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 »

Prius Family of Vehicles Debuts in Detroit

Toyota expands hybrid-only offerings with new models for families and urban singles

Toyota Prius Family of Vehicles

The Prius v has an extended cargo area to meet the needs of active families. While its hybrid synergy drive technology is the same as the third-generation Prius liftback, the design is new for the ground up.

The Prius v seats up to five passengers and has 50 percent more cargo space than the current model. Folding split rear seats and a fold-flat front passenger seat create a variety of configurations for passengers and luggage. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab TRD Sport

Mid-sized pickup truck combines luxury and utility

By Nina Russin

2010 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab

When I was going through mechanic’s school in the mid-1980s, almost all of my classmates drove compact Toyota pickup trucks. The truck that evolved into the Tacoma was known for reliability in all kinds of weather. Owners would retire their trucks when they got sick of looking at them: the 22R four-cylinder engines never seemed to wear out.

While the Tacoma is the smallest pickup truck in the current Toyota lineup, it’s considerably bigger than the old compact models. An available V-6 engine makes it more powerful, while the TRD sport package adds tech-savvy features such as Bluetooth interface and satellite radio.

The double cab seats up to five passengers, making it a logical choice for active families. Base price on the four-wheel drive V-6 model is $26,250, not including an $800 delivery charge.

The TRD option adds a host of comfort and performance features, including an audio upgrade, remote keyless entry, sport seats with lumbar support, sport suspension, a hood scoop, and 17-inch alloy wheels ($3385). The cat-back system opens up the exhaust behind the catalytic converter to improve airflow through the engine, while keeping the Tacoma emissions-legal ($535).

A V-6 tow package includes a class 4 hitch, transmission and supplemental oil cooler, heavy duty battery and seven-pin connector ($650). With it, the Tacoma can tow up to 3500 pounds, meeting our ALV minimum standard. A front skid plate protects the engine against rock damage on off-road trails ($205).

Other options on the test truck include daytime running lamps ($40), floor mats  and door sill protectors ($199), making the MSRP $33,183. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Toyota 4Runner SR5 4X4

Fifth-generation sport-utility vehicle seats up to seven passengers

By Nina Russin

2010 Toyota 4Runner SR5

Sixteen years ago, Toyota introduced a sport-utility vehicle designed to take active families through mud, sleet and snow. The 4Runner is a more affordable alternative to the upscale Toyota Land Cruiser with comparable off-road capability.

The fifth-generation model is slightly larger in each dimension than the outgoing version. A new V-6 engine has more horsepower than the former six-cylinder or optional V-8. Buyers concerned about gas mileage can opt for a 157-horsepower four-cylinder engine that averages 23 miles-per-gallon on the highway for the rear-wheel drive version.

Since the mid-sized Highlander appeals to buyers wanting the passenger car ride of a crossover vehicle, the 4Runner has remained true to its roots. The newest version rides on the same platform as the FJ Cruiser. Unlike the FJ, the 4Runner is available with three rows of seating.

Engineers added features formerly limited to the Land Cruiser, enhancing the 4Runner’s off-road capability. For example, the Trail grade is available with kinetic dynamic suspension, which automatically decouples the stabilizer bars to maximize wheel travel. Toyota’s crawl control, standard on the Trail model, matches vehicle speed to the terrain, so the driver doesn’t have to modulate the throttle and brakes.

The SR5 is the volume leader among three available grades, with pricing for the four-wheel drive model starting at $30,915. A two-speed transfer case on the test truck gives the 4Runner the extreme low gears necessary for off-road trails.

An audio upgrade adds XM satellite radio and a USB port with iPod connectivity, Bluetooth interface and redundant steering wheel controls ($585). A backup camera in the rearview mirror projects a wide-angle view to the back of the vehicle ($525). Leather trim and the third-row seats with third-row side curtain airbags cost $3570.

A convenience package adds the moonroof, sunshade and two 120-volt power outlets ($1050). Carpeted floor mats cost $204. These options plus the $800 delivery fee bring the price of the test truck to $37,649. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Toyota Avalon Limited

Fourth-generation full-sized sedan is the best yet

By Nina Russin

2011 Toyota Avalon

The Avalon is Toyota’s largest passenger sedan, built alongside the Camry and Venza in Georgetown, Kentucky. After sixteen years in production, the Avalon has come into its own, with styling and performance that sets it apart from the mid-size Camry.

When the Newport Beach-based Calty design team took over Avalon’s styling in 1995, what emerged was a more youthful and unique exterior, with performance and handling to match. Toyota builds on this formula for the all-new 2011 model. The fourth-generation Avalon is one of the most refined full-sized passenger sedans on the market.

The Avalon is so well executed, it’s virtually indistinguishable from high-luxury models. The 3.5-liter V-6 engine and six-speed automatic transmission are perfectly matched, combining excellent power with surprisingly good fuel economy.

Considering the amount of content, the chassis is surprisingly light: curb weight for the Limited model is 3616 pounds. Containing its mass enabled engineers to deliver a positive power-to-weight ratio, with 29 mile-per-gallon fuel economy on the highway.

The Limited is the more upscale of two available grades: pricing starts at $35,485, not including the $750 delivery charge. A navigation and premium audio system on the test car adds satellite radio with real-time traffic updates, MP3 and iPod interface, Bluetooth connectivity and a rearview camera ($1450). Floor mats cost $199, bringing the price as tested to $37,884. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Toyota Venza Five-Door Sedan

All-wheel drive adds four-season performance for active lifestyles

By Nina Russin

2010 Toyota Venza

The five-passenger Toyota Venza combines elements from the Camry and Highlander in a versatile, compact platform.

Available four and six-cylinder engines come with a six-speed automatic transmission, and a choice of front or all-wheel drive. The front-wheel drive four-cylinder Venza is the fuel economy king, averaging 29 miles-per-gallon on the highway.

The all-wheel drive V-6 averages 25 miles-per-gallon on the highway, but offers significantly more horsepower and torque. It can tow up to 3500 pounds when equipped with the tow-prep option, meeting our ALV minimum standards.

This week I spent time in the all-wheel drive V-6 Venza on an extended road trip through the Midwest. The drive route included highway, rural roads and city streets.

During the week-long trip, I drove through several large downpours on hilly terrain, putting the all-wheel drive‘s electronic torque distribution to the test. The route included every type of road surface imaginable, thanks to an abundance of construction, and the upper Midwest’s infamous potholes.

Base price on the test car is $29,550, not including a $750 destination charge. A rear seat DVD system, audio upgrade, convenience and security packages bring the price as tested to $34,759. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Toyota Tundra CrewMax 4X4

Full-sized pickup truck for active families

By Nina Russin

2010 Toyota Tundra CrewMax

Not all horses are created equal. Neither is all horsepower.

Horsepower is a measurement of an engine’s ability to do work. Originally one horsepower equaled the strength of a single horse: 33,000 ft.-lbs. of work per minute.

Horsepower can make a vehicle very fast, or capable of towing heavy loads, depending on its application. Full-sized pickup trucks are the Clydesdales of the car world. Large displacement engines such as the 4.6-liter V-8 in the Toyota Tundra combine horsepower with low-end torque, giving these vehicles exceptional hauling capability. The 5550-pound Tundra tows up to 10,100 pounds: twice its curb weight.

What distinguishes the Tundra from many of its competitors is performance: strong acceleration and surprising agility on challenging roads. One could say that the Tundra combines the strength of a Clydesdale horse with the grace of an Arabian.

The CrewMax model holds up to five adults. Its versatile, well-equipped interior makes it equally adept as a work truck and active lifestyle vehicle. Read the rest of this entry »

2009 Toyota RAV4 Sport 4X4

Compact sport-utility vehicle with an active focus

By Nina Russin

2009 Toyota RAV4

Twenty-five years ago, Toyota introduced a pint-sized sport-utility vehicle with a big mission: to meld the fuel economy of a passenger car with the cargo capability of a light-duty truck. RAV4 stands for Recreational Active Vehicle with four-wheel drive. As the name suggests, the RAV was one of the first cars designed specifically for urban athletes.

The original RAV debuted in Japan in 1994: it came to the US two years later. The first RAV4 was essentially an all-wheel drive Camry with two-box architecture. While the ’96 RAV got mixed reviews from automotive enthusiast magazines, it was a hit among its intended buyers. The four-cylinder RAV was thrifty at the fuel pump, small enough to parallel park, and had enough room in the cargo area for a road bike.

While the current RAV4 is slightly larger than the original, it remains one of the smallest sport-utility vehicles on the market. The Sport grade tested is positioned between the base and upscale Limited models. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Toyota Sienna

Third-generation minivan features new sport grade

By Nina Russin

2011 Toyota Sienna SE

What was once old is new again. The minivan is, after all, the original active lifestyle vehicle. At its peak in the late 1990s, the minivan segment commanded a million unit sales annually.

Minivans are more aerodynamic, and hence get better gas mileage than sport-utility vehicles; yet they hold as many passengers and carry as much gear. The 2011 Toyota Sienna that rolls out in February is available with all-wheel drive. Three rows of seating hold up to eight passengers. The V6 model’s 3500-pound towing capacity meets our ALV minimum standard.

A new sport grade with a unique exterior, larger wheels and special suspension tuning rivals like-sized crossover vehicles. Read the rest of this entry »