Toyota

Consumer Reports’ 10 2017 Worst Cars To Buy

Consumer Reports has published car and truck lists for decades. Among its recent compilations is its worst cars for 2017 in 10 popular segments, subcompacts to luxury sedans, compacts to hybrids. The list is based on the lowest overall score in each category and based on a complete overview of each vehicle. The criteria combine a road-test score, predicted reliability, owner satisfaction and safety — including government and insurance industry crash-test results. In conjunction with each worst car in each category, Consumer Reports lists its suggested best choice in each category. Here’s what the publication said about 2017 Chrysler 200. It’s the lowest-ranked sedan in the most popular car category: “This category is overflowing with competent, and even excellent, alternatives

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2017 Toyota Prius Prime has short shift, not short shrift

The transfer today for stage 4 of the Amgen Tour of California took me from Morro Bay to Santa Clarita, California, and I’ve now driven a 2017 Toyota Prius Prime plug-in hybrid for a week. I’ve covered 775 miles and averaged 55.9 mpg, nearly two miles per gallon more than plug-in hybrid’s rating. The route from Morro Bay was a coastal trek on Highway 1 and then a diversion to Highway 101 south for about two hours. The route then turned inland on 154 through small hamlets before rejoining 101. The final short stretch into Santa Clarita was a switch to smaller inland roads on state route 126. The drive covered 184 miles. With two brief stops to stretch and

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2017 Toyota Prius Prime: Fuel efficient, safety galore

After nearly six full days of driving the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime plug-in hybrid during the Amgen Tour California, I stopped for my first refuel about two hours into a 3 1/2-hour evening drive from San Jose to Morro Bay, California. The route was primarily a long, straight haul north-south along Highway 101 before an undulating, often single-lane finishing 17-mile trek on Highway 41 into the ocean resort city. I stopped with about 90 miles left in the drive. I filled up the Prius Prime with 9.3 gallons at $3.09 per gallon for a total of $29.00. I’d driven 499 miles. The 2017 Toyota Prius Prime is rated at 54 miles per gallon. I averaged 53.3 mpg on my first

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2017 Toyota Prius Prime fares well on the long, winding road

After two days of brief, round-trip commutes of only a few miles each way from Harvey’s to Heavenly Mountain Resort, I returned today from South Lake Tahoe to Sacramento in my test vehicle, a 2017 Toyota Prius Prime. It’s a plug-in hybrid. I’m driving the new vehicle, the most upscale Prius ever made, for the entire Amgen Tour of California. The women’s race began May 11 in South Lake Tahoe and ends May 14 in Sacramento. The men’s race begins May 14 in Sacramento and will advance to its May 20 conclusion in Pasadena. Driving Down From Lake Tahoe Driving the reverse route of the 103-mile haul from my home in Sacramento to South Lake Tahoe, I made two brief

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2017 Toyota Prius Prime: Cool technology for modern hybrid

The 2017 Toyota Prius Prime plug-in hybrid is the most upscale addition to the Prius family. Its exterior design removes the stodgy image of many of the models in the country’s best-selling hybrid lineup. The Prime’s interior is chock-full of technology, most visibly the JBL navigation system. It’s an 11.6-inch vertically oriented high-resolution touchscreen. While not available on the entry-level Prime Plus, it’s standard on the Prime Premium ($29,965) and the top-line Prime Advanced ($33,965). I’m driving the Advanced trim for two weeks during the Amgen Tour of California, May 11-20. It will take the women’s field from South Lake Tahoe to Sacramento over four days. The men’s race will begin in Sacramento on May 14 and progress to Pasadena

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2017 Toyota Prius Prime named Green Car of the Year

For the second straight year, Toyota has been awarded World Green Car honors at the New York International Auto Show. The Toyota Prius Prime was named this year’s winner after its sibling, the Toyota Mirai, earned the award last year. The Prius Prime was chosen from an initial entry list of 12 new vehicles from around the world. Tailpipe emissions, fuel consumption, and use of a major advanced power plant technology (beyond engine componentry), aimed specifically at increasing the vehicle’s environmental responsibility, were all taken into consideration. Toyota is no stranger to the World Car Awards program, now in its 13th year. In addition to the Mirai’s win last year, the Toyota Prius earned “Top Three in the World” status

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2017 Toyota Avalon Hybrid Review: Stylishly efficient

When your older sibling is the most popular hybrid vehicle in history, the pressure is on. Could the Toyota Avalon Hybrid hold its own while its ever-expanding Prius family members thrive? The answer is a resounding yes. Introduced in late 2012, the 2017 Toyota Avalon Hybrid further separates current hybrids from their debut more than 15 years ago. Key Takeaways Test car: the Limited trim, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with an electric motor, 200 horsepower combined, front-wheel drive and a continuously variable transmission. $43,639 as tested, from a $42,550 base price. 40 mpg city and 39 highway, 40 mpg combined. 0-60 mph in 7.7 seconds, against 6.7 seconds for the V6 gas Avalon. Cargo: 14 cubic feet, only two cubic feet

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Ford F-Series trucks, siblings dominate 2016 sales

The number is staggering — 17.4 million new cars and trucks were purchased in the United States in 2016, dominated by sport utility vehicles and pick-up trucks. The Ford F-Series again paced the industry surpassing 800,000 in sales and about 250,000 more than the runner-up Chevrolet Silverado. Twelve of the top-20 best-selling vehicles in the U.S. in 2016 were either SUVs or pickup trucks. The reason: a combination of versatility and lowering gas prices. The sale of pickups has increased for years. Only six manufacturers are represented in the marketplace, but the combined sales were more than 2.2 million. The 2016 car market had two surprising results. Compact-car sales fell 6.1 percent in 2016 and midsize vehicle sales fell 11.2

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Honda dominates TheWeeklyDriver.com’s 2016 Best Cars List

For the 10th straight year, TheWeeklyDriver.com is selecting its top vehicles of the year. In 2015, we included 12 vehicles instead of 10 on the end-of-the-year list. And we’re doing the same this year. Honda has four cars on the list, the Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Honda Fit and Honda Odyssey. Toyota is represented by the Toyota Avalon Hybrid and Toyota Sienna. Lexus also has two cars on the list, the Lexus IS 200t and the Lexus RC-F. Kia, Lincoln, Mazda and Scion are also represented. How the List Is Chosen As editor and publisher of TheWeeklyDriver.com since 2004, I reviewed 38 cars and trucks in 2016 model years during the 2016 calendar year. I also drove several other vehicles

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2017 Mazda6 Review: Major family sedan rival for Honda, Toyota

As the best-selling vehicle in the manufacturer’s lineup, the Mazda6 is part of arguably the most competitive car segment, family sedans. For 2017, the 16th year of the vehicle, the Mazda6 continues its strong market position. It’s a performance-oriented option among iconic more tradition rivals like the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion and Nissan Altima. Key Takeaways 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 184 horsepower and a six-speed automatic. $30,695 MSRP and $34,530 as tested for the Grand Touring trim. 0-60 mph in 7.6 seconds; 27 mpg city and 35 highway. Premium Package ($2,500) adds Nappa leather seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel and a black headliner. Acceleration: Acceleration seems peppier than the car’s specs, largely because of the sport-oriented

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2018 Toyota Camry: Watch the debut live from Detroit

When you sell more than 400,000 units of a car in a year, you get to have bravado. That’s how and why the 2018 Toyota Camry is just a tease — for now. The carmaker has announced the new edition of the best-selling car in the United States for many years will be unveiled in January at the 2017 North American International Auto Show, often called the Detroit Auto Show. Toyota’s only preview image of the new Camry is a close-cropped, three-quarter low-angle rear view. Sure, it’s a partial view. But it appears the usually conservatively styled sedan has been modernized. While the Toyota Camry had a long reign in its top-selling perch, its sales have decreased more than nine

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2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD PRO Review: Ruggedness defined

Toyota likely has the most varied lineup of pickup trucks. The offerings expand again with the 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD PRO, the compact’s sixth available trim in extended or double crew cabs. Key Takeaways 3.5-liter V6 with 278 horsepower and a six-speed automatic, in a four-wheel-drive TRD Pro. $42,760 MSRP and $45,042 as tested. 18 mpg city and 23 highway. Sixth trim: the TRD PRO is the compact’s sixth available trim in extended or double crew cabs. Bed: The Tacoma’s 5-foot bed is sturdy with plenty of toggles and a 12-volt power outlet. Standard features: Bluetooth, a rearview camera, a USB port, a windshield mount for a GoPro camera, and Toyota’s Entune infotainment system with a 6.1-inch touchscreen. The Tacoma

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2017 Toyota Yaris iA Review: New start for stellar subcompact

What a short, odd life it’s been for the Toyota Yaris iA and Yaris, formerly the Scion iA and the Scion iM. The sporty entry-level sedan and five-door hatchback were introduced as 2016 models. But when Scion abruptly folded 13 years after it debuted, only a few vehicles survived and were absorbed into the Toyota lineup. Key Takeaways Test car: the single-trim Yaris iA, with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder making 106 horsepower and a six-speed automatic; a six-speed manual is also available. 32 city / 40 highway / 35 combined mpg with the six-speed automatic, per the EPA. Safety: a low-speed forward collision warning system with automatic braking is standard. Technology: a rearview camera and a 7-inch touchscreen with a console-mounted

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NEW CAR PREVIEW: 2017 Toyota Corolla goes bold at 50

The Toyota Corolla, the best-selling car in history, keeps rolling along — and quite well. Now celebrating 50 years and with more than 43 million sold, the anniversary will be designated with refreshed styling and a new safety system. The manufacturer has also introduced a 2017 Toyota Corolla SE 50th Anniversary Special Edition model limited to 8,000 units. The 2017 Toyota Corolla gets a sportier look. There’s a new front grille and LED headlamps. The L, LE and LE Eco grades gain Bi-LED headlamps, while complex-LED headlamps come standard on SE, XSE and XLE grades. With the base L model adding a back-up camera, that feature is now standard across the Corolla line. Redesigned 16-inch wheels are standard on the

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2016 Toyota Sienna Review: Minivan for all or one

The 2016 Toyota Sienna, celebrating its 20th year, ideally defines one of the manufacturer’s best attributes. Entry level sedans to large people movers, Toyota vehicles have lots of standard equipment. And it’s among the signature attributes of the popular minivan. Updates include improvements in the Entune connectivity system, sonar parking assist warnings and blind-spot monitoring. Key Takeaways Powertrain: 3.5-liter V6 with 266 horsepower, a six-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. $46,410 MSRP and $49,301 as tested. 0-60 mph in 7.5 seconds; 16 mpg city, 23 highway and 19 combined. Safety: eight airbags, plus the standard Star Safety System with stability and traction control, brake assist and Smart Stop Technology. Rival named: the Honda Odyssey. Families: It’s a good choice for smaller

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2016 Toyota Prius Two Review: New style, more room, great mpg

Now in its fourth generation, the Toyota Prius family features six models, including the most economical, the Toyota Prius Two. It’s the lightest, most space efficient and achieves the highest gas mileage rating in the best-selling hybrid lineup. Key Takeaways Prius Two Eco tested: 1.8-liter four-cylinder with 121 horsepower, electric generators and a continuously variable automatic. $24,700 MSRP and $25,760 as tested. 58 mpg city, 53 highway and 56 combined; the author averaged 57.1 mpg. 0-60 mph in about 10 seconds. Rivals named: Ford Fusion Hybrid, Chevrolet Volt and Toyota Camry Hybrid. Space: there’s 65.5 cubic feet of interior space with the 60/40 split rear seats folded. The Weekly Driver Test Drives Toyota Prius Two While the Ford Fusion Hybrid,

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