Browse over 9,000 car reviews

Toyota News

Dual-cab disaster! Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux and Isuzu D-Max ute sales plummet as Australia's new-car market stumbles in January
By Andrew Chesterton · 05 Feb 2025
EV sales are "remarkably low", overall vehicle sales are dropping, and ute sales across our most popular brands have plummeted as Australia's new-car market gets off to a shaky start in January.
Read the article
Vans vs utes - which is the better work truck? Why the Ford Transit Custom, Mercedes-Benz Vito might be better work cars than the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger and Isuzu D-Max | Opinion
By Marcus Craft · 04 Feb 2025
Utes are incredibly popular in Australia as evidenced by the fact that the Toyota HiLux and the Ford Ranger consistently top the sale charts here.
Read the article
Meet the new tough-as-nails Toyota LandCruiser Prado AT37 by Arctic Trucks coming for the Ford Ranger Raptor, Nissan Patrol Warrior, Land Rover Defender Octa
By Laura Berry · 28 Jan 2025
The new-generation Toyota Landcruiser Prado only landed about two months ago and already the mad scientists at custom engineering firm Artic Trucks have worked their magic creating a super capable glorious beast.Icelandic company Arctic Trucks is famous for taking off-road vehicles to the next level and we’ve reported on its marvellous creations such as the Isuzu D-Max AT35 and the Toyota HiLux AT35 in the past. Now meet the Toyota Prado AT37.Developed between Arctic Trucks International along with the United Kingdom division and Toyota Africa’s distributor, the AT37 has been modified enormously while adhering to OEM and government fit and functionality standards.There’s an extensive list of mods: a 10-piece wide body package; 17 x 10-inch Arctic Trucks ‘Heritage’ dual-valve forged alloy wheels in satin black, 38-inch (37 x12.50 R17) BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 or Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 tyres; two-way adjustable suspension with longer travel front coil overs, rear dampers and springs with a lift of 40mm; wider and extended wheel base, aluminium side steps, discrete 2.0-inch rear multifunction reviver hitch and Arctic Trucks mud guards. Arctic Trucks UK Managing Director Peter Smith said the resulting monster Prado was more than just a combined group effort.  “This collaboration of teams across the Arctic Trucks group has resulted in a vehicle that is truly fit for use in any market. Combining our three decades of off-road expertise with technology and innovation from the UK supply chain has achieved outstanding results and reaffirms our ongoing commitment to delivering complete vehicle solutions for both work and play.”While Arctic Trucks hasn’t specified what will power the AT37 it’s likely that it will retain the stock 150kW/500Nm 2.8-litre four-cylinder diesel engine with high and low range four-wheel drive.Prices have also yet to be announced but don’t get your hopes up Aussies, the Prado AT37 will only be sold in Europe, North America, Africa and the Middle East.That means it won't arrive to tangle with hardcore off-roaders such as the Nissan Patrol Warrior, Ford Ranger Raptor and Land Rover Defender Octa.
Read the article
All the cars axed by Australia's rule changes and surprising models like the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series, Nissan Patrol, Toyota Fortuner and LDV T60 that are prepared for ADR 98/00
By John Law · 27 Jan 2025
New Australian Design Rules (ADRs) will begin to bite from March 1, 2025, requiring all new vehicles to be sold with auto emergency braking (AEB) systems. The rules mean major withdrawals from the Australian new-car market but they aren’t quite as widespread as you might imagine, with some manufacturers putting in the effort to keep their cars on the right side of the law. Falling in line with United Nations safety protocols, ADR 98/00 — Advanced Emergency Braking for Passenger Vehicles and Light Goods Vehicles requires the fitment of AEB, a life-saving technology that can automatically apply the brakes if a car senses an impending crash. These systems have various levels of effectiveness but the latest rule change is concerned with being able to detect other cars on the road. The systems must function at least between 10-60km/h and be able to bring the vehicle to a complete stop on a dry road from 40km/h. They must also switch on every time the car is started. This applied to new models of passenger car, light and medium commercial vehicles from March 1, 2023 and will cover all new vehicles imported into Australia from March 1.Mitsubishi is the hardest hit by the new rules, no longer able to sell the Pajero Sport off-road SUV or Eclipse Cross small SUV. The long-running ASX is also affected but Mitsubishi’s small SUV will be replaced by a new model this year.Next casualty is the cut-price Suzuki Ignis, which is not fitted with the technology. A new model, the Fronx, will replace it but probably not at its bargain price. Entry-level Vitaras will also be affected, though the brand did not respond to our query. The Porsche 718 would have been hit by the rule change, but production ceased in September with a new electric generation coming equipped with AEB. Another affordable brand slugged with the need for AEB is LDV, its cheap V80 large van is not equipped with the technology but, like the Porsche, production ended last year and all that’s left is existing stock. The entry trim T60 ute and all G10 van trims also lack AEB. CarsGuide was informed by a spokesperson that both “will meet the upcoming requirements for ADR 98/00”, with more news to share in the coming months. Onto the, perhaps unlikely, candidates that are equipped with AEB. Despite their age, these vehicles remain important sellers for carmakers, so it was clearly worth investing.There is none older than the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series, over 40 years old its mid-life crisis (or glow-up) saw Toyota add crucial AEB including pedestrian, cyclist and motorcycle detection. Toyota also, a little sneakily, bumped the GVM beyond 3500kg to 3510kg in 2023. The value of this is that the 70 Series becomes reclassified as a medium goods vehicle, allowing it to dodge the latest side impact regulations that would’ve seen an imminent sales stop. The Toyota Fortuner, current HiLux and GR86 manual are all equipped with AEB that permit sale in Australia up to, and beyond, 2026.Another ageing model due for replacement is the Nissan Patrol, though the new version is not due until 2026 the Y62’s many life-cycle updates saw ‘Intelligent Emergency Braking’, an AEB system that can detect cars and pedestrians, way back in 2019.Also worth noting is the British Ineos Grenadier off-roader, the first batch does not have AEB. Cheekily, orders opened in May 2022 (before the mandate for all-new models) but customers didn’t receive cars in bulk until the first quarter of 2023, and Australian media only sampled the cars in December of that year. CarsGuide understands that all Grenadiers and Quartermasters will be equipped with AEB from March onwards.The Australian Government has launched a review into ADRs going forwards now there is no longer local manufacturing to legislate (and protect). The next big active safety ADR change (revised as ADR 98/01) is due in August 2026, when all cars sold must have AEB systems that can intervene if a pedestrian is detected in the path of a vehicle. Some carmakers, including Nissan and Mitsubishi, have called for this to better align Australia’s laws with Europe, Japan and the USA promoting greater affordability and fast-tracking of more efficient models. 
Read the article
What in the HiLux hell is Toyota thinking? | Opinion
By Andrew Chesterton · 25 Jan 2025
While Toyota in Australia is yet to spill much in the way of detail, credible and growing reports are pointing to a new HiLux arriving in the second half of this year, as the Japanese giant fights back against the waves of new dual-cab utes from other brands that have either just arrived or that are coming soon.
Read the article
Can't wait for Prado? From the all-new Mitsubishi Pajero to the BYD Fang Cheng Bao 5, these are the tough off-road 4WDs coming to Australia ready to take on Toyota
By Andrew Chesterton · 21 Jan 2025
The all-new Toyota Prado has taken Australia's 4WD market by storm, with pent-up demand for a new model delivering some 17,000 orders by the end of 2024, with the brand anticipating some 27,000 deliveries in its first 12 months of sale.
Read the article
New 2026 Toyota RAV4 electric shock! Next-gen family SUV takes shape targeting not just Nissan X-Trail but BYD Sealion 6 and Tesla Model Y too with hybrid, plug-in hybrid and EV options: Report
By John Law · 20 Jan 2025
Could it really be true that the next Toyota RAV4 will be available in hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric guise?That’s the word from Japanese magazine BestCar, known for its insider sources, which has come across information suggesting the new RAV4 won’t only be a Nissan X-Trail rival, but also compete with the BYD Sealion 6 in plug-in guise and the Tesla Model Y as a BEV. There’s even a render based on sightings of prototypes to accompany the story. Bad news is that the new version of Australia’s second most-popular car won’t launch until the third quarter of 2026. We’ve known for some time that the new RAV4 is likely to follow the lead of Camry that sits on the same TNGA-K platform in getting a heavy redesign, rather than all-new model but the RAV is set to go much further. The latest info suggests that there’s no new-generation 1.5-litre or 2.0-litre turbo coming to the RAV4 hybrid, instead it will continue with the fifth-gen hybrid just like the Camry.So far, outputs are expected to stay similar with the RAV4 hybrid producing either 168kW in front- or 173kW in all-wheel drive guise. There will be no petrol-only RAV4 this time around. However, a new battery electric version is looking to take over from the bZ4X based on a modified version of the hybrid RAV4’s underpinnings. Adding fuel to the fire is Toyota’s publicised move away from alphanumeric names back to real ones, at least in Europe. A Toyota RAV4 electric certainly has more brand recognition than a bZ4X. There’s precious little more detail on battery size, driving range, power outputs or battery chemistry. To be competitive an electric RAV4 would require at least a 70kWh battery, if not 80kWh, for a 500km-plus driving range. Charge times will need to improve from the bZ4X, closer to 20 minutes from 10-80 per cent. Toyota’s plug-in hybrid system will continue with BestCar suggesting improved electric-only driving range, up to 120km from a charge. It is currently 75km. Expect a 20kWh-plus battery for such a result, up from the existing 18.1kWh item. BestCar’s intel suggests the RAV4 will grow significantly, stretching to 4.7 metres long (+85mm) and riding on a 60mm longer, 2750mm wheelbase, resulting in improved cabin space. It’s not clear if seven seats will be available in certain markets. There are strong ties to the new Camry in the RAV4 render’s design, with a honeycomb grille and the ‘Hammerhead’ front clip. The electric version is expected to have a blanked off grille. Interestingly, it sounds like there will be minimal differentiation between hybrid, plug-in and electric versions, with all of them available in various trims sold simply as RAV4.Information from Japan suggests that pricing will go up to 4.5 million yen (A$46,500) for a hybrid version, when it currently starts at $42,260 for the GX. Surprisingly the plug-in hybrid (est. 5.8 million yen/A$60,000) is only expected to be a little cheaper than the battery electric version (est. 6.0 million yen/A$62,000) making both far more competitive with Chinese-made EVs such as the Tesla Model Y and Deepal S07. Currently, the RAV4 news is pure speculation, though now we’ve seen spy pictures of test mules on public roads the launch must be approaching. BestCar’s estimate is a third quarter launch in 2026, so over a year and a half away. By that time, a hybrid Mazda CX-5 may have left its mark in Australia and the USA. Stay tuned for more information on the new Toyota RAV4. 
Read the article
Toyota changes direction on electric cars: Alphanumerics like bZ4X to be replaced by real names like Urban Cruiser and LandCruiser likely to differentiate from BYD, MG and GWM: Report
By John Law · 17 Jan 2025
Toyota looks to be ending its bZ4X naming conventions, at least in Europe, following the launch of its new cut-price electric SUV.
Read the article