Category: Toyota

It seems like an eternity since I drove my first Toyota Prado. Since the original Prado debuted in 1996, it has clocked up more than 300,000 sales, making it Australia’s best- selling SUV over the past 19 years. Now in its fourth generation, the current model was launched 13 years ago, so it is not surprising that it’s starting to show its age. Prado was last updated in 2020, with more power for the engine and add-ons across the range, but when you get down to it — it’s basically… Read more

Some people loathe the dramatic look of the Toyota C-HR. Personally, I really like design and have done since day one. So, I was mildly excited to hear there was now a GR version, the C-HR GR Sport — inspired by Toyota’s performance-focused GR models. The key word, however, is “inspired” — because there’s no more power on offer and that is disappointing (you might feel differently). STYLING The GR Sport features a more aggressive front bumper and grille, with an aerodynamic lip, a bold lower grille, thick horizontal bar… Read more

It’s taken us longer than anticipated to catch up with Toyota’s pocket rocket, the GR Yaris – – but it was worth the wait. With 200kW of power, a manual change, all-wheel drive and tipping the scales at 1280kg, it puts away the zero to 100 km/h dash in just 5.2 seconds. BUT as entertaining as it might be, this little bundle of bravado doesn’t come cheap — not at more than $50,000. The Rallye edition, priced from $54,500 plus on-roads, introduces lightweight components and performance parts, specifically designed for… Read more

If you’re looking for something to go off road in, then look no further. If you’re not, then look elsewhere. By off road, we mean really off the bitumen — mud, rocks, fire trails, creek crossings, the Top End, winches and high-lift jacks — the whole shooting match. Land Cruiser 70 Series is without doubt the most capable 4×4 we’ve driven, a hard-edged, no nonsense off roader built to tackle the rough stuff — a workhorse built strong for commercial application. But ladies and gentleman, this is not a car… Read more

I must admit to having a soft spot for Toyota Corollas. Way back in the early 1970s when I was young and money was tight, I owned a Corolla for eight years and over 170,000 kilometres. During that time it transported my wife and three new babies (two girls and a boy) home from the hospitals where they were born. It never missed a beat. That car was much smaller than today’s Corollas and had only two doors. The car I’m reviewing here has four doors and is substantially larger… Read more

Who’d have thought it: when the Yaris, the replacement for the Echo light hatch in 2005, emerged, that 16 years later the mousey Toyota mini would be tearing up rally tracks around the world. Enter the track-ready GR Yaris Rallye, a high-performance sports car that, according to Toyota Australia Vice President Sales and Marketing, Sean Hanley, is almost the closest you can get to the Yaris World Rally Car without joining our World Rally team. Based on the GR Yaris three-door hatch, the Rallye shapes up with lightweight components and… Read more

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it: this could well be the case with the HiAce, Toyota’s iconic van, which the company stuck with for 15 years without replacing. The light commercial was around until a 2019 rebirth, now it becomes the subject of a range of upgrades. The HiAce van, and related Commuter bus and Granvia wagon, have been boosted with added technology and comfort and convenience features while offering a streamlined choice for customers. Long the leader in the 2.5 to 3.5 tonne van segment with sales this… Read more

It’s ta-ta, Tarago; and a big hello to the Granvia. ‘Big’ being the operative word, for at more than five metres long, almost two metres tall, and tipping the scales at more than two-and-a-half tonnes, the new Toyota people-mover is no shrinking Violet. While the Tarago paid its dues in the people mover market for 36 years, the Granvia takes the vehicle far beyond the friendly family transporter into the high-end hospitality and corporate buyers who appreciate style, cabin comfort and premium features. The Granvia has six or eight seats,… Read more