Wednesday, March 17, 2010
2010 Toyota Highlander
The 2010 Toyota Highlander ranks 6 out of 28 Affordable Midsize SUVs. This ranking is based on our analysis of 52 published reviews and test drives of the Toyota Highlander, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.
The Toyota Highlander is a functional, family-friendly crossover. Riding on a platform shared with the Toyota Camry and Avalon, the second-generation Highlander boasts decent fuel economy, three available rows of seats and a smooth, car-like ride.
With a base price of $27,600, the Highlander is one of the more affordable midsize SUVs and it's a good value over time. IntelliChoice gave the 2009 model a value rating of "Excellent" because of its low cost of ownership over five years. In fact, the Highlander won our 2009 Best Midsize Crossover for the Money award for its all-around value. "Interior versatility, good fuel economy, a strong V-6 engine, carlike refinement, and a handsome and spacious interior should be enough to put the Highlander on any mid-size-SUV buyer's shopping list," says Car and Driver.
While the Highlander is a solid choice, there are even more affordable alternatives within its class that may be worth a look. A better option might be the Chevrolet Traverse, which is about $1,000 less than the three-row Highlander and features a third row that's comfortable even for adults. If you can live without a third row, consider the Mazda CX-7. It costs about $6,000 less than the Highlander and boasts an especially zippy, fun driving experience. However, while the CX-7 may seem cheaper, its value over time isn't -- IntelliChoice gives the 2009 model a "Poor" value rating.
The Highlander is unchanged for 2010, which means you might consider buying a 2009 model. You could snag a discount as dealers make room on their lots for the 2010s. Be sure to check out our Toyota deals for current incentives. The Highlander comes in base, Sport and Limited trims. The Highlander Hybrid is reviewed separately.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Toyota Vitz Hybrid Produced in New Factory
Vitz is rumored to be entered into the national automobile market in the coming 2011. It costs about 1.5 million yen (about 151.3 million) per unit. One of the advantages, this car will have the ability to fuel consumption better than the Prius which is 1 / 40 miles.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Toyota FT-86 G Sports Turbo Concept: The AE86 Trueno Returns
As if we weren't already giddy enough over the Toyota FT-86, this truly awesome AE86 Trueno-inspired model appeared as the G Sports Turbo Concept at the Tokyo Auto Salon.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
On The Passing Of Buttons And Switches
We love cars with row-upon-row of gleaming toggle switches and buttons. They're anachronistic and possibly a bit elitist, but they enhance the feeling of a direct connection between you and your machine. Sadly, they're going the way of the dodo.
There's something delightfully simple about the toggle switch, something eminently satisfying about the press of a button. Distilled down, the switch is nothing more than a circuit breaker, a device for controlling a small part of your car, but it's dying. It's being replaced by touch-activated display screens, capacitive touch panels, passive monitoring systems, proximity sensors, and automatic bottom-coddling devices. In many cars, you no longer have to decide it's dark enough to turn your lights on or wet enough to run your wipers. There's something to be said for the audible, tactile pop you get when you push a chromed door release button. It directly, inescapably connects you to the process.
One reason modern cars lack the character of their forebears is they seek to remove the effort from the act of driving. We cannot be alone in noticing a correlation between the effort it takes to drive a car and the love people have for it. Witness crank-start antiques where the driver does the spark advancement, adjusts the hand throttle, checks the oiling mechanisms, hits the grease zerks every couple days, and re-varnishes the wooden floors once a year. It takes work to make those machines move, and it requires a level of understanding between man and machine which long ago evaporated. Predictably, almost a century on, people still find that stuff fascinating.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Don't Believe The Hype: The CR-Z Is Not A New CRX
Honda wants you to believe that the CR-Z is the reincarnation of the legendary CRX. It should have been — and it even looks right — but it's no CRX. How do I know? I own one.
The assembled media at Cobo Hall seem to be moderately impressed with Honda's CR-Z. I can understand this. It's a hybrid, it looks cool, and it's likely to be more entertaining than most green cars. But to my mind, it's a perfect example of product Fail, and on a personal level, it's one of the greatest vehicular disappointments in recent memory.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
2010 Mercedes Benz E class
High-tech features include: Attention Assist, which detects driver drowsiness based on 70 parameters; Adaptive Main Beam Assist, which adjusts the angle of the headlight for the best possible illumination without blinding other motorists; LED daytime driving lights, which use less power and enhance aesthetics; Blind Spot Assist familiar from the S-Class; and Lane Keeping Assist, which uses vibrations in the steering wheel to inform the driver if they're veering out of their lane. An optional Speed Limit Assist , which recognizes speed limit signs as the car passes them, then displays the relevant speed limit in the speedometer.