Category: Toyota

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COUNTRY … MUSIC TO TOYOTA LAND CRUISER EARS

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If the new Land Cruiser were any more last century, it would be rolling on solid rubber tyres. After 40 years or so, the 70 Series is still holding its own among the gentrified HiLux, Navara, Ranger and Triton upstarts. Toyota’s 70 Series has survived beyond its original intended lifespan and 76, 78 and 79 Series Land Cruisers have received ad hoc upgrades from a far-from-enthusiastic maker. The latest ’79’ is no exception, adding a 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine option from top-selling sibling, the HiLux, mated with a six-speed automatic transmission,… Read more

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COROLLA CROSS GOES HYBRID ONLY

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  Launched here in 2022 the Toyota Corolla Cross is – as the name suggests – an SUV crossover version of the everlasting Corolla sedan/hatchback.’ It’s the largest of Toyota’s three-model range of compact SUVs above the smaller Yaris Cross and the sportier C-HR. The original Corolla Cross was available with the choice of petrol or petrol/electric hybrid powertrains but, in line with Toyota’s recent decision to discontinue petrol-only variants where a hybrid alternative is available, the petrol versions are now being phased out. Although existing stocks of the petrol… Read more

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KLUGER NOW COMES WITH A HYBRID DRIVETRAIN

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Toyota Kluger is a semi-luxury family SUV that will celebrate 21 years on the Australian market later this year. Like most other model updates Kluger has grown in size progressively through its life and the latest (fourth) generation, launched here in mid-2021, and is no exception coming in at just under five metres in length. Note that the Kluger name is only used in Japan and Australia. It’s the Highlander in all other markets but that name had already been taken by Hyundai for some of its top-spec variants. Kluger… Read more

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TOYOTA FORTUNER FILLS A GAP

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You don’t hear much about the Toyota Fortuner. Launched in 2015, Fortuner is the SUV equivalent of the Hilux utility. Like the Kluger it comes with seven seats, but it’s aimed at a quite different buyer. Depending on your perspective, it’s either the quiet achiever or the under-achiever, with about half the sales of Prado. For Toyota, its raison d’etre is or perhaps was to provide a diesel option to Kluger as well as an affordable alternative for those who can’t afford a Land Cruiser. But now that the US-engineered… Read more

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HIGH HOPES FOR TURN TOWARDS THE YOUNG

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Toyota has a storied modern history of innovation: remember the World Rally-based Celica GT-Four, the quirky Tarago ‘egg’ people mover and the revolutionary Prius petrol / electric hybrid? Now, the Japanese auto giant has continued carrying the stylish high-tech torch with the C-HR GR Sport. This edgy looking cross-over is the flagship of the all-new second generation premium compact, which brings stylish European design and economic performance together in the small SUV segment. The three-version Coupe-High Rider, says the maker, presents an elevation in luxury and performance compared with the… Read more

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bZ4X CHANCE TO MAKE A NAME FOR ITSELF

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What’s in a name? Plenty if you happen to be one of the world’s largest automobile manufacturers pumping out product by the boat load. Take Toyota, for example. Nothing goes better to describe the Land Cruiser as a prestigious go-anywhere off roader; then there’s the Prius, relating to its being the first mass produced petrol / hybrid car. Now comes Toyota’s first wholly electric SUV, the BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) bZ4X. The what? Surely that’s an internal maker’s code Where’s the snappy showroom moniker? Was the marketing department on leave?… Read more

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TOYOTA CROSSES OVER WITH ITS LATEST SUV

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After a long period when Toyota’s smallest SUV, the RAV4, grew into a mid-sized model leaving the compact field open to numerous competitors from other brands, it now has three vehicles in contention, Yaris Cross, C-HR and now, the subject of this week’s review, the Corolla Cross. Although it sits on the same platform as the Corolla hatch, the Cross has a totally different body as befitting an SUV. The styling is quite conservative but that’s unlikely to deter the typical Toyota buyer who prefers function over fashion. There are… Read more

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TOYOTA GRANVIA IS A PREMIUM PEOPLE MOVER

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Launched here in 2019 the Toyota Granvia effectively replaced the long-running Tarago people mover. At the same time, it moved its target audience beyond the family friendly transporter into the high-end hospitality and corporate market. To do so, Granvia had to increase in size and it measures 5300mm long and 1990 mm high. That’s 505mm longer and 240mm higher than the last Tarago and takes Granvia into modern minibus territory. Granvia is offered in two spec levels, Standard and Granvia VX, each with the choice of six or eight seats…. Read more

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TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID SL

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Before discussing the Camry Hybrid, it should be pointed out that you can’t actually buy one right now. With a two-year waiting list due to production delays, Toyota Australia has been forced to “pause” orders for Camry hybrid variants due to extraordinary demand. A new ninth generation Camry was unveiled in the United States in November, so it will be interesting to see how Toyota plays this one. At some point it will have to switch from production of the current model to the new one. Toyota reveals 90 per… Read more

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AUTO FOR RED-HOT YARIS

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Toyota has unveiled an upgraded version of its rally-bred GR Yaris hot hatch which is available for the first time with an auto. Previously available only with a manual, the eight-speed DirectShift automatic transmission is sure to broaden the appeal of the little hottie. TGR World Rally Team drivers put the new automatic transmission to the test on a range of road surfaces, including in the Japanese Rally Championship and Toyota GAZOO Racing Rally Challenge under the ethos of “breaking and fixing” to help make the new transmission as durable… Read more