Toyota Coaster Reviews

You might not have heard of CATL, but you’ll have heard of the brands its electric car batteries are used in: Toyota, Hyundai, Tesla and plenty of others.

Is Toyota preparing two completely different utes to replace the ageing current HiLux in Australia from next year? The first is the widely-speculated but as-yet publicly unconfirmed facelift of today’s eight-generation HiLux, while the second is new-from-the-ground up production version of the EPU (Electric Pick-Up) dual-cab concept that debuted at the 2023 Tokyo motor show.

Can you have too much of a good thing? Australians love utes and in recent years we’ve seen more and more brands look to capitalise on that, but it may not be a case of the more the merrier.

Subaru has debuted its seventh-generation Outback at the New York Motor Show overnight and the popular family favorite looks more like an SUV than ever.

Toyota Australia has announced a suite of upgrades for its popular LandCruiser 300 Series in exchange for range-wide price increases of up to $2029.Starting with the base-grade, five-seat GX, it now starts at $97,990 before on-road costs, $999 more than it did last year.In return, it adds additional advanced driver-assist features, including lane trace assist with steering wheel vibration, emergency steering assist and emergency driving stop. Parking lines have also been added to the GX’s reverse camera.Its multimedia screen has been downgraded from 9.0-inches to 8.0-inches (as with the GXL), thought it now has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which has also been standardised across the line-up. Additionally, its semi-analogue 7.0-inch driver’s display has also been upgraded to a fully digital unit.Next up, the seven-seat GXL’s price has risen to $110,820 before on-road costs, a rise of $2029. It adds safe exit assist over the GX, as well as a rear parking support brake that helps detect obstacles when reversing out of parking spaces.The GXL carries the same new multimedia and digital driver’s display configuration as the GX, while its two-zone climate control has been upgraded to four-zone. Additionally, the centre console is now a cool box, with suede-like upholstery, an eight-way electronically-powered driver’s seat with lumbar support, 40/20/40 split-folding second-row seats and a second-row centre armrest also now standard.Stepping up to the popular VX grade, it is now priced at $122,510 before on-road costs, up $1519 on last year. It adopts a new 12.3-inch digital driver’s display to match its carryover 12.3-inch multimedia unit, while a HDMI port replaces the existing DVD/CD player for media playback.Toyota has also added a power tailgate, as well as eight-way powered adjustments to the VX’s front passenger seats, which maintain synthetic leather upholstery, as well as heating and ventilation functionality.Despite a $1119 price rise, Toyota has made no updates to the Sahara grade. It keeps its leather-accented upholstery, ventilated outboard seats, dual rear passenger screens, a 14-speaker JBL system, a head-up display and heated steering wheel over the VX.The flagship five-seat GR Sport is now priced at $146,410 before on-road costs, $1369 more than last year. It adds a puddle light on the inside of the tailgate, while maintaining exclusive front and rear locking differentials, a e-KDSS electronic sway-bar disconnect and unique GR styling.Headlining the LandCruiser 300 Series range, as before, is the seven-seat Sahara ZX. It features a unique grille and bumper design, 20-inch alloy wheels, a carbon-look steering wheel, a tailgate kick sensor and a Torsen rear torque-sensing limited slip differential.Again, despite an $1119 price rise equating to a new starting price of $146,910 before on-road costs, Toyota has made no additional changes to the Sahara ZX.As before, all LandCruiser 300 Series variants are powered by a 3.3-litre twin-turbo-diesel V6 engine that sends 226kW/700Nm to all four wheels through a ten-speed automatic transmission.

Behold, Australia’s most expensive Toyota!

The world's most popular nameplate is still Australia's most popular small passenger car. The current-generation Toyota Corolla hatchback is getting on now, but is it still a solid offering in a sea of small SUVs?

Thanks to five World Rally Championship (WRC) titles and a devout following among performance car enthusiasts, in less than five years Toyota’s pint-sized GR Yaris has achieved hot hatch icon status.And not content to rest on its laurels, the Japanese giant has continuously evolved the compact turbocharged all-wheel drive package since it emerged in late 2020.In fact, its latest upgrade arrived here just last month, with more power, a refreshed interior and the option of an eight-speed automatic transmission alongside the existing six-speed manual gearbox.Now Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) has confirmed another GR Yaris evolution, developed with what it says are “insights gained from motorsports”.Specifically, the WRC, domestic Super Taikyu Series and Japanese Rally Championship where TGR operates under the slogan "Thanks for breaking it", directed at drivers pushing these competition cars to their limits and beyond. And prepare yourself for some hardcore nerdy content because some of the updates are closer to a suspension engineer’s fever dream than a conventional running change.For example, “Special bolts with a high level of fastening rigidity” have been deployed to help fasten chassis components with the aim of improving steering response, straight-line stability and an “evolved sense of oneness with the car”.The shock absorbers have been re-calibrated and the EPS (Electronic Power Steering) re-tuned “to accommodate changes to the bolts that fasten chassis parts” and  “accommodate increased torque used to tighten a portion of the conventional bolts”.In one instance the bolts partially securing the front lower arms and lower ball joints change from a 22mm to 24mm head size, and the fasteners locating the top of the rear dampers now feature a stronger faceted flange rather than a flat one. TGR Super GT and Super Formula driver Kazuya Oshima was recruited to help refine shock absorber damping force for better control and ride comfort and also improve the steering’s linearity.A drift and rally-style ‘vertical parking brake’ will be offered as an option on all trim levels, the full suite of ‘Toyota Safety Sense’ features will now be standard across the range and the footrest on automatic models has been enlarged.Speaking of which, the auto transmission has been “further honed” by expanding the speed range for downshifting (second to first gear) via the paddle shifter when in Drive, “improving the sense of directness” near the redline when selecting ‘Sport’ in manual mode and optimising up-shift timing during full-throttle acceleration.Three trim levels will be offered in the Japanese domestic market with the flagship RZ "High performance" GR Yaris “tuned to provide speed and controllability at the limit of performance with a view to aggressive circuit driving”.At the same time, an ‘Aero Performance Package’ will become available in Japan later this year, featuring elements designed to “address every single issue encountered during racing and circuit evaluations”.The package includes a ducted aluminium hood, front lip spoiler, fender ducts, a fuel tank undercover, variable rear wing and rear bumper ducts.TGR says orders for the updated GR Yaris are open in Japan now with domestic sales to commence on May 6. Prices range from the equivalent of $39,600 for the entry-level RC manual, to $59,300 for the top-spec RZ High Performance auto.For reference, the current two-model Australian line-up starts at $55,490, before on-road costs for the GT manual and tops out at $62,990 (BOC) for the GTS auto.When asked if the latest evolution of the GR Yaris would be offered locally a Toyota spokesperson told CarsGuide, “GR is an increasingly important part of our line-up, bringing added fun and excitement to our customers and our brand with innovations such as the evolved GR Yaris and the optional aero performance package. In Australia, we are keen to evaluate any new GR products should they become available for our market,” they said.

The Ford Ranger is undergoing an evolution that will see Australia’s best-selling vehicle grow in size as well as scope, as it fends off the coming Toyota HiLux facelift and all-new rivals like the Kia Tasman, MG U9 and next-gen Nissan Navara. These are new niche programs and models that should shore up the current T6.2 architecture’s viability into the next decade for Australia.

Polestar Australia and the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) have slammed the Coalition’s proposed plan to scrap fines for carmakers that exceed emissions targets under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES) if it wins the federal election in May.