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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  I hate this car - 2011 Toyota Prius
  By mak73 - December 6 - 2:24 pm

  We just recently bought a Prius and it is awful. I hate it!!! The reason we bought the car was for the good gas milage which is not 51mpg, it is closer to 44-45mpg. The car is boring is it miserable to drive. the design is terrible, it is a eyesore to look at and everything feels cheaply made. The back window is the worst design, the cross bar is directly in my line of vision so I cant see out the back window. Also because it so boring to drive ill turn on the radio for entertainment just to find out the radio is terrible quality. One last thing i hate about the prius is that there is no speedometer of rpm gage, it has a little screen that tells you the speed.

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  Good in Canadian Cold - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By Mike M - December 6 - 12:33 pm

  I bought car in Quebec City Canada and am very happy with the car. First tank of gas 31.75 litres for 464 kilometers or 34.3 mpg US. The car has a very good reputation here in Quebec and is all I need. The lower mileage achieved is due to driving in the snow all the time. It is solid on the road and the power button gives it all the pep I need. My prior car was a SAAB 9-3, this car is way better in comfort, rear vision and any other category you can think of.

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  Rav4-Toyota style - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Rustycab - December 6 - 11:16 am

  Love the car and it handles well. Enough room and height that you can see. Not so big that you cant park it and it is really fun to drive. Love it and I only have 3,000 miles on it.

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  Best car Ive ever owned - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By clxi - December 6 - 7:46 am

  20 mpg city, 35 on the road, comfortable, quick and roomy ! I replaced the Michelins with Firestone Firehawk GTs and it became better in the corners and better in the snow.

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  Drivers seat should be a POWER SEAT - 2014 Toyota Corolla
  By Do not post - December 5 - 6:07 pm

  I read Consumer Reports for the value and reliability ratings before I purchased this car. I wish that the LE model had a more comfortable drivers seat. My next car will have a drivers seat with more cushion and adjustments available!

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  Toyota quality has dropped. - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By PsychoRed - December 5 - 5:03 pm

  I loved the looks of this car more than any other in the price range of 25K to 30K. I previously owned a Toyota 4Runner which had incredible build quality and reliability. However, this Camry is terrible in both aspects. Poor transmission. Cheap plastic dash. Noises and rattles from everywhere. Not very sturdy build.

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  No Value - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By jeff_marl2000 - December 5 - 1:10 pm

  The car starts and drives dependably. The ride is smooth and quiet. The power is plenty with the V6 engine. Not much value for the price. A $28,000 car should have chromatic rearview mirror, MUCH better sound system, a computer that tells if your oil, transmission, fluids are ok and gas mileage etc. It should have an outside temperature indicator, and punch buttons on the door if you lock your keys inside. Driving experience is dull (as with all Toyotas). The gas mileage hovers around 16 miles to the gallon. My Explorer gets 19 in town. Its supposed to have trailer prewiring, but it does not. It is an EXTRA cost. I see no value in this car. It is worth about $20,000.

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  Not happy - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By jspec31 - December 5 - 7:49 am

  I decided on the Camry because theyre supposed to be known for their reliability. I bought it with about 38K miles on it. When I first took it on the highway the steering wheel shook pretty bad. The used dealer balanced all of the tires, and it did get better. A week later he put on 4 new tires and it was a vast improvement. However, approaching 45K, the rotors are warped , as I can feel pulsation when applying brakes. The car does shake again on the highway. Also the gas mileage is junk! Probably the way I drive because I went from a 6 cyl to 4, but when being conservative I only got 27mpg at best. Interior cheap and uncomfortable, paint is chipping on plastic body parts.

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  Great car - 2014 Toyota Avalon Hybrid
  By rob260 - December 5 - 3:56 am

  Ive had the 2014 Avalon XLE Touring Hybrid for about three weeks now. Im really enjoying the vehicle so far. The fuel efficiency has been as advertised for the first 1000 miles. Ive done a mixture of highway and city driving and have been averaging just below 39 mpg according to infotainment system. This vehicle fit my needs perfectly. I needed a daily driver that was really fuel efficient but had the space I needed to haul kids and sports equipment on the weekends. Check and check for this Avalon. Its pretty impressive to have a large sedan get this fuel efficiency and provide a large trunk and rear passenger space. The hybrid option was a no brainer for me.

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  Excellent SUV - 2001 Toyota 4Runner
  By 6paul11 - December 5 - 2:02 am

  The 2001 4Runner is an outstanding SUV. Reliable, excellent in bad weather, and built to last through the apocalypse. Ever seen the Top Gear episode with the indestructable Toyota? This is the cousin of the Hilux, the car featured in that show. Nothing can take this beast down. Problems are few and far between. 140,000 miles of service life and many more to go.