Toyota Reviews

[toyotafan]

I'm back in the good graces with Toyota and their local PR firm, so I'll be getting some vehicles to test drive over the next few weeks.

Toyota Prius C (gonna try some hypermiler stuff, see what type of mileage I get)
Toyota Tacoma (no clue on the features, hope that it's loaded)
Lexus GS 350 (how cool will that be?)
Scion iQ (how am I going to get into that?)

 

[toyotafan]

I know it's not a truck, but I'll post pictures of the Prius C when I get it to review, should be in the next few hours.

 

[toyotafan]

Toyota gave me a Prius C to test drive for a week. Here's my first views and thoughts of this vehicle.

This is a small car, but I did get almost 50 mpg on the way to work this morning. For at least 15% of the trip I was operating in EV mode, so it didn't use any gasoline at all.

2012 Toyota Prius C (quick review)
I'll write-up a full review later this week, but thus far I'm very impressed with what Toyota's given me to drive. YES, it's small, and I'm not. Yes, my friends and co-workers were laughing at me. However, this car really does not feel small. I don't have any problem with leg room, head room or shoulder room. Hmm, plus getting nearly 50 MPG on the way into the office today was a bit of a shock. So far, it's NOT something that you want to take camping, but for your everyday run around town it's certainly not something to scoff at.

 

[tbplus10]

I was really looking hard at the Hybrid offerings last year but eventually went a different direction because I was really needing a new tow vehicle.
But for day to day commuting 50 mpg would sure be nice since I commute 33 miles each way.
Something I've always wondered on electric and hybrid models, will heavy use of the radio, windows and other electric conveniences, like A/C take a heavy toll on available battery power?

 

[toyotafan]

Went on a joyride through south DFW - including the hills that we call Cedar Hill, Texas - and the first half of the trip I earned a very impressive 60 MPG. Now, I drove like I had an egg between my foot and the gas pedal, but I did earn 60 MPG. That was a mix of 25, 35, 45 and one stretch of 55 MPH roads with probably 25 stops on the way to recharge the battery. Average speed was 27 mph I think for the trip.

On the way back I took it out of ECO mode and I could feel more power going to the tires, but the overall MPG dropped to 50 MPG, which means that I was probably doing about 40 for that stretch, with a 50 MPG average for the two.

We were cramped in there, took the wife, the 3 year old and the 11 month-old baby. There is no way that my 7 year old would have been able to fit in the back for more than just a very short trip. Plus, forget taking a group to go golfing, we couldn't even get a stroller in the hatch-back area, so maybe a couple of backpacks and a breifcase or overnight bag would be about it.

 

[tbplus10]

That would be a great weekday car for my commute, but I dont think it could pull the boat or bike trailer or make a load from Home Depot on the weekends.

 

[toyotafan]

yeah, it will. I'm done with that review and will post it in the Toyota cars section later this week. I'm onto the Tacoma TRD Sport right now.

http://www.toyotatruckclub.com/foru...-Toyota-Tacoma-TRD-Sport-Review#axzz1v9aR16si

 

[MuddyTacoma]

That's awesome, will look forward to reading more of these reviews.