TOYOTA COROLLA HYBRID HATCH

If ever there was a car that needed no introduction it’s the Toyota Corolla. First released in 1966 and arriving in Australia the following year, it is the all-time biggest-selling car worldwide, passing the 50-million mark in 2021. The current (12th generation) Corolla has been on sale here since 2019 with an upgrade for the 2023 model year providing the latest fifth-generation hybrid powertrain, the latest version of the Toyota Connected Services system as well as upgrades to the multimedia system. As before MY23 Corolla comes in three grades: Ascent… Read more

TOYOTA HILUX GETS THE GR SPORT TREATMENT

Not satisfied with registering its seventh straight year as Australia’s top-selling vehicle, Toyota has unveiled the latest, and most powerful, version of its HiLux ute. The HiLux GR Sport is the latest Toyota to get the Gazoo Racing treatment, joining the LandCruiser 300, Yaris, Yaris Cross, CH-R, Supra and GR86. Available exclusively in dual cab format, the new HiLux GR Sport uses an upgraded version of the standard 2.8-litre turbocharged diesel, but with revised turbo-supercharging and fuel-injection increasing power from 150 to 165kW and torque from 500 to 550Nm making… Read more

NEW CAR SALES UP IN 2022 DESPITE SUPPLY ISSUES

The Federal Chamber Of Automotive Industries (FCAI) has released the final Australian motor vehicle sales figures for 2022. Despite demand exceeding supply as a result of the usual suspects, COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine, the Australian automotive market still recorded sales of 1,081,429 new vehicles – an increase of 3% over 2021 sales. For the 20th straight year Toyota was Australia’s top selling car brand with 231,050 units, an increase of 3.3%. Although Mazda sales declined by 5.3% it remained in clear second place with 95,718 sales, with Kia… Read more

NEW CHALLENGES FROM TOYOTA GR(-ED) 86

Success in the automotive industry can be a two-edged sword. On the one hand, limited market performance of a new model can create the need for a mid-cycle boost or two; on the other, immediate sales success leaves the product much as it started. The Toyota GR86 sports coupe is of the latter, being the third model, after the GR Supra and GR Yaris, to benefit directly from Toyota’s multi-championship-winning involvement in international motorsport with Toyota Gazoo Racing. It has some catching up to do. Evolving from the original 86,… Read more

YARIS CROSS GETS THE GR TREATMENT

Following on the heels of the C-HR, Toyota’s baby Yaris Cross SUV has been given a GR Sport makeover. Based on the Yaris Cross GXL 2WD hybrid, the GR Sport has received cosmetic and suspension changes, but alas no more power. It can be identified as a part of the GR family thanks to its newly designed black grille with the distinctive ‘G’ mesh pattern found on other GR sports cars. The same mesh pattern is applied to the rear bumper, with a sporty rear diffuser featuring four vertically oriented… Read more

KLUGER CLEVER BY NAME AND NATURE

First released at the turn of the century the Toyota Kluger over the years has grown in size and stature to become one of Toyota’s most popular products. The fourth generation of the seven-seat SUV is no exception, continuing to climb the ladder of sales success. The name Kluger is derived from the German word ‘Klug’ meaning clever and, according to the maker, the all-new model comes with a smart sculpted look, upgraded safety features, improved driving dynamics, and for the first time in Australia, a hybrid powertrain. The all-new… Read more

TECH AND HYBRID UPGRADE FOR COROLLA

Hot on the heels of the release of its all-new Corolla Cross SUV, Toyota has updated the evergreen Corolla sedan and hatch variants. New for the 2023 Corolla are the latest Toyota Connected Services, upgrades to the multimedia system, and the latest fifth-generation hybrid powertrain. As before new Corolla comes in three grades: Ascent Sport, SX and ZR, each with the choice of petrol-only or petrol/electric hybrid. Exterior changes include new 16-inch wheels for Ascent Sport and SX grades, and a redesigned front grille for hatch and sedan variants. The… Read more

TOYOTA RAV4 CRUISER HYBRID

Launched in 1994, the Toyota RAV4 was one of the pioneers of the SUV genre that now dominates motor vehicle sales around the world. The acronym stands for Recreational Active Vehicle with 4-wheel drive. It was a cross between a passenger car and a four-wheel drive and quickly attracted the attention of buyers looking for a combination of practicality and tough-ish looks. RAV4 has grown steadily in size over the years and is now verging on being a mid-size rather than small vehicle. Since 2010 it has been available with… Read more

COROLLA CROSS LOOKS SET FOR SUCCESS

How’s this as a recipe for cooking up a successful motor vehicle? Start with the base of Australia’s top-selling brand for the past 25 years, add a badge that’s been around since 1967 and accumulated more than 1.5-million sales here. Then bulk it up to get into the booming compact SUV market, and top it off with the latest in fuel- saving hybrid technology. What you get is the brand-new Toyota Corolla Cross, a compact SUV that is likely to scare the pants of every other competitor in its highly-competitive… Read more

TOYOTA C-HR GR SPORT HYBRID

The Toyota C-HR is a compact SUV that arrived here in 2016 when it filled the gap left by the RAV4 as that long-serving and popular model steadily grew in size into the mid-size vehicle that it is now. Our test car was the top-spec C-HR GR Sport. The GR stands for Gazoo Racing, Toyota’s global motorsport division, but if you’re looking for a hot-hatch type SUV then you’re going to be disappointed. Apart from some suspension tweaks and 19-inch alloy wheels the enhancements are largely cosmetic. The complete C-HR… Read more