Rav4 still the perfectly sized SUV

A lot of people extol the virtues of the Camry and Highlander as the best vehicles in the Toyota lineup. I’ve read that very thing recently on this blog, in fact. It’s not that I disagree, but I feel there is room for one more model in the terrific-Toyota class. And I would argue the Rav4 belongs there.

Why? Because the Toyota Rav4 is still an SUV, but it handles like a car, is tremendously fuel-efficient, and provides all of the cabin space you need in an SUV. The Rav4 remains, as it always has been, the perfect size for just about any SUV buyer. With its length (shorter than a Camry), it is right at home on a sedan platform. This means a less-rigid ride than all of the SUVs on truck platforms provide.     … Continue Reading

Venza the perfect blend of Toyota design

If you could combine two Toyota models to create a third Toyota, what two models would you choose to meld together in cooperative design and function? Think about it. If I were to name two models they would without a doubt be the Camry and the Highlander. You can’t get two more practical vehicles, or maybe if you combine their traits you can. That’s what we see with the Toyota Venza. The Venza is all things great about Toyota and an incredibly rewarding drive that incorporates tons of interior cargo space. That’s exactly what I had in mind when I visited a Toyota Libertyville dealer shopping for a new ride. I wasn’t sold on the Venza at first, thinking I might prefer the Highlander. But once I got to know the Venza, that changed.     … Continue Reading

Prius Based Sport Coupe in Works?

The Prius has been one of Toyota’s biggest sellers for years now. And with its unbeatable fuel efficiency, who could blame buyers for being attracted to it? But to a buyer with horsepower, speed and a little danger in mind, the Prius may not be the best fit.  But not to fret, Toyota is out to win the hearts of all with the possible first-ever sports coupe based on the the wildly popular Toyota Prius.  Toyota Gurnee dealers have announced that a Prius based sport coupe is in the works as a 2012 model, which will add more power and more style to the most fuel efficient vehicle out on the road today.

When I stopped in to find out more at a local Toyota dealership, Gurnee dealers assured me that this new Prius coupe will have plenty to offer everyone. While the interior will keep many of the same traits as the current Prius, the exterior will get a whole new look.  Likely to be a two door, it will boast a unique and fresh style, but will look faster and more sleek than before.

But it will also be faster and more sleek than before. The new coupe will keep the same 1.8 liter engine as the current Prius, but is expected to get more horsepower than before, delivering an even more exciting ride. But with more horsepower comes less fuel efficiency, right? Maybe. The Prius coupe will still be equipped with the Hybrid Synergy Drive, so even with the extra oomph, this new coupe will be extremely green.

If you already own a Prius, Waukegan dealers are sure that you are already excited about this new coupe.  This new model will be a dream to drive, and it will keep your “green” friends from nagging you about the environment, which is enough to throw a party for. So stop in to your local Waukegan dealer to find out more about this new Prius-based sport coupe, a car that will keep everybody happy.

Lola the Corolla

My very first car was a Toyota Corolla. It was my parents car originally. When I turned 16 they got a new one and gave me the Corolla, which I soon thereafter named Lola. I loved Lola the Corolla more than any other I’d driven or any other makes and models my friends carted around in. She was simple and gave me everything I needed, as long as I gave her everything she needed. Needless to say, after five years of driving her, combined with the years my parents drove Lola, her time had passed. I moved on to a 1995 Camry named Ned. He was great, but I always longed for Lola’s simple, warm embrace. I’ve moved on to larger cars over the years as I have needed room for family, and I was afraid I’d never feel another Corolla cuddle again. … Continue Reading

4Runner Caught in Camoflauge

A photo from car review site leftlanenews.com shows the 2011 4Runner out for a drive under a thick blanket of mystery.  The photo doesn’t give us tons of info, except that the body looks like it could remain very similar to the current 4Runner and the basic body-on-frame engineering will remain.  None of that is too surprising, as current model of the 4Runner is a well-liked exterior design.  Where everyone is expecting the major changes is on the interior. 

Don’t think I’m knocking the current 4Runner.  Anyone out there shopping at a Toyota Gurnee dealership for an SUV should give consideration to the 4Runner.  No matter what you are looking for in an SUV, chances are this ride will give you what you need.

The fourth-generation, 2009 4Runner is rugged in looks and ability.  A trail-craving, tow-capable SUV that can fit seven, the 4Runner is a vehicle that can take on many personalities.  Don’t expect the 2011 update to lose any of that brawny capability.

I am actually an owner of a 2008 4Runner that I purchased from Toyota Libertyville dealer.  It was an easy decision for me a couple of years ago.  Other SUVs did not have what I was looking for when it came to combining errands around town with my love of rugged terrain.

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