A Corolla Hybrid for your consideration. The Prius launched Toyota into the hybrid sphere, a market it has controlled for more than two decades. And no wonder: the Prius has long delivered the best combination of fuel efficiency, passenger-carrying capacity, and utility of any competing model. Quite easily, the Prius … Read more
The last time the industry sold 1 million minivans was in 2006, just ahead of the recession and during the early days of crossover utility vehicles. Today, just under 500,000 units are sold in the U.S. annually, as manufacturers such as Ford, GM, and Nissan no longer participate. But the … Read more
The Toyota FJ Cruiser is a unique sport utility vehicle, one that pays tribute to the Land Cruiser FJ40, a 1960s era off-road model. The FJ Cruiser, itself based on a modified version of the platform underpinning the previous generation Toyota 4Runner, enjoyed an eight-model-year run from 2007 through 2014. … Read more
Experience the ultimate combination of luxury and performance with the 2019 Lexus RX 350. The 2019 Lexus RX 350 returns mostly unchanged, except for the newly added Lexus Enform Connect smartphone app integration. The current version of this SUV rolled out in 2016, launching this model’s fourth generation. There is … Read more
True off-road SUV adventuring belongs to Jeep and Land Rover, with GMC, Ford and Chevrolet also represented. Not to be overlooked is Toyota, which has decades of experience in delivering various Land Cruiser, Sequoia, and FJ models. In more recent years we’ve seen the 4Runner, a midsize model based on … Read more
In a world of utility vehicles, Lexus is well represented. From the small UX to the compact NX, and from the popular RX to the big GX and LX models, Lexus has something for everyone. You’ll even find hybrid options with the first three choices, each of which delivers outstanding … Read more
The C-HR brings it to the small crossover segment, but in a different way. We like crossovers and are buying them in record numbers. That said, Toyota recognizes that there is some ambivalence amongst buyers, which is why we have a model such as the Toyota C-HR, a compact … Read more
Revised Feb. 8, 2018, to reflect expanded auto show news. Chicago new car reveals and concepts from McCormick Place. The 2018 Chicago Auto Show kicks off this week and yours truly will be in attendance for the media days scheduled for Thursday and Friday. The public days begin Saturday, Feb. … Read more
Toyota’s longest playing nameplate is also its most expensive model. The very first Toyota Land Cruiser was introduced in 1951, a Jeep-like vehicle built under contract to the US military for use in Korea. Based on the original Willys theme, the first “Toyota Jeep BJ” was larger and more powerful … Read more
Fourth-generation Prius includes a new plug-in Prius Prime model. How many Prius models are there? Four, including the all-new Prius Prime — a plug-in electric vehicle based on the standard Prius theme. The Prius Prime isn’t the first Prius plug-in hybrid, but it does reflect the presence of Toyota’s latest … Read more
What’s big, beautiful, and seats eight? That would be the LX 570, the largest of four SUVs sold by Lexus, Toyota’s luxury brand. Two hybrid variants are also available. This vehicle takes the bones of the highly capable Toyota Land Cruiser and adds Lexus panache to create one of the … Read more
Four years is a long time to go from concept car to production vehicle. Typically, a car manufacturer teases a concept it intends to build and approves it for production within the year. For example, in the case of the Chevrolet Bolt introduced at the Detroit auto show (NAIAS) last … Read more
We take a look at what may become the top auto trends for 2016. This year (2015) will go down as one for the books. Specifically, it will be a sales record breaker once the books have been closed on Jan. 4. That means on Tuesday we’ll know which model … Read more
Lexus Pulls a Clean Sweep. All good things must come to an end. One of those “things” is the ongoing loveliest Consumer Reports has had with Tesla Motors, especially the Model S. The nonprofit consumer organization released the results of its 2015 Annual Auto Reliability Survey on Tuesday, noting that … Read more
The Scion FR-S may be the most anonymous of all sporty cars built. This 2+2 rear-wheel drive sport coupe is also sold as the Subaru BRZ, with the two automakers collaborating to build what is essentially a bare bones model to reach first-time buyers. Unfortunately, the combined sales for the … Read more
With the “chicken tax” removed, the Volkswagen Amarok could be readied for the US market. “The power to tax is the power to destroy” — John Marshall There may be no subject more contentious in the United States than taxation. Every citizen pays taxes and it is nearly impossible to … Read more
It wasn’t all that long ago when Nissan introduced its Juke crossover, what had some analysts scratching their heads in wonder. Sure, the styling itself was polarizing, but the segment the diminutive Nissan occupied was virtually nonexistent. Until now. Nissan got the subcompact SUV segment growing, but now it needs … Read more
In the latest Kogod study, the Corvette Stringray slipped by several percentage points. The General Motors Company has taken its share of lumps, some of it deserved. But in one area it excels, what has everything to do with where many of its vehicles are produced. And that location is … Read more
The automotive industry continues to adjust to fluctuating market conditions and changing consumer demand. Whereas in times past fickle consumers scotched the best laid plans of the automakers, namely building quality small cars, it appears that this time around consumer sentiment is embracing the trend toward more fuel efficient cars. … Read more
Lexus brings to the world an affordable sport coupe that isn’t a convertible. The RC is derived from three Lexus models, but has a unique undercarriage. The question not asked is this one — will we see more performance models from Toyota’s premier brand? I am a habitual visitor to … Read more
The eastern half of the nation has had quite a winter, with record cold, significant snows and paralyzing ice storms extending deep into the south. Despite the difficult conditions, consumers visited US showrooms in strong numbers, helping to propel February 2015 auto sales in a positive direction. Truck sales paced … Read more
J.D. Power & Associates has once again placed the Lexus brand atop its Vehicle Dependability Study. For 2015 and for the fourth consecutive year, Toyota’s luxury brand won out, besting 30 other brands. General Motors and Toyota Motors each received seven segment awards. Customer satisfaction is critical in the auto … Read more
The segment for traditional, large sedans is a small one, yet important to manufacturers nonetheless. For Toyota, the Avalon has faithfully served the brand for two decades, representing a plush, front-wheel drive vehicle that will be refreshed for the 2016 model year. The Chicago Auto Show served as the perfect … Read more
The Chevrolet Corvette Stingray finished tops in the luxury sport car segment. Behind the scenes at the North American International Auto Show a number of side events are held. The Automotive News World Congress is one such occasion, the place where automotive executives opine about the very industry they represent. … Read more
Rapidly falling gas prices will squeeze Camry Hybrid sales. Through 2014, the Toyota Camry has been the best-selling car model in America, outpacing the likes of the Honda Accord, Nissan Altima and its own compact sibling, the Toyota Corolla. Sales of the standard-bearer Camry routinely top 400,000 units per year, … Read more
GM, Ford and Chrysler Embrace Fuel Saving Innovation. Fuel prices are continuing to fall, dropping below $2.50 per gallon for regular grade gasoline in some areas. That’s just the kind of move that has some shoppers looking at larger and less efficient vehicles, perhaps advancing certain auto trends not yet … Read more
October 2014 sales remain in positive territory. The US auto industry continues to record strong sales even as the overall economy shows only modest gains. Sales this year should top 16.5 million units with analysts forecasting at least 17 million units sold for 2015. And if October 2014 auto sales … Read more
The Consumer Reports 2014 Annual Reliability Survey is out, what paints a highly critical and negative picture of in-car technologies, particularly infotainment systems. Such systems typically provide audio, information and navigation access, but often do not deliver as promised. Instead, users may find these systems confusing, unreliable or simply unworkable, … Read more
Latest edition Toyota Avalon hits all the right marks. After three consecutive weeks of driving hybrid electric vehicles, little did I know that the best one would be saved for last. While the Toyota Prius and the Lexus CT 200h both have a place among hybrids — the Prius for … Read more
Lexus has taken its own approach to the premium/luxury segment. Its model line is composed mostly of a variety of sedans and utility vehicles, each powered by a gasoline engine. There is nary a diesel found in its North American lineup. Instead, Lexus serves up five hybrid models to demonstrate … Read more