Toyota Reviews & Ratings

2009 Toyota Matrix S AWD vs. 2008 Subaru Impreza 2.5i 5-Door

By Edward Niedermeyer
June 16, 2008 - 2,411 views

At some point in our recent automotive history, all wheel-drive (AWD) replaced front wheel-drive as the paranoid consumer's drivetrain of choice. The safety advantages of high quality snow tires (as needed) and a low center of gravity (in all cases) got lost in translation. Ready to capitalize on the AWD's popularity: the economy-oriented Toyota Matrix and the Subaru Impreza. Both diminutive scramblers aren't nearly as cheap or efficient as their front-wheel-drive cousins, and they won't off-road, tow a boat or carry seven passengers. Still, both cars offer a [potential] extra safety margin and [potentially] better handling. So if you had to choose one...

2009 Toyota Matrix S AWD vs. 2008 Subaru Impreza 2.5i 5-Door continued »

Posted in Car Reviews | Subaru | Toyota | 57 comments

2008 Toyota Prius Review

By Mike Solowiow
May 16, 2008 - 22,607 views

To my eyes, the Toyota Prius looks like an Area 51 reject: an ungainly sci fi fantasy devoid of charm or beauty. To its admirers’ eyes, the Prius is the latter day equivalent of a Model T or a VW Bug: an automobile whose virtues-- and virtuousness-- transcend the normal dictates of style. And THEN there’s the debate about propulsion, premiums and politics. It’s hard to think of another car that’s been this polarizing-- for both manufacturer (Maximum Bob) and the end user (a.k.a. car buyer). And yet, just as sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, sometimes a car is just a car. Ah, but is the Prius a good car?

2008 Toyota Prius Review continued »

2008 Toyota Prius rating summary and performance review

Posted in Car Reviews | Toyota | 209 comments

2008 Toyota Sienna LE Review

By Samir Syed
March 19, 2008 - 53,339 views

When I drove a Buick Terraza around Berkeley last fall, I was overwhelmed by the sense of occasion that came with it. The car had so much ghetto cachet I almost fell in love with it. It reinforced all of the car enthusiast prejudices I harbored about minivans (i.e., they suck). And for that, I thanked it. The Toyota Sienna, on the other hand, proved to be a bigger challenge. Each time I wanted to hate some aspect of the minivan, I found myself pleasantly surprised. I don't think I'm giving anything away saying right from the outset that the world's most boring carmaker has made the best example of the world's most boring type of car.

2008 Toyota Sienna LE Review continued »

2008 Toyota Sienna LE rating summary and performance review

Posted in Car Reviews | Toyota | 72 comments

2008 Toyota Sequoia [Platinum] Review

By William C Montgomery
March 10, 2008 - 65,458 views

Professor W. Edwards Deming taught post-War Japan statistical process control. Toyota management applied Deming's lessons with characteristic discipline, refining the Yale grad's famous "14 points" to create their lean manufacturing system. Through it all, ToMoCo had one over-riding goal: to mimic and surpass the world's greatest automakers. Driving the new Toyota Sequoia back-to-back against its archetypal competition-- the Chevy Tahoe and Ford Expedition-- proves the old adage: be careful what you wish for.

2008 Toyota Sequoia [Platinum] Review continued »

2008 Toyota Sequoia [Platinum] rating summary and performance review

Posted in Car Reviews | Toyota | 83 comments

2009 Toyota Corolla Review

By Paul Niedermeyer
March 5, 2008 - 97,549 views

Every forty seconds, another new Corolla rolls off a dealer’s lot. Statistically speaking, it’s piloted by a middle aged woman without a college degree. She could be your house cleaner, mother or receptionist. For forty years, the Corolla has satisfied her with its predictable blend of reliable, economical and durable transportation. These days, old is out, youthful is in. Toyota’s PR professed and ambitious goal for their tenth generation Corolla: “to connect, more than ever, with younger buyers on every level” (Toyota’s italics/underlines). So, has the new Corolla hooked up?

2009 Toyota Corolla Review continued »

2009 Toyota Corolla rating summary and performance review

Posted in Car Reviews | Toyota | 103 comments

2009 Toyota Matrix Review

By Justin Berkowitz
February 29, 2008 - 85,468 views

Do you know how many Matrices Toyota sold in the United States last year? That's not a rhetorical question; I have no idea. Toyota rolls the number into Corolla sales. No surprise there. The Matrix shares its underpinnings with the Corolla-- and the Pontiac Vibe (same car, different wrapper). Even if the Matrix accounts for a fraction of Corolla sales, a fraction of a lot is a lot. And so, just as Toyota is bringing out the new Corolla, they’re unleashing the sequel to the Matrix. Let’s call it The Matrix: Rebloated.

2009 Toyota Matrix Review continued »

2009 Toyota Matrix rating summary and performance review

Posted in Car Reviews | Toyota | 68 comments

Toyota Land Cruiser Review

By William C Montgomery
December 14, 2007 - 96,917 views

In the movie “Out of Africa,” Denys Finch-Hatton’s 1923 International Harvester stalls on an open savannah amidst a herd of seriously cranky water buffalo. After a few nervous minutes tinkering with the engine, Denys tells Karen Blixen (Meryl Streep) to manually crank the engine. It explodes to life, and they continue their illicit journey into cinematic history. Substitute a Canon DSLR for Blixen’s .416 Rigby, and in my mind, I’m there. As for the Harvester… what about an all-new 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser?

Toyota Land Cruiser Review continued »

Toyota Land Cruiser rating summary and performance review

Posted in Car Reviews | Toyota | 91 comments

Toyota Corolla S Review

By Sajeev Mehta
November 30, 2007 - 93,306 views

I like to believe that the general population’s insensitivity to the joys of automotive design, engineering and performance is a simple matter of missed opportunity. If the average driver had suckled on Hot Wheels' sweet metallic tang from toddler-hood, if a mechanically-minded mentor had gently and gradually revealed the wondrous secrets of the automotive arts during their teenage years, if they’d been shown how to harness horsepower with skill and respect as adult drivers, they’d share my passion for cars with genuine soul. Meanwhile, Toyota sells millions of Corollas and no one complains. Why would they?

Toyota Corolla S Review continued »

Toyota Corolla S rating summary and performance review

Posted in Car Reviews | Toyota | 133 comments

Toyota Highlander Sport Review

By Justin Berkowitz
August 8, 2007 - 55,758 views

Sir Isaac Newton had a ninth law: all vehicles must gain mass with each passing generation. I know, I know: safety regulations, usable third row, American tastes, yada yada yada. And it’s true that the new, bigger Toyota Highlander exacts no fuel efficiency penalty for its extra height, width, length and weight. Even so, has the new Highlander lost something, as Toyota moves further and further away from cheap and cheerful towards pricey and ponderous?

Toyota Highlander Sport Review continued »

Toyota Highlander Sport rating summary and performance review

Posted in Car Reviews | Toyota | 51 comments

Toyota 4Runner Review

By William C Montgomery
June 15, 2007 - 62,798 views

In 2002, I embarked on a week-long trek across the High Uinta Mountains. On our first day out, I aggravated an old knee injury. So we borrowed a six-year-old all wheel-drive 4Runner and resumed our backcountry adventure by wheel. The 4Runner was ideal: rugged, reliable, capable and comfortable. Of course, Toyota didn’t get to be the world’s largest automobile manufacturer by leaving well enough alone…

Toyota 4Runner Review continued »

Toyota 4Runner rating summary and performance review

Posted in Car Reviews | Toyota | 50 comments