMW 5 series and what a joy it was to drive on a daily basis. The power and road feel was superb but the maintenance was starting to get excessive. I have never owned a Toyota anything... The technology that is engineered in this vehicle is utterly amazing. I love the Hybrid engine and transmission, its really quite astounding. The car handles well, it has excellent low end electric torque. When driving in econ mode the entire hybrid system takes control and superbly enhances the Avalons fuel consumption. The car is quite and has good rad feel.

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  Double Miles & Savings at Pump! - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By VanSteve - May 17 - 6:50 pm

  After waiting nearly 3 months (back ordered) for my new Camry Hybrid, Im now a proud owner of a 2009 TCH. I traded in my 2002 Mercedes Benz S430 which was only averaging 21-23 MPG with a 20.5 gallon tank running on premium gas. Thus far my first week of owning this vehicle, Im averaging 43 MPG with a mix of city/highway driving during rush hour traffic with normal driving. Hands down, the Camry Hybrid has a very attractive design, good quality, pick-up and excellent consumer ratings. I cant wait to go on some long road-trips and really break the vehicle in; who knows, maybe I can top 50 MPG... lol GOOD JOB Toyota!

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  2005 Toyota Prius Power - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By mb - May 17 - 1:06 pm

  Driving this vehicle, when my wife allows, is fun. It’s quiet! It’s mechanically sound and fuel efficient. It’s part of the oil consumption solution. I like the fuel consumption gauge and center display, which is fully adjustable to the light conditions. The car accelerates well, it’s not a dragster. There is more room in the rear seat for me at 6’2”. We get anywhere from 47 to 51 mpg. The smart entry system is great as well as the standard safety features. We wish Toyota would use better interior trim materials, add an option for a small towing hitch or bike racks. A larger battery capacity with an increased range in speed would make the car more efficient.

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  Love My Venza - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By Cordy382 - May 17 - 11:50 am

  Purchased my Venza in February and love it. It turned 5900 miles today and every day I find it a pleasure. Had a late meeting last night and was driving home after a long day, turned on the JBL and just coasted home. This car is a true pleasure to own, drive, and enjoy. Unfortunately, Im beginning to see more of them on the road, so guess my days of being a trend-setter are over!

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  Fun to drive but too noisy - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By SUV lover - May 17 - 9:10 am

  This new SUV is indeed fun to drive. I couldnt wait each day to drive it. 4 cycler engine still has enough power making acceleration sharp. So, everything is good except for one thing: too noisy when accelerating. I found the noise is not coming from engine but from poor insulation or design of exhaust system. I recommend the manufacture should recall to replace this noisy system with quite one. I feel strongly that once this noise issue is solved, the RAV4 4X4 base model can be the best selling SUV in the world and people will love it even more. Sincerely hope the manufacturer will listen to our voices.

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  2008 Highlander Sport vs. 5 competitors - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By Otto Mann - May 16 - 8:26 pm

  Excellent choice. I compared to Acura MDX, Lexus RX 350, BMW X5 6 cyl., Hyundai VeraCruz, Subaru Tribeca with test drives. Sport model has firmer suspension than all other Highlander models which is why I picked it. Have pushed this car hard in turns and while it leans, it wont give up grip. Quiet and smooth on the highway. After 3,300 miles, I average 21 mpg overall. Seats are comfortable with plenty of room (3rd row only for small kids). V6 has great pickup and smooth shifts. Stereo is fine. Navigation system is a flop -- not intuitive -- buy a Garmin instead. Have owned Toyota/Lexus for 20 yrs. Great overall reliability.