Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Low-cost Yaris more alluring as gas prices climb
As gas prices creep into the $4 range, the redesigned 2012 Toyota Yaris has become even more appealing than in the past. Admittedly, the three- or five-door lift back won't fulfill the needs of all drivers and their families as far as space is concerned. But if you are looking to eke out more than 30 mpg in city/highway driving, this subcompact is well worth a test drive.
A sole 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine develops just 106 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 103 pounds-feet of torque at 4200 rpm for a pleasant and comfortable drive. Available as a five-speed manual or a four-speed auto transmission, the wheelbase of Toyota's entry-level car has been stretched by 2 inches and the length by 3 inches overall, though the height has been reduced by 0.6 inches.
Unlike its predecessor, the revamped cabin now boasts a robust and flat-bottomed three-spoke steering wheel. And the previously centered multi-instrument panel is in front of the driver for convenience.
Offered as the basic L, LE and the sporty SE, the Yaris starts at $14,115 and peaks at $17,200, depending on transmission choice. Toyota claims EPA figures of 30/38 mpg for manual and 30/35 mpg for automatic with its 11.1-gallon fuel tank. We earned about 32 mpg in a week's driving on city roads and highway.
Kudos to the carmaker for packing the affordable vehicle with standard safety features such as dual front and side airbags, side curtain airbag, driver knee airbag, stability and traction control, antilock brakes, side-impact door beams and tire pressure monitoring system.
The agile, roomy and practical Yaris gets the job done reasonably well. And it assures you of tremendous savings at the pump. What more can one ask for in a ride as fuel prices spiral out of control?
Monday, March 5, 2012
Check out great vehicle incentives at L&S Toyota of Beckley
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Visit L&S Toyota of Beckley and drive away today in the 2012 Toyota Tacoma
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
2012 Toyota Prius C is on top of its game
Even Toyota's best-selling Prius costs thousands more than a Toyota Yaris or Corolla, two cars that go from point A to point B while carrying five people. The 2012 Toyota Prius c obliterates the hybrid price penalty with a $19,000 starting price and a segment-leading 50 mpg combined.
If that value proposition were the 2012 Toyota Prius c's only feat, it would likely still be a sales success, but the mini-Prius is also surprisingly roomy -- and has a comfortable ride and an impressive array of standard features.
The hybrid for the masses has arrived, and I honestly think Toyota won't be able to build enough of them to meet demand come March, when the car goes on sale. It comes in four trim levels, numbered One through Four.
Hybrid performance Like the familiar Prius liftback, the Prius c features Toyota's Synergy hybrid system, which has been refined to the point where we've observed its 50 mpg estimate over hundreds of real-world miles since the liftback's 2009 debut.
The Prius c teams a smaller four-cylinder gasoline engine -- 1.5 liters and 73 horsepower -- with an electric motor, for a combined 99-hp rating. The battery pack features fewer battery cells -- 120 versus 168 -- so it can fit tightly underneath the rear seats instead of under the cargo area, where it is in the traditional Prius. Other fuel-saving elements have also been downsized, like a smaller electric power steering system, to aid efficiency.
Mileage ratings are 53/46 mpg city/highway, and 50 mpg combined. The regular Prius gets an EPA-estimated 51/48 mpg and the same combined rating.
In terms of driving performance, the Prius c is about as exciting as you might predict, which is not very. But compare it with traditional high-mileage subcompacts like the Hyundai Accent and Ford Fiesta, and it gives up little ground, despite its sub-100-hp rating. Toyota said it can reach 60 mph in 11.5 seconds, but the car seemed faster merging onto the highway.
During a number of driving routes of between 20 and 50 miles apiece, the worst mileage my driving partner and I returned was 46.6 mpg, while the best was 54.4 mpg. The tests were done in hilly California in optimal 60-degree weather. While coasting downhill, you can shift the Prius c into a B mode for aggressive brake regeneration to fill the hybrid battery to its maximum level.
At the bottom of the hill, through residential streets, we engaged EV mode, which runs the Prius c on electric power only. Even in this mode, keeping the gas engine from activating requires slow and steady acceleration that would aggravate anyone behind you in traffic. Nor can you exceed 25 mph. It took practice, but both of us were able to travel a few miles in EV through a busy downtown area and through a few quiet streets.
On one route, using the B setting and EV mode, we traveled nearly 10 miles and returned 99.9 mpg.
Then we headed back uphill.
A hybrid isn't a magical car. The Prius c's tiny engine strained going up steep hills -- as do many subcompacts, like those mentioned above -- and mileage dropped significantly. That said, the 46 mpg figure we hit was in the top trim level, the Four, which we pushed pretty hard. It was also equipped with optional 16-inch alloy wheels, which come in a package that also includes a slightly more aggressive suspension and steering system, and we wanted to see how fun the most fun version of the c could possibly be.
The fact that we accelerated as aggressively as any driver would, including on the longest highway stretch of the day, and still returned 46 mpg was as impressive as the 99.9 mpg we'd already marveled at.
The Prius c Four handled better than the rest of the lineup without giving up what is a remarkably comfortable ride. The c's 100.4-inch wheelbase is longer than those of the Yaris and Fiesta (about 98 inches) which helps in terms of ride comfort. The Accent's 101.2-inch wheelbase is slightly longer. The Prius c is slightly shorter from bumper to bumper than the Fiesta and Accent hatchbacks, and it's a few inches longer than the four-door Yaris hatchback.
Steering was less sharp in the other Prius c models, with much more play in the steering wheel. While I wouldn't call any of the trims a fun car to pilot through twisty roads, they're more than adequate for the typical commuter.
The standard low-rolling-resistance tires offered decent grip and didn't add excessive road noise. Overall, road noise was better than average for the subcompact class. The Prius c rides and feels worlds apart from the rough-riding Honda Insight -- a dedicated hybrid model at a similar price with significantly lower fuel efficiency. The two have nearly identical wheelbases, but the Prius c is 15 inches shorter overall. The Prius c also weighs nearly 250 pounds less.
The Prius c's braking was typical of hybrids with regenerative brakes. They feel spongy as the hybrid system engages to recapture energy for the battery. But at least it felt like a consistent, predictable sponge. I find the entire Toyota lineup generally lackluster in terms of braking feel, and the Prius c stopped more responsively than the non-hybrid 2012 Camry I recently tested.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Enjoy the 2012 Toyota Highlander toay at L&S Toyota of Beckley
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Revamped Toyota Yaris gains a few inches, finesse
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Time was, econoboxes were just that: bare-bones vehicles with tiny doors, cheap plastic interior bits, limited safety features and putt-putt engines.
Today it’s a new game, with carmakers -- both domestic and foreign -- rapidly upping the ante as technology trickles down from luxury models.
The Toyota Yaris, which was new for 2007, marks its second generation this year. The sedan is gone, leaving three- and five-door hatchbacks, starting at $14,875 and $16,740, respectively. That’s not the least expensive hatch (Kia Rio gets that honor), but it’s ballpark for the genre.
The new Yaris is about 3 inches longer than its predecessor and a little taller. Cargo space benefits, as does headroom.
The 1.5-liter, 4-cylinder engine carries over for now, but fuel efficiency has improved along with the driving experience.
Base price includes the 5-speed manual transmission, but the $725 4-speed automatic is new.
That, coupled with an improved suspension, gives the Yaris some spunk. You can have fun zipping around corners and down the highway with confidence. Starting at about 17 grand for a five-door manual, the SE model takes that up a notch and has a sportier look.
Fuel economy barely edges up with the automatic, to 30 miles per gallon in the city and 35 on the highway, from 29/35. Manual models, however, jump to 33/38 from 29/36. Still, that lags some competitors such as Chevrolet Sonic, Hyundai Accent and Ford Fiesta, which can hit the 40 mark.
Cargo room is noticeably larger than in the previous generation -- but, as with all compact hatchbacks, it is limited. Rear seats fold down easily for added space, but the base model does not have the 60-40 split. Legroom isn’t bad in back.
The Yaris gets kudos for its nice-looking interior. Sure, you’ll find lots of plastic and cloth, but the designers used interesting grains and patterns to give it a quality appearance.
The lineup of standard safety equipment also is excellent. There are nine airbags: front, front side, rollover side in front and rear, and a knee bag for the driver. All Yaris models also come with traction and stability control, and antilock brakes with assist and sudden-stop features.
Toyota also is trying something different with a single front windshield wiper, saying it is lighter and more efficient. Big surprise, no rain the week I had the car in Phoenix, so I didn’t get to test that theory.
Standards on the base L model include halogen headlamps, rear defogger and wiper, air conditioning, USB port with iPod connection, cargo cover, and sound system with AM/FM, CD player and MP3 playback.
Upgrading to the LE’s additional content adds $1,365 to the tab.
I have always held on to my cars until they gave out, but I’m not sure that’s the way to go anymore. If your car is 10 years old, you’re missing out on key technology and features, even in budget-minded cars like the Yaris.
Toyota Yaris
Subcompact hatchback
Base price: $14,875
MPG range: 33/38, manual; 30/35, automatic
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: 5-door, 4 of 5 stars for front crash; 5 for side impact; 4 for rollover resistance; www.safercar.gov
Web: www.toyota.com
Competitors: Chevrolet Sonic, Fiat 500, Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Kia Forte, Nissan Versa, Scion iQ and xD, Suzuki SX4
Bottom line: Good-looking small, economical ride
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