Toyota Drives the SUV Market Introducing a Unique 'Smart Consumer' Guide

    TORRANCE, Calif., March 7 Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc.
remains atop the SUV market providing consumers with a step-by-step guide
entitled "Smart Consumer: How To Buy A Sport Utility Vehicle."  Together
Toyota and Hearst Publications created an SUV buyers guide, which can be seen
in an extensive 16-page insert in the March 2001 issues of Hearst's Good
Housekeeping and Popular Mechanics magazines.  The piece is tailored to
consumers who are in the market for an SUV and want to review the category
options available in Toyota's SUV line including the RAV4, 4Runner, Land
Cruiser, and all new Highlander and Sequoia.  

    Toyota has become the best place for consumers to find an SUV that suits
their needs.  Their success developing the first car-based SUV, the first
non-luxury based SUV, and one of the first mid-size SUVs, has allowed Toyota
to become one of the fastest growing automotive makers.  Toyota currently
offers five different SUV models including the RAV4, Sequoia and Highlander,
which are all new since October 2000.

    Toyota's continued success in meeting the consumer's demand for
sport-utility models is further supported by the fast and easy format of the
guide.  The guide allows the consumer to choose which vehicle is right for
them.  The program details each model's price, fuel mileage, size, towing,
tires, interior appointments and much more.  It also considers all SUV size
categories including compact, mid-size and full size, and the benefits of
each.

    In addition to the print and online "Smart Consumer: How To Buy A Sport
Utility Vehicle" guide, Toyota with the assistance of Saatchi & Saatchi Los
Angeles, is hosting the "There and Back" contest giving consumers a chance to
win a Toyota SUV of their choice.  The contest will run through May 11, 2001
on Toyota's web site at http://www.toyota.com/thereandbackcontest.