News & Reviews- Make: Toyota

As if the best-selling Camry wasn't doing well enough already, Toyota Canada just reported a 60.8-percent improvement in last month's sales over January of 2014 with a total of 1,045 delivered. The only models in Toyota's lineup that sold better last month were the RAV4 and Corolla, helping Toyota Canada achieve a new January record with a total of 10,249 units down the road. Not a bad result for a month that saw our dollar slump and economic recovery appear to start flatlining, resulting in lower interest rates and… aha! Not a bad time to buy a new car after all.

And I really can't blame these buyers for snapping up the new Camry so quickly. The 2015 update is a great looking redesign that appears like much more than a mid-cycle refresh, and the new XSE trim level I recently tested takes the Camry's solid, dependable, reliable character into a decidedly sportier arena that none of its volume brand rivals have a direct answer for.

Just one look and you'll see Read Full Story

Talk about a design that's stood the test of time, Toyota's Prius has been a benchmark of longevity. Since the first-generation Prius sedan was redesigned as a hatchback for 2003, its basic shape has remained the same. Toyota gave it a major overhaul for the 2010 model year, with a new grille, new scalloped headlamps, new rear quarter windows and changes made to the taillights and rear bumper, which were all well received, but other than some very subtle styling revisions the design has continued forward right up to this current model. Even so, this 2015 Toyota Prius looks remarkably fresh and modern, its deep lower grille, "floating" style lip spoiler and vertical LED fog lamps appearing downright edgy, while the clear elements in its taillight lenses add a custom touch.

You can get the Prius with nice big 17-inch aluminum wheels, but my tester was completely base and therefore came with a set of 15-inch steel rims that did a pretty good job of imitating alloys. The black gloss Read Full Story

Who builds the best mainstream midsize seven-passenger crossover SUV available today? Hands down it's the men and woman in Princeton who work at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana, where the new Highlander is assembled.

"Best" is a highly subjective term, I know. What's best for me may be worst for you, so I don't expect you'll necessarily agree with me and am not concerned if you don't. This is my opinion, and one garnered after testing all of the midsize crossovers currently on the market. Compared to most of its competitors, the Highlander has had a lot of preparation leading up to my best-in-class vote. It started life 15 years ago and has gone through two generations and a couple of mid-cycle upgrades prior to last year's full redesign. With each generation it's become larger and more accommodating (not unusual from any manufacturer in any class), but with this newest iteration it not only grows in size but also in refinement.

Put this seven- to eight-occupant Read Full Story

While minivans aren't the red-hot commodity they were a decade or two back, the segment remains both important and hugely competitive. Dodge, Chrysler, Toyota and Honda sold 83,779 minivans between them in Canada during 2014, and over half a million vans in the US. In both markets, Toyota's Sienna has been in a virtual dead heat for second place against Honda's Odyssey, while in the US it's almost a four-way tie for first (Dodge's Grand Caravan is the runaway leader in Canada, but the model is slated to be retired in 2016). With Kia recently releasing a new Sedona, things look to heat up even further going forward.

To help the Sienna retain an edge in this evolving marketplace, Toyota has refreshed its popular people-hauler with some key changes for 2015, while retaining its traditional strengths including spacious and comfortable seating, easy access, a robust powertrain, available all-wheel drive and reasonable pricing.

Key amongst the changes is an all-new interior, Read Full Story

Have you seen the new Corolla? No doubt you have, because Corollas are just about everywhere, but then again it's so good looking you might not realize that the attractive four-door passing by is actually Toyota's legendary compact sedan.

The Corolla has always been a superb car in search of styling to match its capability, but last year the ultimately dependable four-door doffed its light blue button-up shirt, beige corduroys and brown "dress" sneakers and instead put on a white button-up shirt under a thin grey sweater, slim-fit blazer and identically coloured jean-like dress pants adorned with a simple silver-buckled black leather belt, and black leather loafers. Yes, the Corolla went from Mark Zuckerberg to Justin Timberlake in an instant. From the ultimately style-less to 2014's best dressed list.

It remains just as fashionable for 2015, my most recent Corolla tester suited up in tasteful Slate Metallic and well-equipped LE trim, plus this model's Upgrade Package Read Full Story