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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  2013 Camry - 2 days old - 2013 Toyota Camry
  By grnmtnguy - August 23 - 7:57 pm

  I traded a 2005 Camry LE for the new 2013 Camry LE. Performance is about the same with the 4 cyl. automatic. Very responsive and I expect that the highway mileage should be about the same as experienced with the 2005, around 35 mpg. The seats are more comfortable than the 2005 - a major improvement. One very serious shortcoming is that there is NO way to lock the trunk. The valet key allows you to lock the glove compartment, but if you are traveling and have valuables in the trunk there is no way to protect them from theft if you leave the car in a valet parking lot, service provider or anywhere where the vehicle will be left in someone elses care. I consider this a serious oversight.

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  Great Reliable transportation - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By Andy - August 23 - 4:20 pm

  This is your 4th year with the Camry and the ownership experience has been totally hassle free; just routine maintenence. The V6 is not that powerful compare to the competition but it has more than enough oomph for my needs.

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  Avalon - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By goskins0 - August 23 - 3:06 pm

  Plenty of room for head, legs and gut. Seats are comfortable and roomy. Car is extremely quiet and drives well.

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  Its Toyota - What else! - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By VGN - August 23 - 2:53 pm

  I bougt this van about 6 moths ago. No complaints. Quite ride, easy to drive, more spacious.

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  Rock Warrior - 2010 Toyota Tundra
  By M - August 23 - 9:50 am

  I have owned two Toyota Tacomas and loved them both. Bought this Tundra for more towing power as well as an overall larger truck. Saw Rock Warrior package and immediately loved the rims and tires especially. This truck has exceeded all expectations. If you complain about a bumpy ride, gauges, and gas mileage then go back to driving a Saab. This is a truck. I am getting 16 mpg city/rural driving and that is more than my last Tacoma with a V6.

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  Never own anyhing but Toyota - 2006 Toyota Camry
  By Kevin - August 23 - 9:00 am

  Just bought the 06 V-6 a few months ago with 74k on it after having an 04 4 cyl. Absolutely love the feel of the V- 6 the power is awesome and the car shifts extremely smooth. Getting rite at 28 mpg back and forth to work everyday. Driving 30 miles round trip. The quality of Toyota cant be measured against any American vehicle. Plan to drive this car til it falls apart!

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  2002 Tacoma 4x4 TRD - 2002 Toyota Tacoma
  By hunkele3 - August 23 - 6:30 am

  Ive only had the vehicle for 3 months, but I am extremely impressed with the quality, performance, and good looks. This is definitely the best small pick-up on the market - no contest!

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  Careful of the Paint Job - 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By nasoj1 - August 23 - 5:56 am

  I am mostly happy with the Hybrid. However the paint is beginning to blister in small areas the size of a pencil eraser. I have found that this type of paint problem has been found before with Toyota vehicles. I have had the SUV for about five months now and the dealer told me to contact Toyota USA to resolve the problem.

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  Great Car! - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Micheal - August 22 - 11:36 pm

  I have had my Prius for about 6 months and I am nothing but pleased. I have not found that it has less power than other sedans because of the high amount of torque, I can burn rubber just about any time if I really wanted to do so. Also, in terms of the real-world driving, it is on par with 90% of cars that real world only get about 80-90% of the estimates. It just seems to be bigger because you see a bigger difference in 20% of 60 than 20% of 30. My lifetime MPG is slightly over 45, but this is from driving less than five minutes during colder temps. When we have done 20 min trips or longer, we average 50-55 mpg. I would buy another if I could afford it!

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  The Best Car That I Have Ever Owned! - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By Tom P. - August 22 - 4:10 pm

  I bought this vehicle used with 90,000km on the odom. I paid the full price as if it was brand new: $33,000. The interior was not in great condition. I hated the silver color. I drove it 5,000km before it was stolen from Edmonton, Alberta. It was recovered 3 months later with 40,000km than when I bought it. It was driven day and night and was stolen by drug dealers I suppose. The engine was gone on the vehicle due to not changing the oil. If you are going to steal a vehicle maybe perhaps check the oil once in a while! The car while I had it was fun to drive and with the 4 cylinder extremely excellent!