Toyota Automotive Reviews
Toyota Debuts 100-Mile Ranger, Rav4 EV Demonstration Vehicle at Los Angeles Auto Show
By Jim Bray
LOS ANGELES, Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. (TMS) debuted today the second-generation Toyota RAV4 EV at a news conference at the Los Angeles Auto Show. A total of 35 vehicles will be built for a demonstration and evaluation program through 2011, aiming at market arrival of a fully-engineered vehicle in 2012. The fully-engineered vehicle will have a target range of 100 miles (160 kilometres) in actual road driving patterns, in a wide range of climates and conditions.
Toyota Sienna Named Best New Minivan in AJAC’s 2011 Canadian Car of the Year AwardsBy Jim Bray
The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) named the 2011 Toyota Sienna as the Best New Minivan in the 2011 Canadian Car of the Year Awards following rigorous testing during the annual TestFest for the Canadian Car of the Year Awards competition.
Highlander and Toyota Highlander Hybrid make their debutBy online
Canadians looking for the versatility of passenger car-like handling, control and comfort, combined with the power and utility of a mid-size SUV featuring greater fuel efficiency, can find it all in the 2011 Toyota Highlander and 2011 Toyota Highlander Hybrid.
Toyota Canada Inc. reports August salesBy Jim Bray
Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) today reported August sales of 12,862 Toyota and Lexus cars, trucks and SUVs, down 29.5% from August 2009. This included 11,609 Toyota models (down 30.5%) and 1,253 Lexus luxury vehicles (down 18.2%).
The Canadian market trend in favour of trucks, SUVs and crossover vehicles over the past few months is reflected in Toyota Canada’s sales. In addition, new model offerings from Toyota and Lexus continue to stand out as popular choices for Canadian drivers in August.
Toyota Avalon A Comforting CruiserBy Jim Bray
Remember the Oldsmobile commercials from years ago that said the models current then were “Not your father’s Oldsmobile?” Well I’ve found a car that is: the Toyota Avalon.
Toyota’s flagship sedan is a big, family-friendly sedan that offers lots to like as long as you don’t care about the drive itself. It’s comfortable, well-appointed, and features stuff like reclining rear seats and most of the technological treats you could want these days.
Toyota Canada Inc. reports July salesBy Jim Bray
TORONTO, Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) today reported July sales of 14,882 Toyota and Lexus cars, trucks and SUVs, down 7.3% from July 2009. This included 13,681 Toyota models (down 7.7%) and 1,201 Lexus luxury vehicles (down 2.4%). Robust sales of the Toyota Venza, 4Runner and Sienna resulted in best-ever July Toyota truck sales, at 6,397 (up 11.0%).
Toyota announces voluntary safety campaign for certain Avalons to replace steering column bracketsBy Jim Bray
TORONTO, Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) today announced that it intends to conduct a voluntary safety campaign involving approximately 4,200 2000-2004 Model Year Toyota Avalons to address the possibility that the vehicle’s steering lock bar could break under certain conditions. No other Toyota or Lexus vehicles are involved in this recall.
Toyota Venza a True CrossoverBy Jim Bray
It’s neither a station wagon nor a minivan, and it isn’t an SUV, either. Instead, Toyota’s Venza blurs the lines between these distinct market niches, a vehicle that crosses over from one to the other.
That says “crossover” to me.
Many, if not most, so-called crossovers these days are basically car-based sport utility vehicles – perhaps named as crossovers by marketers more concerned about political correctness than truth in advertising. After all, SUV’s are evil, Mother Earth-sapping horriblemobiles regardless of how well they serve many people’s needs.
Toyota Sienna a New Standard in MinivansBy Jim Bray
Minivans may not be particularly sexy, but they can be pleasant and convenient if your automotive needs require space to haul people and their stuff.
So it is with the 2011 Sienna, a minivan Toyota is daring to call “Comfortable, Convenient and above all, Cool.”
Cool isn’t something I’ve ever though would apply to minivans, and I don’t think it does here, either, but that doesn’t prevent the new Sienna from being a heckuva minivan, with plenty of room for hauling most of the stuff a family could want. And it is truly comfortable and convenient as well. It’s even pretty good to drive.
Toyota RAV4 a Fun, Roomy Cute UteBy Jim Bray
Sport. It’s a word familiar to car nuts worldwide and it’s generally an indication that the vehicle associated with the word is a little more, well, interesting and fun, than the run-of-the-mill vehicle.
According to my digital copy of Webster’s Unabridged, while the word “sport” can mean “an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc.” it can also mean “a flashy person; one who wears showy clothes, affects smart manners, pursues pleasurable pastimes, or the like; a bon vivant.”
Toyota 4Runner Off-road CapableBy Jim Bray
Toyota’s 4Runner was one of the first SUV’s and its newest version is still a compelling vehicle for those who want four wheel drive stability coupled with serious off-roading capability.
I haven’t driven the 4Runner for a few years, but I always liked it, so I was quite interested in trying the 2010 version – and not only I lived to tell the story, with nothing untoward regarding acceleration, brakes, steering, Divine Intervention or whatever, I actually enjoyed the vehicle. Go figure!
The segment-busting 2010 Toyota Venza adds new standard convenience features to the vehicle designedBy Jim Bray
TORONTO, /CNW/ - With a choice of 4-cyl or V6 and FWD or AWD, the versatility of an SUV and the comfort and drivability of a passenger car, the 2010 Toyota Venza is fresh yet sophisticated in design - leaving it in a class by itself. The latest Venza starts with an MSRP under $30,000 and includes new standard convenient and fun features.
Canadians can look to Toyota for best-in-class fuel-efficiency: Yaris and Prius named 2010 ecoENERGYBy Jim Bray
The innovative Toyota Prius hybrid and fun, urban-friendly Toyota Yaris are the best in their class for fuel efficiency - something they have done each year since the respective models were introduced to Canadians.
Natural Resources Canada’s Office of Energy Efficiency today confirmed that these two Toyota models continue to set the benchmark for fuel efficiency in their categories, while satisfying Canadians’ needs for a “more power, less fuel” driving experience.
Toyota Prius - most fuel efficient midsize
The 2010 Toyota FJ Cruiser delivers more power, less fuelBy Jim Bray
TORONTO, /CNW/ - The Toyota FJ Cruiser is the authentic SUV that masters rocks, streams, mud, sand, snow, ice and whatever else stands between you and adventure. FJ’s strong roots make it the perfect combination of distinctive, utilitarian style, and impressive off-road performance.
For the 2010 model year, the FJ Cruiser adopts an upgraded more powerful and fuel efficient engine, and improved suspension tuning and power steering.
Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla Still Good Choices for Economy CarsBy Jim Bray
What used to be both companies’ entry level – and bread and butter – vehicles have grown up over the decades, getting bigger in every way and far more sophisticated. And that isn’t a bad thing; technology advances. One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is that endearing simplicity and ease of use that Honda once used in its commercials: “We Make It Simple”.
Next 15 Columns
