1980 Toyota Stout Reviews

Toyota’s newest electric car is making a splash.The bZ3X has launched in China for about $24,000. That’s a shockingly cheap EV.It is also slightly cheaper than the BYD Atto 3 in China, which is a better comparison, and would make it closer to $40,000 if it ever landed here.Toyota only sells its in-house developed bZ4X in Australia, with prices starting at more than $71,000, drive-away.The bZ3X is built as part of Toyota’s partnership with Chinese brand GAC.It shares its underpinnings with GAC’s Aion V electric SUV, which is due to go on sale in Australia this year.In China the bZ3X is available with three different sizes of lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) batteries: 50kWh, 58kWh and 68kWh. Driving range is either 430km, 520km or 610km depending on the size of the battery. All these ranges are calculated using the more lenient China Light-duty vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC), expect range to be about 20 per cent worse if using the benchmark WLTP measurement. It is powered by a single electric motor that makes either 150kW or 165KW, depending on the variant, and drives the front wheels.It is also fitted with advanced self driving technology, which is a major selling point in China. It also has a huge 14.6-inch central multimedia display and a smaller digital driver display.Reports out of China indicate it is already a hit with buyers, with more than 10,000 orders in the first hour.Toyota has given no indication as to whether the bZ3X would be sold outside of China, so the chances of it coming here are low.Never say never, though. Mazda said its EZ-6 electric sedan built with its Chinese partner Changan was only for China, until it wasn’t. That car has been confirmed as the Mazda 6e that will go on sale in Europe and fellow right-hand drive market the UK, which opens the door for Mazda’s formerly China-only EV to be sold here.

Toyota Australia has spruiked its ‘multi-pathway approach to decarbonisation’ for years now, in a bid to avoid putting all its emission-cutting eggs in one basket.One of those pathways, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), is starting to take in Australia — along with conventional hybrids (which Toyota is immensely well-versed in).Toyota Australia's approach to PHEVs is, as the company’s Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations Sean Hanley said, slow so far.“Well, at the moment, we don't have any in Australia, that's where we're sitting right now. But in the future, you'll definitely see plug-in hybrids, PHEVs, as part of our product portfolio.”In the last couple of years, Hanley has told CarsGuide PHEVs are his expectation for the ‘next big rise’ in electrification, and the increase in uptake for the tech isn’t proving him wrong so far.So, if PHEVs are the next big thing, where are Toyota’s? Certainly not in Australia, despite the company having some on offer globally — especially in the US where a PHEV version of the RAV4 and Prius are available.While Toyota was happy to lead the way when it came to conventional hybrids more than 20 years ago, it seems like the brand’s local arm is waiting for the tech to mature a little more before locking it in for Australia.“PHEV… it's going to go gangbusters, right?” Hanley told CarsGuide.“Because especially in the later part of this decade, when I think you're going to find battery technology will have evolved to a point where you're going to get a fairly decent range on an EV charge.“It's still not going to be 500kms, because you might as well go to BEV if you're going to do that.“But if you can get a PHEV that gives 200 kilometres on a normal driving cycle, city driving and I'm not saying towing. BEVs and PHEVs, let's be clear, still have their anomalies. You tow, you turn the air conditioner on, all these things impact battery power.“So I'm talking about a normal drive, but if you had 200kms from a PHEV, that's a very good technology for Australia. So I think PHEVs will rise.”We asked if that means Toyota doesn’t see the tech as being quite right for the market just yet, but Hanley clarified: “No, no. It's an evolution.”“I mean, we don't have that vehicle, as of right now.“But what I'm saying in that comment is that if we can ever get to that point, and there's no doubt that battery technology will evolve to that point, that makes plug-in hybrid an incredibly engaging and appealing power train.”When asked if that means the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid (or Prime as it was previously known in the US) could become an option in Australia, Hanley said it might be some way down the line.“We may in the future. But, you know, in the meantime you got a few years, I think, before that day is coming.“But ideally, if you get to 200km that would be utopia.”Hanley’s not personally averse to the idea of PHEVs, having spent quite some time behind the wheel of a plug-in from Toyota’s premium arm, Lexus.“In the meantime, I was happy driving an NX450h, which gave me my 80 kilometres or thereabouts, you know, charge it every night. I was basically running EV, but if that had 200km, that would have been good.”Globally, PHEVs are starting to be updated and improved with battery ranges well above 100km for EV driving, so over the next few years it could be worth watching the development of battery tech for hybrids to see just how suitable for Australia Toyota finds them before the end of the decade.

Ford has hit back at Toyota’s suggestions that the ute market is softening, claiming the addition of the all-new Ranger PHEV (plug-in hybrid) and Ranger Super Duty should keep the Blue Oval’s ute on top in 2025.

Here are the changes that we would like to see on the 2026 Ford Ranger facelift.

CarsGuide’s data analytics team has crunched the numbers to find out how well popular mid-sized SUVs hold their value. This insight means you can buy a new car now knowing it’ll likely be a resale winner when the time comes to sell it.

Toyota Australia has announced that 524 LandCruiser Prados sold locally have been recalled due to an assembly fault when fitting the optional Electric Brake Controller.Its cross-platform twin, the Lexus GX550, has also been impacted, with 28 Australian examples affected by the recall.According to Toyota and Lexus an error in fitting instructions for the Electric Brake Controller, which is designed to synthesise the vehicle's brakes with a trailer’s brakes, the lower driver’s airbag (which was removed during the accessory fitment) may have been reinstalled using the incorrect torque.Toyota and Lexus said: “This may cause the bolts to loosen and the airbag may not deploy as designed in the event of a collision, which could increase the risk of injury or death to vehicle occupants.”The issue only impacts Prados with build dates of between June 24 2024 and October 3 2024, while only GX550s built between March 6 2024 and September 17 2024 have been impacted.Both brands will contact owners of affected vehicles to arrange an inspection of the Electric Brake Controller, and if required, complete the recall free of charge. This will take approximately one hour.LandCruiser Prado owners can check if their VIN number on the list of affected vehicles here, while GX550 owners can check their VIN numbers here.

The Toyota GR Corolla is aiming to strike a balance between daily runabout and rally-honed hot hatch with some updates to boot. Is Toyota's rival to the VW Golf R up to the task?

The car that really kicked off Toyota's GR performance sub-brand is back and better than before, or so Toyota says. We put that to the test on the road and on track.

The new-car industry's soft start to 2025 continued in February, with key models like the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger recording sales falls, electric vehicles stalling and the entire market dropping almost 10 percent on the same time last year.

Toyota is preparing its new Corolla small car, which is expected to arrive in 2026.The new Corolla is expected to bring some much-needed upgrades with new hybrid powertrains.Japanese outlet, Best Car, has given us a glimpse of the new Corolla with some digital imaginings.At the heart of the new Corolla is expected to be the new 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, which is being developed along with a 2.0-litre unit.These new engines are being prepared to better accommodate electrification and will be at the heart of the brand’s new range of vehicles.The next-generation Corolla will be available with this new hybrid engine and is expected to boost power to about 110kW, up from 103kW.Improved fuel economy is the main aim of these engines and the new Corolla is expected to beat its current 4.0L/100km range and reduce its CO2 emission.This is a vital improvement as the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), which sets CO2 thresholds in Australia and fines carmakers that miss it, starts to bite from 2027 onwards.The new Corolla is also expected to be fitted with plug-in hybrid tech.There has been speculation the Corolla could use plug-in hybrid tech borrowed from BYD, but that is becoming increasingly unlikely.Instead Toyota could use an updated version of its plug-in hybrid system used in its Prius Prime and RAV4 Prime overseas and based on its new family of engines.This means the 1.5-litre engine could be paired with a more potent electric motor and a circa-15kWh battery to deliver meaningful electric-only range.BestCar reports the next-gen Corolla will be available in a range of body types including hatchback, sedan and wagon. Toyota isn’t expected to bring the wagon version to Australia with the majority of small-car buyers gravitating towards hatchbacks.The current-generation Corolla first went on sale in 2018, so is due to be replaced in 2026. Keep an eye out for the reveal at the 2025 Tokyo motor show in October.