Toyota

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2019 Toyota Corolla hatchback Review: Redefines nameplate

The automotive industry is ripe with contradiction. Who could imagine a four-door sports car or a sub-compact also defined in the sports realm? Porsche may have its old-guard enthusiasts who still don’t consider the four-door Panamera a sports car, but it is. Key Takeaways 2.0-liter engine with 168 horsepower and a six-speed manual that automatically matches engine revs. About $25,000 for the hatchback, with navigation a $1,600 option. Standard equipment: 18-inch wheels, LED headlights and taillights, push-button start and an eight-inch touchscreen. XSE trim: leather seating, heated front seats, a power driver’s seat and dual-zone climate control. Handling: Combined with its new lower profile, the hatchback’s overall sportiness is further assisted by its peppiness, firm and responsive steering and an

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Lexus, Toyota get Consumer Reports’ reliability honors

From transmission issues to troublesome turbocharged engines to 15 other areas, Consumer Reports studies in its annual automobile reliability survey. The 2018 compilation, like in every year, has surprises. This year, Toyota and its luxury sibling Lexus, reversed positions. While tabulating the results of more than 500,000 vehicles, Lexus gets the top spot. Lexus had six models in the study, earning an average reliability score of 78. The brand’s least reliable model is the IS while its most reliable model is the GX. This year, all Lexus models with sufficient data were rated average or above. Toyota had 14 models supplying reliability data, with the Japanese automaker receiving an average reliability score of 76. Its most reliable model is the

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2018 Toyota RAV4 Review: Retains tradition as top-selling SUV

Now in its 22nd year, the Toyota RAV4 was the first compact sport utility vehicle introduced in the United States. It debuted in 1996 with its acronym meaning “Recreational Activity Vehicle: 4-wheel drive.” The all-wheel-drive designation remains optional. And it’s part of the reason the RAV4 has remained so popular throughout its tenure. Its versatility, variety of trims levels and optional equipment are different than many carmakers whose trims levels are only slightly tweaked. Key Takeaways 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 176 horsepower, standard on all six trims. $34,750 MSRP for the top-line Platinum trim reviewed. 23 mpg city and 29 highway; the reviewer averaged 27.8 mpg. 2017 sales: 407,594 units, including more than 50,000 hybrid models. Highway: The RAV4 presents among

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2018 Toyota C-HR Review: Looks cool, lacks performance

With the sport utility vehicle continuing to attract more buyers, manufacturers continue to find new ways to market the versatile vehicles. Welcome the latest newcomer to the SUV sub-species, the 2018 Toyota C-HR. Categorized as subcompact crossover, the hyphenated letters in the Toyota C-HR name stand for Compact High Rider, Cross Hatch Run-(about) or Coupé High Rider. The names make about as much sense as the term subcompact crossover. Key Takeaways XLE tested: 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 144 horsepower and a continuously variable transmission. $22,500 for the XLE; $24,969 as tested with the $500 two-tone surcharge and a half-dozen extras. The XLE Premium is $25,310. 27 mpg city and 31 highway. Cargo: 19 cubic feet with the rear seats in standard

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2018 Ford F-150, 2018 Toyota Corolla icons of success

The Ford F-150 pickup, the overt sentinel of masculinity, and the Toyota Corolla, the tiny titan compact sedan, have little in common with two exceptions, reliability and enduring success. The Corolla, manufactured since 1966, is the best-selling car in history with more than 43 million sold. The Ford F-Series, introduced in 1948, has been the country’s best-selling vehicle for decades. It’s the second best-selling vehicle in history with more than 40 million sold. While the sedan might be able to fit in the bed of the pick-up and cost one-third as much, driving either vehicle is experiencing automotive royalty. There’s little out of the ordinary about the Corolla. It’s understated and remains increasingly popular because of its consistency. The F-150

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Industry fuel cell expert clears the air on hydrogen

Nineteen months ago, Chris White did something no one else in Northern California had done. She leased a new car that operates only on hydrogen. Honda, Toyota and Hyundai are manufacturers offering hydrogen-only vehicles. Mercedes-Benz and GM also have plans for hydrogen-only vehicles, the emissions of which are water. The 2017 and 2018 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell are available for lease only in only 12 dealerships in California. Five locales are in the San Francisco Bay Area, one is in Roseville. The long-time Communications Director of the California Fuel Cell Partnership in West Sacramento, White also lives in West Sacramento. But she often travels to San Ramon on business and Truckee to visit relatives. Hydrogen stations are located in both

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2018 Hyundai Sonata Review: Challenges Toyota, Honda sedans

Thirty years ago, a few years after the Hyundai Sonata debuted in South Korea, the midsize sedan arrived in the United States. Honda and Toyota were already well established; the newcomer had little chance of success. The 2018 Sonata, with interior and exterior makeovers, is still trailing Japanese manufacturers’ favorites, the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. But the Sonata is far removed from its early tenure reputation as a cheap sedan alternative best avoided. Key Takeaways Test vehicle: the Limited 2.0T, with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 245 horsepower and an eight-speed automatic with paddle shifters. $33,460 MSRP, including $885 for freight and handling and $125 for carpeted floor mats. 0-60 mph in 7.1 seconds. 23 mpg city, 32 highway

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2018 Hyundai Ioniq Review: Serious challenger for Toyota Prius

Since the debut of the Toyota Prius in 2000 as the first mass-marketed hybrid in the United States, several manufacturers have tried to infiltrate the odd-looking green car leader’s dominance. All have failed. Now, there’s a legitimate contender, the Hyundai Ioniq. The unusual name is the combination of the words ion and unique, and the vehicle’s title works. The Ioniq‘s specs outdo the Prius numbers in multiple categories. Key Takeaways 139 horsepower from a 1.6-liter four-cylinder, with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. 57 miles per gallon in city driving and 59 on the highway for the entry-level Blue Line model. 0-60 mph in 8.1 seconds in economy mode. About $23,000 to start, and up to $31,000 with trim levels and

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2018 Toyota Land Cruiser Review: Luxury, power, gas sucker

The Toyota Land Cruiser has been manufactured for 67 years, and it’s geared toward a niche audience of SUV buyers seeking ruggedness and off-road durability. It’s the second-largest and oldest vehicle in the manufacturer’s lineup. For 2018, the Land Cruiser remains much the same as last year. It seeks a market share with the Land Rover Discovery, Lexus LX 570 and Lincoln Navigator in the behemoth SUV category. Key Takeaways Powertrain: a 5.7-liter V8 with 381 horsepower, an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive, in a vehicle that weighs slightly less than 6,000 pounds. $83,650 MSRP and $87,180 as tested, in the only trim offered. 0-60 mph in 6.7 seconds. 13 mpg city and 18 highway; a 425-mile round trip, mostly

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TheWeeklyDriver.com’s 2017 Best Cars of the Year

TheWeeklyDriver.com presents its 11th annual best cars of the year list. For the past two years, we selected 12 vehicles instead of 10 because we couldn’t decide what cars to leave off the lists. The selection was more clear-cut this year, so we’ve again chosen 10 vehicles. Volvo is the only manufacturer with two vehicles on the 2017 best cars list. Bentley, Genesis, Honda, Kia, Lincoln, Mazda, Volkswagen and Toyota are also represented. As editor and publisher of TheWeeklyDriver.com since 2004, I reviewed 38 cars and trucks in 2017 model years for at least a week. Most of the vehicles I drove in the calendar year; some 2017 models in 2016. I also drove at least a half-dozen other vehicles

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2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Review: Redefines SUV market

The Toyota Highlander Hybrid debuted in 2005. It attracted immediate attention as a midsize, three-row sport utility vehicle achieving 30 miles per gallon in city driving. Not much good has happened in sales since. But Toyota can blame itself. It’s obsessed with hybrids. A year after its debut, the Highlander Hybrid had its biggest year with 31,485 units sold, about 25 percent of all Highlanders purchased that year. A decade later, the Highlander had its biggest year with 191,379 gas models sold, but only 5,976 hybrid models were purchased. Key Takeaways Hybrid powertrain: 3.5-liter V6 with three electric motors producing 306 horsepower, with all-wheel drive standard. Four trims: LE ($36,270), XLE ($41,330), Limited ($44,760) and Limited Platinum ($47,880). $44,080 off-the-lot

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2017 Toyota Corolla: Enduring sedan keeps getting better

The 2017 Toyota Corolla marks the enduring sedan’s 51st year. Through 11 generations, the former econobox-on-wheels has lifetime worldwide sales of 43 million through last year. Since 1997, when it surpassed the Volkswagen Beetle, the Corolla remains the best-selling car in history. A new generation arrived in 2012, with yearly updates since. In 2016, Toyota began to offer a limited special edition to celebrate the car’s 50th anniversary. Key Takeaways Test car: Corolla XSE, front-wheel drive with a 1.8-liter, 132-horsepower engine and a continuously variable transmission. $22,680 MSRP and $23,520 as tested. 0-60 mph in 9.2 seconds. 28 mpg city, 35 highway and 31 combined. Safety: a rearview camera, forward collision warning, lane departure intervention and adaptive cruise control are

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NEW CAR PREVIEW: Many changes for 2018 Toyota Camry

A higher sticker price and appreciably better gas mileage are among several big changes in store for the 2018 Toyota Camry. The top-selling sedan in the United States will make its nationwide debut later this summer. The eighth generation of the re-engineered Camry LE will be priced at $24,885, including shipping, about $900 more than the 2017 price. The L “value” version of the 2018 Camry, with smaller wheels and fewer convenience features, will be priced at $24,380. Fuel economy with the new four-cylinder engine is estimated by the EPA at 29 mpg in the city, 41 mpg on the highway and 34 combined. That’s 26 percent better than the current base model’s 24 mpg city/33 highway/27 combined. The new

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2017 Kia Forte worthy compact option beyond Honda, Toyota

The 2017 Kia Forte is the 10th year of the South Korean compact. It’s among the best of several cars in different segments trying to find a market against some of the country’s long-standing, best-selling vehicles. Matched against the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Ford Focus, Volkswagen Jetta, Hyundai Elantra, Mazda3 and others, the Forte remains unheralded. It’s in the sixth year of its second generation, but for 2017 has a restyled exterior, including more modern crafted headlights and taillights. Key Takeaways Test car: the Forte EX, a compact sedan with a 2.0-liter, 164-horsepower engine and a six-speed automatic. $21,200 MSRP and $26,540 as tested. 0-60 mph in 8.5 seconds. 25 mpg city, 32 highway and 28 combined on the figures

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2017 Toyota Prius Prime Review: Efficient new hybrid shines

The 2017 Toyota Prius Prime, a plug-in gas-electric hybrid, is a new addition to the country’s largest selling hybrid family. It replaces the Prius Plug-in and it’s the most ambitious Prius on the market. Its exterior design, full of sharp angles and a unique narrow exterior light design in the mainstream automotive industry, removes the stodgy image of previous Prius models. Key Takeaways Test car: the top-line Prime Advanced, a plug-in hybrid with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine and 121 horsepower. $36,305 as tested. The Prime Plus starts at $27,100, the Premium at $29,965 and the Advanced at $33,965. 56.1 mpg over an 11-day, 1,600-mile trip, against a 54 mpg gas-only rating; fuel cost for the trip was just under $90.

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2017 Toyota Prius Prime: Into the mountains with ease

Eleven days into coverage of the Amgen Tour of California, I’ve surpassed 1,000 miles while driving the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime plug-in hybrid. My trip began May 10 in Sacramento, and the race just ended in Pasadena. The women raced for four days, including two days in South Lake Tahoe and two days ending in Sacramento. The men raced for seven days from Sacramento to today’s concluding high-speed finale from Mountain High to downtown Pasadena. Place Among Hybrids As the newest and most technologically advanced Prius since the hybrid debuted in the United States in 2000, the Prius Prime is among the few affordable green vehicles that can change the automotive industry. It joins the all-electric 2017 Chevy Bolt and

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