Toyota

,

2016 Mazda 6: Watch out Honda Accord, Toyota Camry

It’s hard to believe the 2016 Mazda 6 marks the 14th year since the manufacturer replaced the Mazda 626 with its current midsize sedan. The current third generation debuted in 2013, and the new offering is packed with considerable improvements — particularly in the highest-level trim. The Weekly Driver Test Drive A five-passenger sedan, the Mazda 6 is offered in Sport, Touring and top-line Grand Touring trims, and my weekly driver was the latter. It has so many changes, how could it not be a new generation? For 2016, the Mazda 6 features revised front and rear styling, making it appreciably more handsome. The previous xenon headlights have been replaced with LED headlights and there’s a larger (7-inch) touchscreen interface

Read more
,

2015 Toyota Corolla: Steady, enduring sedan

Following a complete redesign last year, the 2015 Toyota Corolla remains the same as its one year older sibling with a few minor exceptions. The new edition of the best-selling car in history now has a fold-down real center armrest in all trims except the base L model. The Toyota Corolla for years has had a lengthy list of standard features, and it’s now even better. The upper level trims for 2015 get the Driver Convenience package as standard equipment. The Weekly Driver Test Drive The S trim premium was my weekly test drive, and it’s most equipped of the four Toyota Corolla trims, which also include L, LE and LE Eco. All models have a four-cylinder engine. A manual

Read more

Toyota test comparison helps determine best model

With dozens of models on the market, choosing just one Toyota can be as difficult. How do you know which model will meet all of your needs? How are you supposed to decide between a red Yaris and a blue Corolla? Here are a few tips in a Toyota test comparison to  help you decide. 1. Consider the Year The first thing to decide is how modern do you need your car to be? If you’re looking for something with integrated touchscreens or cutting-edge fuel cell technology, your search will be limited to models produced in the last five years. If you just need a reliable vehicle for work, feel free to go back as much as 20 years. Toyotas

Read more

2015 Toyota Camry Hybrid gets style, still sips fuel

It wasn’t too long ago hybrid car buyers sacrificed exterior and interior design and cargo space to get superior fuel economy. The updated 2015 Toyota Camry provides another example how the segment has vastly improved. The new Toyota Camry looks like a luxury sedan and has an attractive interior. And it’s a fuel-efficient hybrid without any compromise of earlier hybrid offerings. The Weekly Driver’s Test Drive The 2015 Toyota Camry Hybrid has a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor that generate 200 horsepower combined and it’s matched with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The base Camry Hybrid LE gets an EPA-estimated 43/39 mpg city/highway. The Camry SE and XLE models earn 40/38 mpg. Beyond its vast upgrades, the 2015

Read more

2015 Toyota Highlander: Comfortable, versatile SUV

Fifteen years after its debut at the New York Auto Show, the Toyota Highlander is in the second year of its third generation as a midsize, car-based sport utility vehicle. The Highlander was a quick hit and became Toyota’s best-selling SUV until its smaller sibling, the RAV4, assumed the carmaker’s top SUV spot in 2006. Facing increasing SUV competition, the Highlander was extensively redesigned in 2014, boosting its tired predecessor. The 2015 model remains the same as last year’s offering. The Weekly Driver Test Drive Available in five trims, my weekly was the top-line Limited Platinum model. The base model begins with a four-cylinder engine and 18-inch wheels and a host of standard technology features. More technology and convenience upgrades add

Read more

Toyota names hydrogen car Mirai, debuts in 2016

Toyota has announced its new fuel cell vehicle will be called the Mirai, and the Japanese manufacturer is hopeful the hydrogen-powered vehicle will live up to the translation of its name — “future.” Toyota President Akio Toyoda revealed the car’s name in conjunction with the company CEO Jim Lentz announcing the expansion of Toyota fuel cell infrastructure investment to five-state in the Northeastern corridor. The Mirai, according to Toyota, will travel as far as 300 miles on a single tank of hydrogen, refuel in less than five minutes and emit only water vapor. Lentz announced a new commitment to drive the development of a hydrogen refueling infrastructure in five northeastern U.S. states. To support Mirai’s introduction to the region in

Read more

The Family of Prius, hybrid cars still dominate

The Toyota Prius wasn’t the first hybrid vehicle in the United States. That honor belongs to the Honda Insight. But the Prius, which debuted a few months later, has been the most successful alternative fuel car in the United States — by a substantial margin — since its unveiling in 2000. In the past 15 years, many manufacturers have joined the gas-electric hybrid segment, some offering several varieties of environmentally “green” vehicles. Competition is keen, but the Prius still dominates the segment with Toyota expanding its hybrid offerings a few years ago. The family of Prii (the plural of Prius was put to public vote in 2011) now also includes Priu plug-in hybrid as well as v and c models.

Read more

Toyota recall woes continue, this time Camry

Toyota‘s decade-long recall crisis has surfaced again, this time involving 361,800 faulty Toyota Camry models in the global market. According to the carmaker, the recall includes three defects primarily in Camry models in Europe and Japan and about 60 units in the United States made between March 2011 and August 2014. Subject to the recalls are 170,000 Camrys to fix a faulty ball joint that could cause a loss of control of the vehicle. Europe accounts for the majority with about 120,000 vehicles, followed by 40,000 in Japan, Toyota detailed. Another recall covers 105,800 Hiace, Regius Ace and Dyna models, mainly in Japan, to replace the fuel pipe. The third recall is for 86,000 Crown and Crown Majesta models in

Read more

Toyota Camry: Top sedan through the years

Since its humble debut nearly 32 years ago, the Toyota Camry has been a hit. It wasn’t touted much, but soon after it replaced the Toyota Corona, the public responded. As such, with impressive quality, comfortable ride and durability, the Camry has been near the top or the top-selling sedan in the United States for more than 25 years. It’s been the sedan sales leader for the past 12 years. While impressive, Toyota made several surprising changes across all trims for the 2015 Camry, available at dealers since September. The changes include: a stiffer body, new grille, softer interior materials, new controls and, according to the manufacturer, about 2000 new parts. The surprise is that Toyota also revised the now

Read more

Toyota, Nissan styles among 7 cars gone in 2015

Some cars, like the Ford Mustang, Volkswagen Beetle and Chevy Impala, have seemingly been around since the model T. It’s what happens when carmakers get lucky. A new car catches on with the public quickly and stays on the market through many generations — like the Mustang — which just turned age 50. And then there are other cars that, for one reason or another, nearly instantly fail like the Fisker Karma, the Finnish electric vehicle. After poor marketing and vast mechanical issues it folded quickly after about one year of abominable sales in 2012. For other reasons, most notably, slow sales, some vehicles or vehicle trims fade at the end of the calendar year after a few years of

Read more
, ,

Ford F-150 again tops best-selling vehicle list

The Ford F-150 pick-up truck and the Toyota Corolla don’t appear to have much in common. But they do. The Ford-150 had been made for 67 years; the Toyota Corolla is now 43 years old. The two enduring vehicles are perennially on the top-10 selling vehicle list in the United States. Although 2014 totals won’t be tallied until early January 2015, the Ford 150 will again lead the top-10 vehicle sales for the year. It will mark the 44th consecutive year the F-150 will lead truck sales. The Toyota Corolla may not lead the pack, but its enduring popularity is remarkable. Several years ago, it became the best-selling vehicle in history. Here’s a synopsis of the Ford F-150 and Toyota

Read more

2014 Toyota Venza: Versatile SUV drives like a car

In the past eight months, the 2014 Toyota Venza and I have become good friends. For one week on each occasion, I’ve had three test sessions with the crossover, sport wagon or small SUV — however the vehicle in properly designated. By any combination and by whatever its name means, the Venza is versatile. It’s a crossover with all-wheel drive, yes. But it’s compact and streamlined like a wagon. And it also has the characteristics of a daily driver sedan. The 2014 Toyota Venza has surprisingly strong acceleration. The result is a combo-car with a combo name. Plenty of theories abound what Venza means, including the Spanish translation, Conquer. Toyota says the vehicle’s name is a compilation of the words

Read more

2014 Toyota RAV4: sporty, versatile compact SUV

Toyota believes in keeping a good thing going. The Toyota RAV4 was the first compact crossover when introduced in the mid-1990s and soon became a hit because it was carlike, practical and economical. It also carried Toyota’s revered name. The fourth generation RAV4 four-door hatchback arrived for 2013 as a significantly redesigned and improved model, so the 2014 model includes just a few new options. Minimal changes are planned in the 2015 RAV4. New items for 2014 include an Entune Audio lineup and a Technology Package option with Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic and Lane Departure Alert. Toyota RAV4: multiple trims The RAV4 looks sporty and comes in these trim levels: LE, XLE and Limited, with front-wheel drive (FWD)

Read more

PREVIEW, 2015 Toyota Camry: New design, more tech

The 2015 Toyota Camry and 2015 Toyota Camry Hybrid, featuring new exterior and interior designs as well as increased safety and performance features, will be available in four models beginning in September. The 2015 Camry will be offered in the value-driven LE, the sporty SE, the new XSE and the premium XLE. The XSE builds on the success of the SE and will have an edgier appearance and is being touted as the “sportiest Camry yet.” All Camry gas models will be powered by the standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 178 horsepower and 170 lb.-ft. of peak torque. It’s teamed with a standard six-speed automatic transmission with the combination offering EPA-estimated 25 MPG city/ 35 MPG highway/ 28 MPG combined

Read more

2014 Toyota Venza: Odd name, odd look, all good

Like reviewing a restaurant after only one visit, reviewing a car may be best after two test periods in the vehicle and at least separated by a few months. Welcome back to the 2014 Toyota Venza. Seven months after first driving the oddly named Venza solo for a week, I just completely another weekly test driving the Venza. This time, it was with a colleague. The Toyota Venza strikes many people in the same way. What is it? Just like I did, my colleague, who took the images for this review, had the same reaction. It’s neither a wagon nor a true sport utility vehicle. Rather it’s a crossover with all-wheel drive functionality like a wagon, cargo room like an

Read more

2015 Toyota Yaris debuts as Euro-styled entry level sedan

The 2015 Toyota Yaris has debuted with a new European-themed design, several new additional interior and exterior features and a manufacturer’s suggested retail price range from $14,485 to $17,620. The price range extends from three-door L with a manual transmission ($14,485) to the five-door SE with a four-speed automatic ($17,620). Like like the previous-generations, the 2015 Toyota Yaris comes in 3-door and 5-door liftback configurations. It features an aggressive new look with a horizontal chrome grill treatment that appears to continue into the headlamp. The 1.5-liter, 16-valve, four-cylinder DOHC engine equipped with variable valve timing with intelligence (VVT-i) produces 106 horsepower. A five-speed manual transmission, made smoother by an improved hydraulic clutch, is standard. Also available is a four-speed electronically

Read more
Previous Next