Toyota Car guides

Only weeks after the official debut of the new 2020 Toyota Supra, the Japanese brand has released what could be considered a spiced up version of the same car - the Toyota Supra TRD Concept. Revealed at the Osaka Automesse, the GR Supra Performance Line TRD Concept is a looker, but I wonder do you find it as dashing as the Supra mk4 TRD 3000GT. Yup, that was a thing, and that particular Supra had the TRD developed body kit along with a number of other attachments. I will leave the comparison between the awesome Supra TRD 3000GT with the new Toyota Supra TRD concept for another day, but now, I’d like to explore and propose to you what the modern Toyota Racing Development team prepped for the latest Supra. I told you numerous times that I like the way the new car looks, but can the TRD Concept further sharpen my desire for it?

As one of the most anticipated Toyota vehicles in recent years, the newest 2019 Toyota RAV4 debuted as a completely redesigned model. With an all-new exterior, new modern-age interior, and more tech than ever, the new RAV4 managed to jump up the highest step in the imaginary hierarchy of the compact SUV segment in one swing. Safety was paramount for Toyota engineers, and the new RAV4 now has a full safety suit as standard. This includes features like automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure alert with steering assist. No other similar car has a safety suit as comprehensive as the one in the Toyota RAV4 in its standard form. Regardless of all the imaginable family-friendly features, the Toyota RAV4 somehow managed to stay cool with an appeal that never ends. Now, I’m going to give you 12 awesome facts about the new 2019 Toyota RAV4.

The fifth generation Supra A90 is no longer aspiring to be a Porsche 911 slayer, but, given its price, you can pit it against some pretty brisk, fun-to-drive cars. Toyota designed the latest Supra to be fun to drive, its proving ground being the Nurburgring. Company CEO Akio Toyoda was heavily involved in the development process of the A90. He said that he gauged the experience of driving the new Supra, which is more compact than ever before, in comparison to the old model he used to drive around the ’Green Hell’ to learn the track.

The production version hasn’t been put to the test yet, but journalists were allowed to take turns driving some development prototypes around the Jarama track last year. Car & Driver wrote that "there is a smoothness to the Supra that we haven’t felt in a BMW in years," and we know that it will joyfully slide, but what other cars you can look for if you’ve only got Supra money in your pocket? Well, We’ve decided to explore the diverse range of models that you could go for with that "Supra" money you’re hanging on to.

It seems fair to say that many people were underwhelmed by the Toyota Supra. People knocked Toyota for the Supra’s looks. Some were upset about its high pricing. And a lot of other people didn’t think too kindly to the engine choices that Toyota prepared for its returning sports car. A base version that produces less than 200 horsepower? Really? The range-topping version of the Supra does have 355 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque at its disposal, but even that came from a BMW-sourced engine. Truth be told, the Supra’s 355-horsepower output isn’t that bad. But it also could’ve been higher, especially when you consider that so many other models from different segments can carry that much power without having to be a sports car, specifically one that has to carry the legacy of one of Toyota’s most iconic nameplates. If you’re wondering how many vehicles have more power than the 2020 Supra, we compiled a list made up of 10 of them. And, if for nothing else, this list may surprise you.

I have been in the business of car journalism for more than a decade, yet, not once in all this time have I witnessed so much scrutiny of a car as we’re seeing right now with the new 2020 Toyota Supra. I can’t say it was unexpected, but literally, everybody is so mesmerized by the newcomer. Not necessarily in a good way, either. Personally, I do believe that this car is possibly one of the best to appear in this decade, but the question is, is this really a Supra? While that question may never be answered, I can tell you a lot of cool things about the new car, and we’re here to talk about them.

Did it all go too far with fakery on modern cars? After a whole eternity of waiting, Toyota finally revealed the new Toyota Supra. The impressions are mixed, but it seems that the Internet warriors aren’t fond of it. At all. And while I personally do like the exterior design and actually believe that the Supra will be a wonderful car to drive, I can pinpoint some obvious problems with it. One of the biggest concerns I had after I saw the prototype appear at the 2018 Goodwood Festival of Speed was the incredible amount of fake vents on the Supra. Sure, I did say at the time that I don’t mind it a lot, but I believed that Toyota would, at least, make some of them real. It did not. Our live experience at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show taught us that the new 2020 Toyota Supra GR has as many as five different fake vents.

As much as I want this car to succeed (because I do believe it is seriously good), that much fakery simply puts me off and casts a massive shade over the whole Supra lore.

What does the future behold? There are countless future classics ready to slide out from under the sheets of which they’ve been covered, and it’s all set to happen in 2019. There will be new EVs, new muscle cars, and a complete evolution of luxury cars. One of America’s most loved sports cars, the Chevy Corvette, is set move into a mid-engine configuration - something that’s been in the works for decades. With that said, we have a lot to be excited for, and this is a list of the models that we just can’t wait any longer for.

With the leak of the first picture of the all-new 2020 Toyota Supra A90, we are finally getting a proper look at the most anticipated Japanese car in years. While the photography posted on the SupraMKV.com forum does not do enough justice to the new car, one thing is certain - Toyota’s designers and its administration are courageous. Designers created a car that looks a lot like the Toyota FT-1 Concept from four years ago, and all the key people in bureaucracy offices said yes to it. Considering the fact that Toyota basically signed BMW to develop a whole new car, it is only logical to make a fast visual comparison between the new 2020 Toyota Supra A90 and the 2019 BMW Z4. While both of these do have basically the same drivetrain, their exterior visage seems to be completely different. Heck, one is a coupe, the other - a roadster.

The process of maturing from the Concept phase to the production phase usually entails a dramatic design transformation of a car. Not so in the case of the new 2020 Toyota Supra A90. With the design heavily based around the Toyota FT-1 Concept, I can clearly say that Toyota designers are brazen. Under the engineering hand of Tetsuya Tada, the Supra’s design team managed to capture all the important styling cues from the FT-1 and successfully translate them into the production car. At least judging by the one leaked photo that revealed the front end of the new Supra. Sure, the photo was captured in a transportation wagon, probably headed for Detroit, but it does reveal main cues rooted in the design of the FT-1 that was unveiled five years ago at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show.

So, how does exactly the new 2020 Toyota Supra A90 compare with the Toyota FT-1 Concept?

If you’re one of the people waiting with baited breath for the new Toyota Supra to arrive so you can put one in your garage, I can almost bet more then half of you will be disappointed. And I’m referring to people that plan and will ACTUALLY buy one. And I say that because 98-percent of the time most cars are hated on loved online, it’s done so by people who have never owned and probably will never own previous iterations of said vehicles.

The market trend is quickly shifting from sedans to crossovers and SUVs. However, SUVs have two major cons when compared to their segment counterparts - high retail price and poor fuel economy. Even though they are a practical choice thanks to additional cabin and cargo space, it’s a little difficult for everyone to afford an SUV. So why not go for a used SUV instead? You don’t take the depreciation hit that first owner does, and since SUVs are built to last a lifetime, you can get an almost-new SUV at half the original price.

Now that we’ve planted this seed in your head, let’s have a look at the best used SUVs from 2016 with high fuel efficiency.

The sedan segment has taken some pretty big hits over the last few years, regularly losing ground to the ever-popular SUV and crossover body styles. But while overall sales are down, some automakers are sticking it out with fresh new four-doors in the hopes that customers will once again see the light. Toyota is one such automaker, and the latest 2019 Avalon is a great reason to go against the grain.

Continue reading for the full story.

Mercedes-Benz just made quite the splash when it dropped the new X-Class. Framed as the first truly “upscale” pickup truck, the X-Class intends on redefining the midsize segment with unprecedented levels of luxury and refinement. It might seem like a strange combination to mate luxury with pickups, but as Mercedes points out, “the number of pickups for private use is increasing. They are no longer viewed purely as workhorses.” As such, the X-Class aims to broaden the pickup’s buyer appeal, seeking out folks like “land owners and farmers in Argentina, business owners and building contractors in Australia, families with an affinity for premium products in Brazil, trend-conscious individualists in South Africa and Great Britain as well as sporty adventurers in New Zealand and Germany.” Sounds like quite the collection of buyers. But here’s the thing – is the X-Class really all that revolutionary?

To find out, we placed it alongside some of its biggest competition, including the Toyota Hilux, the Volkswagen Amarok, and the Ford Ranger. And, since its possible Merc might bring the X-Class stateside eventually, we threw in the GMC Canyon Denali as well. Read on for all the specs and info you need, and let us know in the comments how you think the X-Class stacks up.

Continue reading to learn more about how the Mercedes-Benz X-Class compares to the competition.

You know, you can buy a lot of car for not a whole lotta money these days. For example, if it’s straight-line muscle you’re looking for, the Dodge Charger Hellcat and Dodge Challenger Hellcat will put over 700 horsepower at your disposal for a mere $65,000. That’s pretty insane if you ask us, but what about something on the either side of the spectrum, where comfort and style rule supreme? Well, around these parts, you could opt for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, the German’s mid-size luxury four-door that comes jam-packed with high-tech goodies, top-shelf opulence, and upper-crust flair. Or, as an alternative, consider the new eighth-generation Toyota Camry. No, seriously.

Suffice to say, we’re big fans of the new Camry. So much so, we feel comfortable comparing it to one of Merc’s best luxury barges. The updated Toyota just dropped cover at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show, and we’re convinced it’s got the goods to punch way above its weight.

But maybe we’re overstepping things a bit. Maybe we’re completely off in the deep end. Maybe. It’s certainly a possibility. But after the response we got when we compared the Camry and the BMW 5 Series, we shrugged our shoulders and went for it anyway.

Continue reading for the full comparison.

These are exciting times for truck enthusiasts who also like off-roading. The 2017 Ford Raptor is out, launching the second generation of Ford’s halo F-150. Toyota has its new-for-2017 Tacoma TRD Pro that’s based on the new-for-2016 Tacoma. And Chevy comes late to the party with its Colorado ZR2 – a production truck based on the concept version from 2014. These three trucks represent the upper crust of the pickup segment. It’s a prestigious group that’s focused on going fast over rough terrain while still conquering the daily commute.

The Raptor might be the premiere pickup, having birthed this niche segment back in 2010, but the Toyota and Chevy new-comers aren’t slackers. In fact, thanks to their smaller sizes compared to the full-size Raptor, these mid-size pickups are more agile and can fit down narrower trails. The famed Rubicon train in California, for instance, is too narrow for the Raptor’s immensely wide track. The Tacoma TRD Pro and Colorado ZR2, however, should have no problem traversing the tight terrain.

The Toyota and Chevy are also less expensive (or rumored to be) than the Raptor. That puts them basically in a head-to-head fight for customers. Typical things like design, features, and brand loyalty goes a long way in choosing which truck is best, but a more objective comparison should be made. That’s especially true for someone who’s ready to pull the trigger on a purchase.

That’s where this article comes in. We’re going to dive deep into the features and specs of both the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and the Chevy Colorado ZR2 in order to help you, the customer, make a better-informed decision.

Continue reading for more information.

Ranking the best cars is fun, but ranking the worst is like frolicking on a perfect beach, it just never gets old. Taking into consideration that the year is almost complete, we wanted to rank the worst vehicles of the decade and seeing as how there were so many, ten just wasn’t enough.

Some weren’t very hard to think of, stuff like the Chevrolet Aveo and the Smart ForTwo were obviously going to be on the list, but there were a few that will shock you. If one sentence can sum up our thought process during this evaluation it would be this, ’high sales don’t mean anything’.

Look at the Chevrolet Impala and the Jeep Wrangler. Both sell fairly well, but both are awful. The Impala is fat and drives like a boat and the Wrangler is an off-road machine that most won’t take in their yard, leaving it hard and uncompromising on the road. Despite these two perfect examples of automotive incompetence, both didn’t make the list.

Find out what did by hitting the jump.

Midsize sedans are the bread and butter cars of most companies. Yet, even if typical bread and butter may seem like a bland food, that doesn’t stop these cars from being stylish, sporty, and fun to drive.

The best selling cars in the country are midsize sedans and the best selling cars for most automakers are their sedan offerings. The midsize sedan offers practicality without the reputation crushing style of a minivan.

At least, that’s what they want you to think.

The Toyota Camry was once the most popular car in the world and a year ago, the Camry’s annual American sales typically exceeded the total annual new car sales in the average European country.

There are many choices for car buyers and that allows people to demand many different things from these four door cars. Some people buy them as family cars, opting for more room over a compact sedan, without sacrificing small car handling and fuel economy. Other people like a bigger car over a smaller one and then there’s people who prefer the Honda Accord to the Civic because it has a bigger presence on the road. The larger car makes you feel safer and more secure during highway travel.

These are our top ten midsize cars under $30,000.

Hit the jump to read on.

For those of us who don’t want to drive around town in a vehicle the size of a train, there have always been small cars to keep us happy. They have gone through many changes since they first became popular during the gas crisis. No longer is it acceptable to just be small and fuel efficient, as the automotive buying public demands much more out of these tiny vehicles.

Today’s modern small car has to be quick and fun to drive, while also having plenty of room inside the cabin. If the car doesn’t manage over 30 miles per gallon then it’s a big disappointment. Not to mention looks. A small car needs to look good as well as not be completely boring to look at everyday.

We have compiled a list of the top ten best small cars on the market in the United States and, like always, we have one rule; the price needs to be under $20,000. That should give us plenty to choose from.

Hit the jump to see the list.