Toyota Raize Reviews

Reports from Japan indicate the much-anticipated ‘mini’ LandCruiser FJ is readying for launch. 

Volvo has launched a more rugged Cross Country variant of its electric EX30 SUV.

Toyota is on a roll for car enthusiasts.It has recently updated the GR Yaris and GR Corolla, with the former expected to get an even more hardcore version in March. According to Japanese outlet BestCar, known for its insider sources, there is a fire-breathing GRMN version of the GR Yaris hot hatch on the way.Japanese GR Yaris fans will be more familiar with the GRMN recipe, Toyota having released a limited 500-unit batch of the pre-facelift version in January 2022. This time around, it could be a more global proposition. BestCar’s renders show a more hardcore take on the facelifted GR Yaris. It features a carbon fibre roof and bonnet, lower ride height and aerodynamic features such as canards, a front lip spoiler and rear wing.Enlarged intakes in the front bumper would feed the air intake and brake cooling ducts. Inside, a pair of Recaro bucket seats are shown, lowering the seating position. The original Yaris GRMN featured similar racing seats with side airbags for safety. According to BestCar, there are internal murmurings at Toyota that the GRMN brand, which stands for Gazoo Racing Meisters of the Nurburgring, is currently underutilised. Hence, a new version of Yaris GRMN. The previous iteration had greater body rigidity thanks to 545 more spot welds, 10mm wider stance, and sat 10mm lower. Weight was reduced by 20kg, a different mechanical limited-slip differential added and gear ratios shortened.Power was unchanged at 200kW, however Toyota has now boosted the little Yaris rally rocket’s power to 224kW and torque 400Nm. An eight-speed automatic transmission is also available and may feature in a GRMN version. Personalised packs were available in Japan, including a Circuit Pack with bigger brakes, lighter wheels, adjustable Bilstein dampers and carbon fibre aerodynamic pieces. The Rally Pack changed the dampers, sway bars, added underbody protection and internal roll bar. The original Yaris GRMN from 2018 was a 156kW, front-wheel-drive supercharged oddity based on the third-gen hatch.It is too early to say whether Australia will get the more hardcore GRMN version of the GR Yaris. While Toyota Oz did bring in the GR Corolla Morizo, the 320kW GR Supra Final Edition with its track-oriented KW suspension, oil baffles, sticky tyres, underbody bracing racing seats and more is not coming here.If Toyota chooses to import a GRMN version of the GR Yaris, expect pricing beyond $80,000 putting it well above the Hyundai i30 N and Honda Civic Type R, and into the territory of the Volkswagen Golf R, BMW M135 and Audi S3.

Toyota's most expensive ute – and vehicle – has failed to take flight so far in Australia, with the HiLux-dwarfing Tundra shifting just 60 units in January.That positions it in last place in its segment, behind the Ford F-150 (230 units), the Ram 1500 (212 units) and the Chevrolet Silverado (171 units). Only the even larger version of Ram's American pickup truck sold less units, with the 2500 moving 34 units.It's a far cry from the strong start Toyota expected, with the brand in celebrating the model's start-of-sale in November by declaring the Tundra would "hold its own".“This car, for its market, is very healthy and it’s going to have a good start. No problem,” Senior Toyota executive Sean Hanley told CarsGuide in November. .“Whether that’s sustainable, we’ll have to see. Whether that market segment keeps growing is interesting."“But I think Tundra will hold its own.”The executive went on to flag the Tundra's "good, strong demand", before saying the Walkinshaw team behind the remanufacturing program "have got good employment prospects.”Walkinshaw, Toyota's remanufacturing partner in Australia, felt just as bullish, with executives telling media production was being ramped up to five vehicles per day, or up to 110 per month. That would put annual production at around 1300 vehicles, where as January's demand would put the annual result at more like 720 units.In fact, as of November last year, a reported 600 Tundras had already been converted.Sales, however, haven't matched that target, making it a rarity in Toyota world – a vehicle in which supply outstrips demand.It's worth pointing out that some 300 vehicles were delivered to customer and staff as part of the testing and validation phase, and the brand recorded some 89 units in November, 136 in December, and 60 in January. That's a total 585 vehicles, which won't have exhausted the 600 vehicles converted by mid-November, without considering any that have been converted since.It's early days for the Tundra in Australia, but only time will tell if the model reaches the heights of other Toyota models in our market.Toyota Australia said: "It’s very early days, but we are pleased with the response to Tundra since its official launch in the middle of November. Our forward orders are in line with our forecasts and we look forward to expanding the line up with the introduction of a new premium grade in Q2 2025."

The 2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado (aka the 250 Series) is big news: it's larger than previous versions of the Prado and it is now able to tow the industry standard 3500kg rather than the 3000kg the previous generation is limited to.It also looks a lot different to the softer style of Prados past. But does being bolder and bigger make it better?

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.

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.

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.

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. The Toyota Granvia people mover has also been given the chop. 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. 

Car companies are living on borrowed time.