2012 Toyota Prius c

Compact hybrid for active urbanites

By Nina Russin

2012 Toyota Prius c

The Prius may become Toyota’s best- selling vehicle, thanks to a new four-model strategy which adds midsized, compact and plug-in cars to expand upon the appeal of the original liftback. The compact Prius c is the final model to enter the Prius line-up.

The new entry-level Prius is geared towards young urbanites whose budgets kept them out of the other models. There are four grades, beginning with the Prius c 1 priced from $18,950 not including the $760 delivery fee. The upscale Prius 4 starts at $23,230. Toyota expects the Prius c 2 and Prius c 3 to be the volume leaders, priced from $19,900 and $21,635 respectively.

The compact Prius shares chassis components with the current Toyota Yaris. It is not only smaller than the Prius liftback but significantly lighter. Curb weight is about 2500 pounds.

 Weight-saving reductions in the battery pack and under the hood combined with aerodynamic enhancements give the Prius c 53 mile-per-gallon fuel economy around town and 46 mpg on the highway. Read the rest of this entry »

2012 Toyota Yaris LE

Subcompact five-door sedan offers more to love

By Nina Russin

2012 Toyota Yaris

When Toyota redesigned its subcompact Yaris for the 2012 model year, the objective was, to paraphrase Mies, offering more for less. Available as either a three or five door lift-back, the new Yaris has a roomier interior and cargo area than the models it replaces, yet uses less gasoline.

The new model’s 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine produces the same horsepower and slightly less torque than the former block, but with better gas mileage: about one mile-per-gallon more around town. Equipped with the five-speed manual transmission, the 2012 Yaris averages 38 mpg on the highway: two miles-per-gallon better than the 2011 model.

Engineers reduced the car’s aerodynamic drag with some careful work in the wind tunnel, and also lowered the chassis for better high-speed performance. What this means for the customer is that the new Yaris looks and feels like a more substantial vehicle. Taller passengers will be more comfortable thanks to increased headroom, and buyers with active lifestyles will have a larger cargo area to load their gear into.

Pricing starts just over $14,000 for the three-door version with a five-speed manual transmission. The upscale five-door SE grade with a four-speed automatic transmission begins at $17,200. Prices do not include a $760 delivery charge. Read the rest of this entry »

2012 Toyota Camry XLE

Best-selling midsized sedan moves forward

By Nina Russin

2012 Toyota Camry XLE

The downside to this strategy is moving the product forward. Under the hood, this means advancing technology without increasing maintenance.

Twenty-twelve models feature four and six cylinder direct injection engines. Because fuel goes directly into the engine cylinders rather than passing through valves combustion is more efficient, enhancing mileage and reducing toxic emissions. Electronically controlled six-speed automatic transmissions have large overdrive gears to produce 35 mile-per-gallon fuel economy on the highway.

Inside the car, owners can enjoy Toyota’s newest Entune infotainment system, which interfaces with smartphones for applications such as Open Table, Pandora, Yelp and IHeartRadio. Safety Connect automatically notifies emergency medical personnel in the event of a serious collision, and provides stolen vehicle location. A rearview backup camera and blind spot monitoring make it easier for drivers to park and maneuver through dense traffic.

Designers needed to create a distinctive exterior which is contemporary without being gimmicky. Toyota describes the new design as “architectural,” referring to more angular lines which replace soft, curvy surfaces. While I wouldn’t equate the new Camry with Paul Rudolph, I believe that the stylists met their mission with aplomb. A fresh, bright grille and wrap-around headlamps capture one’s attention, as does the sedan’s crisp beltline.

Camry buyers can choose from four, four-cylinder models and two V-6 grades. Base price on the upscale XLE four-cylinder sedan tested is $24,725 excluding a $760 delivery charge. The test car is equipped with five option packages: blind spot monitoring ($500); push button start, a backup camera and auto-dimming rearview mirror with Homelink and compass ($1195); premium audio with navigation, Entune, satellite radio and Bluetooth streaming music ($1700); safety connect ($450); and leather upholstery with heated front seats and a four-way power adjustable front passenger seat ($1650). MSRP is $30,980. Read the rest of this entry »

Extended drive: 2012 Toyota Prius V Five

Versatile hybrid for active families

By Nina Russin

2012 Toyota Prius V Five

The fact that Toyota is expanding its hybrid offerings from a single model to a family of vehicles is therefore no surprise. The new Prius family includes a plug-in version which can run on pure electric power for short distances and a compact hatchback aimed towards urbanites living in areas where parking space is at a premium.

Of the new models, the Prius V is the largest, and the best suited for active families. Readers who expect the Prius V to be a new version of the minivan are mistaken: it isn’t that large, nor does it have three rows of seating. The extra interior space adds room in the second row, which can comfortably seat three passengers, and the cargo area. While the original Prius can only hold one bicycle, the Prius V can hold two and the people riding them.

As with the current Prius, the Prius V comes in four grades, beginning with the Two priced from $26,400. The upscale Prius V Five starts at $29,990. In both cases pricing does not include a $760 delivery charge.

Standard comfort and convenience features on the test car include keyless entry and start, navigation, rear backup camera, Bluetooth interface, heated front seats, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, automatic climate control and split/folding second-row seats.

A premium package on the test car adds a two-pane panoramic moonroof, upgraded audio system, real-time weather and traffic updates, safety connect with automatic emergency assistance, stolen vehicle locator, and roadside assistance as well as Entune: Toyota’s proprietary infotainment system ($5580). Carpeted floor mats cost $225 and wheel locks add $67, bringing the price as tested to $36,622. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Toyota Tacoma 4X4

V-6 engine tows up to 6500 pounds

By Nina Russin

2011 Toyota Tacoma

The Tacoma’s roots are in Toyota’s compact pickup trucks of the 1970s and 80s. Today, the Tacoma is a significantly larger vehicle, lining up behind the full-sized Tundra. New six-cylinder engine technology enables engineers to produce equivalent performance to what V-8 engines yielded a decade back. As a result, the V-6 Tacoma with 266 foot-pounds of torque qualifies as a real work horse, with the ability to carry heavy cargo.

The advantage of the V-6 as compared to the eight cylinder engine is fuel economy. The Tacoma access cab 4X4 averages 20 miles-per-gallon on the highway, which is good for a two-ton truck. Out of the box, the Tacoma tows up to 3500 pounds, meeting our ALV standard. A towing prep package which adds a class 4 hitch, heavy duty battery, transmission and oil coolers boosts towing capacity to 6500 pounds, making the Tacoma capable of hauling large trailers.

The access cab includes a small rear passenger space which can also be used for cargo. Dealerships can deactivate the front passenger airbag for child seats, since they won’t fit in back.

Base price for the test car is $25,925 excluding the $810 delivery charge. A discounted TRD off-road package adds a locking rear differential, off-road suspension, Bilstein shocks, special wheels, tires and skid plates under the chassis, as well as a host of comfort and convenience features inside the car ($3085). Other options include daytime running lamps ($40), the towing prep package ($650), carpeted floor mats ($179), tie down loops ($40), special wheels, tires  and performance exhaust ($1699), bringing the price as tested to $33,168. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Toyota RAV4 Limited

Compact crossover vehicle seats up to seven passengers

By Nina Russin

2011 Toyota RAV4 Limited

The RAV4 was one of the first vehicles to combine the versatility of a sport-utility vehicle with car-like ride and handling. The name stands for “recreational active vehicle:” a phrase which should resonate with readers of this web site. Buyers can choose between two or three rows of seating, depending on how many passengers they need to carry.

The newest model is available with a choice of four-cylinder or V-6 engines and front or all-wheel drive. The six-cylinder engine costs a little more, but achieves fuel efficiency close to the four. Given the means to afford the premium, I’d recommend it for the extra power and performance it offers.

The V-6 RAV4 comes with a five-speed automatic transmission, as opposed to a four-speed box with the four-cylinder model. This accounts for the larger engine’s enhanced fuel economy. In addition to adding a large overdrive gear, the five-speed automatic minimizes shift shock during hard acceleration.

Buyers can choose from three grades: a base model, Sport, and upscale Limited. The front-wheel drive Limited starts at $26,835, not including an $810 delivery charge. The V-6 engine is standard, as are 17-inch alloy wheels with a full-sized spare. The spare tire is mounted on the rear door, where it’s easy to reach.

Comfort and convenience features include a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel with redundant audio controls, dual-zone automatic climate control, a fold-flat feature for the second-row seats, satellite radio and keyless start.

A premium option package on the test car adds leather upholstery, upgraded audio system, Bluetooth interface, heated front seats, power moonroof, eight-way power driver’s seat and a 120-volt power outlet ($3480). The test car also includes a towing prep package which I’d recommend against, since the RAC fails to meet the ALV minimum 3500-pound towing standard ($160). Carpeted floor mats cost $199, bringing the MSRP to $32,179.

A new extra value package discount reduces the MSRP by $2000, bringing the price as tested to $30,179. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Toyota Sienna SE

Eight passenger minivan for active families

By Nina Russin

2011 Toyota Sienna SE

One-box architecture makes minivans more slippery in the airstream than two-box crossovers and sport-utility vehicles, for better fuel economy. Sliding side doors make it easier to load child seats in the car in tight parking spots. Toyota’s have bullet-proof pinch protectors so kids can’t get in accidents.

When Toyota introduced the most recent iteration of its eight-passenger Sienna, engineers diversified the product offerings to include both luxury and sport models. The Sienna Swagger Wagon, a customized XLE featured at last year’s SEMA show, proved yet again that the terms “hot rod” and “minivan” are by no means mutually exclusive.

The SE is part of a five grade strategy which ranges from the base model to the upscale Limited. Buyers can choose between front and all-wheel drive versions, both powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 engine. An Eco option optimizes the Sienna’s fuel economy when power demands are low, to further improve gas mileage.

A six-speed automatic transmission provides large overdrive gears to extend fuel economy on the highway. The front-wheel drive Sienna averages 20 miles-per-gallon in combined city and highway driving according to the EPA: pretty good for a 4500 pound car. I averaged just over 20 miles-per-gallon on my 150-mile road trip to Tucson. Towing capacity is 3500 pounds, meeting our ALV minimum standard.

Base price for the front-wheel drive SE is $30,550, not including an $800 delivery charge. Standard features include Toyota’s Star safety system, cruise control, first and second-row captain’s chairs, tri-zone air conditioning and a MP3 compatible audio system.

A premium option package on the test car adds automatic climate control, rear window sunshades, an upgraded audio system, Bluetooth connectivity and steering wheel audio controls ($1545). Carpeted floor mats and a security system add $324 and $299 respectively, bringing the price as tested to $33,518. Read the rest of this entry »

2012 Toyota Prius v

Versatile hybrid wagon seats five passengers

By Nina Russin

2012 Toyota Prius v

The 2012 Prius v arrives in dealerships this fall: eleven years after the first model debuted in the United States. The “v” stands for “versatility.” The first member of the extended Prius family is a five-passenger car with a larger cargo area to meet the needs of active families.

While Prius v fuel economy is slightly lower than for the lift-back, EPA estimated 42 miles-per-gallon should appeal to buyers wanting minimize their carbon footprint.The Prius v comes in three grades: Two, Three and Five. Toyota has yet to announce pricing, but says that MSRPs will start between $25,000 and $30,000.

The powertrain is essentially the same as for the lift-back: a 98 horsepower four-cylinder engine which works in concert with two electric motors to develop 134 net horsepower. Dimensionally, the Prius v is six inches longer, three inches taller and an inch wider than the lift-back, translating to better headroom for both rows of passengers and a 34.3 cubic foot cargo bay with the rear seats in place.

The coefficient of drag is slightly poorer than the smaller car: .29 as opposed to .25. That and some additional weight account for the decrease in fuel economy. Read the rest of this entry »

Toyota Prius vs. Nissan Leaf

Choosing the right green option

By Edward Pacheco
 

2011 Nissan Leaf

The Toyota Prius and the Nissan Leaf have proven to be two environmentally-friendly cars. That said, the propulsion systems for the models are quite different.

The Prius has a gasoline engine and electric motors. Power for the motors comes from a nickel metal hydride battery as well as regenerative braking. The Leaf, on the other hand, is a fully-electric vehicle which the owner recharges by plugging into an electrical outlet. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid

Prius technology in a family sedan

By Nina Russin

2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid

The Camry has never been the flashiest car on the road, nor the most expensive. Its long-lived popularity stems from reliability. Toyota’s midsized sedan is the Zen master of the automotive world, going about its daily tasks with an endearing lack of presumption.

Buyers who want to leave a better world for their children will find even more to love in the Camry Hybrid. Toyota uses the same hybrid synergy drive system found in the Prius to shrink the Camry’s environmental footprint. Average fuel economy for the Camry Hybrid is 33 miles per gallon. The four and six-cylinder gasoline Camrys average 26 and 23 miles-per-gallon respectively.

Base price for the Camry Hybrid is $26,400, not including a $750 destination fee. The hybrid sedan is considerably more expensive than the base four-cylinder model, which starts at $19,720. Product planners equip the Camry Hybrid with similar comfort and convenience features to a mid-grade gasoline model.

Options on the 2011 test car include leather upholstery ($1295), heated front seats and outside mirrors ($470), front fog lamps ($130) a carpeting and trunk mat set ($200), rear bumper appliqué ($69) and fancier door sills ($179). A navigation package also adds 16-inch alloy wheels, an audio upgrade with satellite radio, USB port, iPod and Bluetooth connectivity, and an integrated backup camera ($2960), bringing the price as tested to $32,453. Read the rest of this entry »