2012 Toyota 4Runner

Introduction

The Toyota 4Runner is definitely one of the most recognizable SUV’s on the road today. Launched in 1984, the 4Runner was designed as Toyota's smaller and cheaper Ying to the Land Cruiser’s Yang. However since it was launched in 84, the 4Runner has earned its own reputation as a durable vehicle with the ability to take it on the road or to the dirt at any time.

Exterior and Trims

The 2012 Toyota 4Runner is offered in three trim levels: SR5, Trail and Limited.

The SR5 and Limited trims are available with 2WD or 4WD. The Trail-grade 4Runner is only available in 4WD.

The 4Runner SR5 comes standard equipped with the following features: 17-inch alloy wheels, hill-start assist and hill-descent control, skid plates, fog lights, heated mirrors,  air-conditioning (Equipped with rear ventilation), cruise control, full power accessories, a power rear window, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and a trip computer.  The SR5 also comes equipped with Bluetooth (with audio streaming) and an eight-speaker sound system with a CD player, satellite radio, an auxiliary audio jack and a USB/iPod interface.

The 4Runner Trail level includes the same equipment as the SR5 trim with the addition of a the following features: a locking rear differential, mud guards, Crawl Control (which electronically controls throttle and brakes when going up or downhill), off-road-oriented 17 inch tires and a sunroof. Other features on the Trail level include power front seats made of water resistant fabric, a rearview camera with a monitor built into the mirror, improved gauges, a sliding rear cargo deck and two 120-volt power outlets.

The Limited trim level includes: 20-inch wheels, keyless ignition/entry, adaptive suspension dampers, automatic headlights, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, heated front seats and power lumbar support for the driver seat. Also standard for the Limited is an integrated rearview camera, HD radio and Toyota's Entune smartphone integration system.

Many of the features of the 4Runner Trail and Limited are available options for the SR5 model. Other available option include: a 50/50 split third-row seat, voice-activated navigation system and the KDSS off-road suspension package (which is available only on the Trail models).

Under the Hood

The 2012 Toyota 4Runner is equipped with a standard 4.0-liter V6 engine and a 5 speed transmission that produces 270 HP and 278 pound-feet of torque.

The SR5 and Limited trims' 4WD systems are slightly different. The SR5 system uses part-time dual-range, while the Limited trim has a full-time system with a lockable center differential. The Trail model comes with part-time dual-range 4WD and a locking rear differential, as well as selectable electronic terrain-sensitive systems. The 4Runner's towing capacity is rated at 5,000 pounds, regardless of trim.

Safety

The Standard 2012 Toyota 4Runner safety features include: stability control, antilock disc brakes, traction control, front knee airbags, front seat side and full length airbags, active front head restraints and roll-sensing side curtain airbags.

The Limited trim gets an extra boost in safety features. It comes with Safety Connect, which is Toyota's emergency assistance system. This protects your vehicle by providing you with a stolen-vehicle locator, roadside assistance and automatic collision notification.  

Interior Design and Special Features

The Toyota 4Runner's interior features a look perfect for this SUV's rugged image. It features oversized climate control knob, which are easy to see and control. Our only complaint is that they sometimes feel a bit unsteady.  

The Toyota 4Runner offers a very roomy interior with seating for up to five passengers. It has a 40/20/40-split second row which offers cargo-carrying flexibility, however an optional third-row seat is available, which increases the passenger count to seven people, preferably smaller the vehicles maximum cargo capacity to 90 cubic feet. It also offers an optional sliding rear cargo deck, which is able to withstand up to 440 pounds.

For those of you that like tail gating at your favorite game, the 2012 4Runner offers an optional “Party Mode”. This mode directs most of the audio system's sound to the lift gate speakers and increases the bass response of the vehicle.  Are you ready to party? I know I am.

On the Road/Off the road

The 2012 Toyota 4Runner is built on a truck chassis, but it is surprisingly very smooth on the road. While the 4Runner does not offer a V8 engine, it is not needed. The V6 has plenty of power on its own, and it’s bound to be a crowd pleaser.  

If you want to take this bad boy off-road, and we know you do, the 4Runner is definitely one of the best off-roading vehicles in the car market. For the best off-roading experience in the 2012 Toyota 4Runner, we recommend getting a Trail model fitted with the KDSS package.

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Toyota to Debut New Sedan

LOS ANGELES -- Toyota Motor Corp. announced that it will reveal an "all-new" sedan at the New York auto show next week. This new sedan has been rumored to be a likely replacement for the full-sized Toyota Avalon.

Those who saw the new sedan stated that it is a huge shift in the styling of the Toyota brand.

A teaser sketch of the mystery sedan released today shows a new fastback styling that is reminiscent to other coupe-sedan vehicles such as the Volkswagen CC, Audi A7 and Mercedes-Benz CLS.

In its press release Toyota called the new sedan "elegant yet athletic."

The new sedans debut will take place on April 5 at 10:30 a.m. EDT.

Below is the original press release sent out by Toyota.

PRESS RELEASE: Toyota to Debut a Stunning U.S.-Designed Sedan at the 2012 New York International Auto Show

TORRANCE, Calif., March 27, 2012 - Toyota Motor Sales, Inc. will debut an all-new U.S.-designed sedan at the 2012 New York International Auto Show. This global premiere will take place in the Galleria room within the Jacob Javits Center at 10:30 a.m. EDT on April 5, 2012.

The sedan's exciting new design features an elegant yet athletic look.

Media and the public will have the opportunity to participate in a live-streaming video chat with the designers of the new sedan by submitting questions via Twitter and Facebook with the #ToyotaDesign hashtag. The Toyota Design Live chat is scheduled for 2 p.m. EDT on April 5, 2012 and hosted on http://www.facebook.com/toyota.

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2012 Toyota Prius C

Introduction

Twelve years ago Toyota introduced the first Prius hybrid vehicle to America. During those days gas was well below the $2 mark, which meant that buying one was nice, but not really a necessity. Today’s gas prices hover right around the $4 mark, with the prediction that it will reach 5$ a gallon sometime this year, making cars with affordable gas mileage a must for many potential car buyers.

Exterior

The Prius C was designed as a 5-door hatchback subcompact sedan. It receives a fantastic EPA rating of 50 mpg and is offered at a starting price of $18,950.

The exterior design is a mixture of the iconic Prius shape we have come to expect, mixed with the sporty look and size of the Toyota Yaris. The Prius C is sleek looking from the front, and it offers a sloping rear hatch that is equipped with sculpted flares.

For the Prius C, Toyota added side mirrors equipped special fins and wheels a special shape to enhance the vehicles aerodynamics.

Interior

The interior of the Prius C is simply fantastic. It features a very modern look and is stocked with many technological innovations as well as a great information center and a very cool infotainment center.

The Prius C has a wide instrument panel and its displays and controls were made with light colors to contrast with a basic black. It has a digital display screen as well, which adds to the modern look we mentioned.

As we have seen in previous Prius models, the 2012 Prius C is equipped with USB ports, Auxiliary connections and even a special storage area for your I-pod or other electronic devices and smart phones.

Surprisingly enough, for a small sedan, seating in the C is quite comfortable. The seats offer great back support and much more leg room than expected for the driver and front seat passenger. The rear seats are comfortable as well, but as expected by a car this size, lacks room for those with long legs.

One wonderful feature we found came in the AC system. The 2012 Prius C offers a very quiet air conditioning system that also contains an air filter for pollen, dust and any other allergy inducing airborne agents.

Under the Hood

The 2012 Prius C is equipped with a 1.5 liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine that comes linked to two high output electric motors. The battery is a 67 pound, 144-volt nickel-metal hydride battery which stores the energy regained while driving.  

(Editors Note: For more info under the hood check out http://newtoyotanews.blogspot.com/2012/01/prius-c-will-offer-53-mpg-for-under.html)

Drive Experience

We didn’t know what to expect with this one, but just looking at the vehicle made us giddy to try it out. We put it through the high way, main roads and back roads to test it out, and we have to give credit where credit is due.

The 2012 Prius C  is very agile, able to keep pace with other cars on the road. It offers pretty accurate steering was accurate in straight road and simple turns. One cool feature is the ability for the car to tell you how to squeeze the most possible mileage out of a gallon of gas (which means taking your fun cap and putting on your conservative one). The Prius C also has very responsive and efficient brakes which are part of the hybrid’s electrical regeneration system. Lastly Prius drivers are able to switch between three driving modes, Normal, ECO and EV.

Conclusion

With the sleek and sporty exterior design, and an interior fully loaded with technological advances and a very impressive infotainment system, The 2012 Prius C is a car for young families, drivers and those who are young at heart.

The pricing on the 2012 Prius C reflects the income of a younger buyer, with the base model starting at $18,950 and rising to $23,230 for the Prius C Four. While these are slightly higher prices than its direct competitors (think Honda Fit and Ford Fiesta), the Prius C’s fuel economy closes the gap, and makes it a much better buy in our book. For all of you super tall drivers (6’6 and above) we recommend test driving the Prius C before buying it, as some might opt for the larger members of the Prius family, however once you set eyes on this Prius, you won’t be disappointed.

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