2/9/2012 1:31:48 PM - by Bill Bolander
Exterior Design: The 2012 Tacoma looks like a whole new Tacoma from the outside. It is equipped with new front grilles for all trims as well as a new hood, headlamps, upper and lower bumper areas and updated fog lamp housing.
Interior Design: The 2012 Tacoma offers a sportier design than previous models, and some of that is thanks to its redesigned instrument gauge panel. The Access Cab and Double Cab models have a standard center console that flows right into the instrument panel.
Performance: The 2012 Tacoma has two available engines: first up is a 2.7-liter 4 cylinder Dual Overhead Cam that produces 159 horsepower and 180 lb-ft. of torque. The second choice is a 4.0-liter DOHC V6 that provides 236 horsepower with 266 lb-ft. of torque.
Safety: Every Tacoma model comes equipped with the Toyota Star Safety System which includes Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, an Anti-lock Braking System with Brake Assist, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, and Smart Stop brake override technology.
Handling: The Tacoma offers a TRD Off-Road Package available for 4x4 V6 automatic models which includes Hill-start Assist Control and Downhill Assist Control. Every Tacoma model comes standard with an Automatic Limited-slip Differential, which helps reduce tire slippage at the rear wheels.
Warranty: With the Tacoma’s warranty, Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance for 2 years and 25000 miles. They will also pay for oil changes, tire rotation, lubrication and any other scheduled maintenance.
Verdict: The Tacoma has everything that truck lovers will love and enough extras to make some new fans. It has many available options that make it a very customizable driving experience, giving drivers the option to make it whatever kind of pick up they want. Combine that with a great warranty, excellent safety features and a great entertainment system and the 2012 Tacoma becomes a must drive in our book.
Posted in Toyota Tacoma
2/1/2012 10:10:53 PM - by Bill BolanderWith the release of the 2012 model, Toyota managed to overshadow all the older versions of the Corolla.
Design and Engine: The 2012 Corolla is designed to be a 5-passenger with a four-door sedan. It’s design will appeal to loyal buyers, and is an extension of the sedan style introduced for the 2009 Toyota Corolla as a part of Corolla’s 10th design generation. The Toyota Corolla will again come in the Base L, LE, and S trims, with the LE and S trims having extra features.
The 2012 Corolla gets an impressive 28/35 mpg under its five-speed manual transmission and 26/34 mpg with the four-speed automatic transmission. It is priced at $16,300 with a variety of standard features which make this the car to buy (especially if under tighter budgets).
Interior: Interior features of the 2012 Corolla include power doors and windows, Multi-function in-key remote keyless entry system with lock, unlock, trunk release, panic and remote illuminated entry features, Multi-information Display with outside temperature, instant fuel economy, average fuel economy, average speed and travel distance.
Safety Features: Toyota, like usual, went all out on their safety features and equipped the 2012 Corolla with its Star Safety System which includes Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, Anti-lock Brake System, Electronic Brake-force Distribution and Brake Assist and Smart Stop Technology. Other notable safety features include a Tire Pressure Monitor System, Daytime running lights, a Head-impact protection structure, smart stop technology and an Engine immobilizer.
Verdict: Well folks, just as we thought the 2012 Corolla did not disappoint. It provided a simple look that’s easy on the eyes, a very affordable price, and a great ride that comes jam packed with interior and safety features. If you are looking for those qualities in a vehicle then put the 2012 Corolla on your list of cars to test drive this year.
Posted in Toyota Corolla
2/1/2012 10:06:22 PM - by Bill BolanderSafety: This category is of utmost importance as it one of the main selling points of bigger vehicles.
Both the Tundra and the F-150 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height-adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding and available four-wheel drive. (Source: Jerry’s Toyota)
The NHTSA does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. The results for this test indicate that the Toyota Tundra is safer than the Ford F-150 by rating it 4 Overall stars versus the Fords 3.
Warranty: We know truck buyers like to have their fun, and for this a top warranty is key. To be completely honest we shouldn’t even include this category when matching up Toyota vehicles vs non Toyota’s as Toyota offers the best vehicle warranty in the market bar none.
With the Tundra’s warranty, Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance for 2 years and 25000 miles. They will also pay for oil changes, tire rotation, lubrication and any other scheduled maintenance. Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the F-150.
Engine: As tested in Consumer Reports the Toyota Tundra 5.7 is faster than the Ford F-150 5.0 DOHC V8. It goes 0 to 60 in 6.7 seconds vs the Ford’s 7.8 and it performed a quarter mile in 15.3 seconds versus the F-150’s 16.2. We can’t help but admit that we are suckers for speed so this category also goes to the Tundra.
Brakes & Stopping: The brake assist makes the Tundra stops much shorter than the F-150. The Tundra stops from 70 to 0 MPH in 197 feet versus the Ford’s 218.
Well folks, while it looked like Ford was about to pull a Rocky style come back in the fight, it was Toyota who pulled the knockout. This was a completely shocking result to us and we expected the F-150 to be the dominant pick up in the market, but Toyota proved us wrong!
Posted in Toyota Tundra
1/30/2012 7:38:19 PM - by Bill BolanderRound 1: Hybrid Synergy Drive
Two Cars in one: Both models are drivable solely on EV mode for short day to day trips (EV mode refers to a mode of vehicle operation that is dependent on energy from the battery pack) but the Prius Plug-in is better at longer or more challenging trips.
Driving Range: the Leaf’s defined driving range (from 68 miles to 138 miles) means that a driver may have to calculate trip distances before they make them, meanwhile the Prius Plug-in has the same driving range of a regular car (about 300 miles).
Charging time: This time the Prius Plug-in again takes the cake as it fuels in minutes and charges in about 3 hours (you can get the charge time down to 1.5 hours If you have installed a dedicated 220V Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment outlet). The Nissan Leaf takes between 7-20 hours to charge depending on the voltage used.
Round 2: Upscale Features: Just because we want to be green doesn’t mean we don’t like a little bit of luxury in our vehicles.
Internal features: Both models come equipped with Bluetooth, Back up cameras, a Navigation system, Ipod/USB plug in capabilities. The Prius has voice recognition and a touch screen sound system which the Leaf does not.
Mobile Apps: The Prius Plug-in comes standard with Entune, Toyota’s system that allows access to popular mobile applications & data services. The Leaf doesn’t have a comparable system.
Round 3: Safety & Security Features
The Leaf comes standard with antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front side airbags and side curtain airbags. Every Prius Plug-In comes standard with all the features and also offers a driver knee airbag and hill start assist.
Verdict-The 2012 Prius Plug-in has this one in the bag. It went above and beyond the Leaf in every category matched. While the 2012 Leaf seems like a great buy, it does not match up to the Prius Plug-in.
Posted in Toyota Prius
1/30/2012 7:16:10 PM - by Bill Bolander
Appearance While both vehicles look great we didn’t like the boxy look and feel of the 2012 Pilot, preferring the sleeker and more modern look that the 2012 Highlander had to offer.
Safety One feature that definitely stands out is the Highlanders 4x4 standard Downhill Assist Control. Imagine you’re driving down a steep, off-road slope. The Downhill Assist Control allows you to creep down safely. The Pilot doesn’t offer Downhill Assist Control which made us take away brownie points from them. The NHTSA performs a front crash test for new vehicles at a speed of 35 MPH. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander is safer than the Honda Pilot:
Warranty Toyota goes above and beyond for the consumer with its Toyota Care package. Toyota Care pays for scheduled maintenance on any Toyota for 2 years and 25000 miles. This means that Toyota will pay for oil changes, tire rotation, lubrication and any other scheduled maintenance. Honda doesn’t offer to cover scheduled maintenance for the Pilot. This brings a giant number of brownie points for the 2012 Highlander, as these free scheduled maintenances will help save Highlander owners a lot of money.
Fuel Economy and Range The Highlander Hybrid model comes equipped with regenerative brakes which help improve the Highlander Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of letting it go to waste. Another awesome feature is that in heavy traffic or at stoplights the Highlander Hybrid’s engine automatically turns off when you stop the car, with the engine automatically restarting when the driver is ready to move again. This feature helps save fuel and reduce pollution.
Verdict To be honest this is one that could have gone either way if it wasn’t for the extra features that came with the Highlander. The safety features as well as the extra cargo space and Toyota’s excellent warranty were the defining factors that made us go with the Highlander.
Posted in Toyota Highlander