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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  Almost There... - 2001 Toyota Sienna
  By First Toyota Van - October 2 - 10:00 am

  Being hard to please, I find this vehicle worth owning. It is our first van and Im glad we have it. We have two children and an 80lb dog that fit just perfectly. If my family were larger, Id probably go with something larger. Im still trying to figure out why people dont like the look of this vehicle.

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  Best Full Size SUV on the Road - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By Austin - October 2 - 10:00 am

  Purchased my Sequoia 2 months ago and love it. Traded in my 99 Jeep Cherokee Laredo (Terrible Vehicle) and havent thought about it since. Ive seen a few minor complaints I cant understand. You know what your getting before you buy the vehicle. If it doesnt have what you want, dont buy it! Seems simple enough. With anything though you always have a few nay sayers.

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  I love my Highlander - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By SusieF - October 2 - 10:00 am

  First trip 1500 miles thru the West Va mountains. It handled like a dream. Smooth, quiet and comfortable. Excellant pickup, Seats are great, Bose sound is wonderful. Auto climate control works well. What more can I say.

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  Great Car to drive - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By Suren - October 2 - 10:00 am

  The PLush out look and neatly placed interior are unique in TOYOTA styling. Also incirporating all major features as Standard in pricing has made deciding the price more simpler and can easily be compared with other simillar vehicles. After taking a test drive one is convinced about the Toyota name backing its quality proucts

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  toyota - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By dlasky - October 2 - 10:00 am

  excellent car reliable, no sludge problems and definitely better then my previous car galiant

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  COROLLA TO CAMRY - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By TLYNN - October 2 - 10:00 am

  I passed my wonderful corolla down to my mother-in-law in December. I was attracted to the new design and spaciousness.I love my car...hope its as reliable as my 93 corolla! I also noted the rotten egg smell. I only have 4500 miles and recently had my first oil change. The windshield chips very easily. The brakes do take a getting use to. It rides great on the road. I live 2 hours from my sister and it does 70-80 without a problem and gets 34 mpg on the highway. Most of my driving is city traffic and it gets 23 mpg. So far so good...reliabilty and future problems are my number 1 concern when buying a car.

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  Just one Quirk - 2016 Toyota Highlander
  By Tiffin1 - October 2 - 2:59 am

  Great SUV, fantastic to drive, insulates you from the road and traffic noise. Just one concerning trait, heard this strange buzzing noise coming from underneath the rear end about 5 hours after it was turned off and parked in the garage. No idea what it was so Googled it; "This is the sound of a fuel evaporation leakage check and, it does not indicate a malfunction" was the answer in several searches. Sure enough it is in the Owners manual as well. Would have been nice if the dealership would have pointed this out when they were explaining the other features at time of purchase.

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  good car with a few minor problems - 2009 Toyota Prius
  By ps - October 1 - 4:30 pm

  Overall a good practical car that I would purchase again. Gas mileage is greatly reduced in cold weather and on short trips. (motor need to warm up) Remove the rear center head rest so you can see better when backing up. Heater is not as powerful as with my other Toyota.

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  HYBRID ALL THE WAY! - 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By danq3 - October 1 - 8:29 am

  First time hybrid buyer, just got 2012 camry hybrid xle w/ full option minus blind spot monitor & hdd navi. This car demonstrates toyota is the undisputed king of Hybrid. Zippiest hybrid ever & youll never be dissapointed for lacking in power. Cruising 50-60 & need to take over a car... it will respond like it has a rocket booster, youll literally feel the boost & its a blast. It has a exceptionally refined exterior and interior however the seat are super firm esp. with leather so your butt may feel bit soar after a long ride but because the cabin is so comfortable otherwise minor discomfor w/ soar bum is easily forgotten. All important real world Mpg is 37 city 42 hwy so far...

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  Good Car - 2005 Toyota Matrix
  By Always Working - October 1 - 4:06 am

  This was my first all-wheel-drive vehicle, and today was my first day in the snow. This was an excellent choice for me as its a solid, reliable car with some panache and good affordability (dont like spending a bundle on cars). Cargo area is surpisingly useful for a compact. Interior is not luxurious but fun and utilitarian. Good cup holders and a cubby just right for a garage door opener is included.