2012 Toyota Prius C Hybrid Vs 2012 Toyota Yaris

2012 Toyota Prius C Hybrid Vs 2012 Toyota Yaris: MPG Battle.

Road Trip Report: 2012 Toyota Camry

Road Trip Report: 2012 Toyota Camry – chicagotribune.com.

Highlander Hybrid Awarded “Excellent” Rating By Consumer Reports

Once again showcasing its unique combination of high fuel-efficiency and high quality, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid went up against two redesigned rivals—the VW Touareg TDI and Ford Explorer—in recent testing by the automotive experts at Consumer Reports. The bottom line: The Highlander topped both competitors, thanks to an “Excellent” score in the CR’s road tests.

Toyota Highlander

Unsurprisingly, the fuel-sipping Toyota also posts better EPA lines than the other two, even taking into consideration the Touareg’s diesel powerplant. The Highlander Hybrid is EPA-certified to achieve 28 mpg city/28 mpg highway/28 mpg combined—that’s 8 mpg higher than the Ford in terms of combined fuel-efficiency ratings, and 6 mpg better than the VW. And remember, the Highlander achieves that performance even though it’s configured with four-wheel drive to offer the kind of capabilities drivers expect from an SUV.

A key is the Highlander Hybrid’s unique powertrain, which boasts both a powerful 3.5-liter V6 engine and two electric motors: one to help drive the front wheels and one for the rears. This means the vehicle gets the benefit of four-wheel drive without the need for weight-adding components like power-transfer gearing or a driveshaft connecting the rear motor to the front. In addition, the Highlander Hybrid features selectable “EV mode” driving functionality that allows all-electric, no-emissions driving in certain conditions, along with a new ECON drive mode that adjusts throttle response for optimum fuel economy.

Thoroughly refreshed for the 2011 model year, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is on sale now in Macon @ Butler Toyota.

The 5th Generation 4Runner

Toyota 4Runner

There is a lot to love about the 2011 Toyota 4Runner.The rugged sport utility vehicles stand out in a packed crowd of them in the marketplace.The fifth-generation 4Runner brings to mind confidence, competence and coolness.
The V-6, 270-horsepower 4Runner (that also comes in a V-8 model) has received a plethora of awards. The latest is a thumbs-up on dependability from J.D. Power & Associates.
2011 Toyota 4Runner» Engine: 4-liter, dual overhead cam, 24-valve V-6; 270 horsepower; 278 foot-pounds torque» Transmission: 5-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission» Fuel economy: 17 mpg city, 22 mpg highway» MSRP: From $29,705The 4Runner Trail 4×4. is for the outdoor enthusiast, providing tremendous performance.
The 2011 Toyota 4Runner, the second year of this fifth-generation model, has a bold, powerful look with rugged, square-shaped bumpers, wide fender flares, 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels and oversized headlamps. The standard roof rack is ideal for those that want to haul kayaks, luggage or their latest Ikea purchase.
The Trail model has high ground clearance, black s

ide mirrors, and sophisticated smoked headlights and taillamps. Nothing like looking good while getting there.
The 4Runner’s  ride is ultra-smooth and quiet. Toyota credits that to the vehicle’s body-on-frame construction and new suspension technology.
This generation Trail-grade 4Runner has some features the automaker formerly offered exclusively on the Land Cruiser. Those systems smooth the ride and keep the midsize SUV under control and stable on bumpy terrain.

The interior features leather and other high-grade materials with all kinds of user-friendly gadgetry including a compass, off-road control switches, comfy seats (front and back), a 40/20/40 second-row seat configuration, and a killer audio system with eight speakers, XM, iPod and hands-free phone connectivity, and plenty more where that came from.Tailgater alert: There’s a standard “party mode” audio setting that raises bass and shifts the sound to the rear of the vehicle.

If you want to get around town and country with plenty of ease, you owe it to yourself to check out the 2011 Toyota 4 Runner.

You can experience the 4 Runner for yourself right here in Macon at Butler Toyota.

Toyota Tacoma at Butler Toyota

The Tacoma is ready for you

The 2011 Toyota Tacoma is the best selling compact pickup five years running. While some competitors, such as the Ford Explorer Sport Trac, are bowing out of the compact pickup segment all together, Toyota has expanded is presences by adding five new trims to the Tundra line up. Of course, the term compact doesn’t necessarily mean small, as the Toyota dwarfs the Ford Ranger and Chevrolet Colorado in every area that counts. It’s now more akin to the midsize Dodge Dakota and Nissan Frontier, and not all together much smaller than some full-size regular cab pickups. And, while the Frontier and Dakota are worthy competitors, neither can match the Tacoma’s excellent resale value and overall history of reliability.
If you’re looking for a capable pickup larger than a Chevrolet Colorado, but not as massive as a Ford F-150, the 2011 Toyota Tacoma deserves your attention. Beyond its cult-like following, many consumer groups rank the Tacoma at the top of their reliability and repair charts.
Five new fuel-efficient models join the Tacoma lineup for 2011, all equipped with the 2.7-liter engine. New trims include the T|X and T|X Pro Package, both based on last year’s SEMA concept trucks. New features for 2011 include standard air conditioning on Regular Cab models and satellite radio on all models equipped with the six-disc CD changer.
The 2011 Toyota Tacoma’s roomy interior includes a recessed, three-ring instrument cluster that looks handsome and is easily viewable from the driver’s seat no matter what the driver’s size. Most, if not all of the controls are easy to reach and adjust, and steering wheel-mounted controls for the radio are available. The Tacoma’s firm seats include firm bolstering in key areas and numerous adjustable points to support most body types and sizes. Access Cab models feature a small rear seat area suitable only for short trips. Frequent four-passenger journeys are best suited for the Double Cab, which features big back doors that open wide for easy entry and exit.

The 2011 Toyota Tacoma combines classic Toyota truck styling with some of the oversized features commonly found on full-size domestic trucks. A new grille and more trims this year expand the Tacoma’s wide-ranging personality profile, touting oversized headlamps, chrome or black-out grille treatment and an assortment of wheel and tire packages. As with all Toyota products, the Tacoma’s overall fit and finish are impeccable, with tight tolerances between body panels, glossy paint and doors the shut with a solid “thunk”. Unique features include a class-first roof-rack system on Double Cab models and integrated bed deck rails that can be used to secure optional accessories, such as the fork-mounted bike rack and diamond-plate storage boxes. The Tacoma’s bed features a protective composite bed liner that is both durable and light.

Both the four-cylinder and the V6 Tacoma engines feature Toyota’s VVT-i technology (Variable Valve Timing with intelligence) that minimizes the compromise between low-end torque and peak horsepower. Combined with a choice of four available transmissions, two- or four-wheel drive, three cab styles and more, Toyota makes it easy to get exactly the pickup you want. Maximum towing and payload capacities are 6,500 pounds and 1,535 pounds, respectively.}

Learn more about the Tacoma at your Macon Toyota Dealership.

How does the 4Runner stack up against the Grand Cherokee?

When it comes to utility vehicles with off-road capability, many might think of the Jeep Grand Cherokee. However, a close examination of the 2011 Toyota 4Runner and the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee reveals that the 4Runner excels at off-road ability, roominess and value in comparison to the redesigned Grand Cherokee.

The fifth-generation Toyota 4Runner enters 2011 ready to take on the newest Grand Cherokee. But is the Grand Cherokee up to the test? Start with popular model configurations – the 4Runner SR5 4×4 and the Grand Cherokee Laredo 4×4 with a V6 engine. An MSRP of $31,265 starts the 2011 4Runner at a $950 price advantage over the Jeep. However, you need to add equipment to the Jeep to make it comparably equipped to the 4Runner, and when you do, the 4Runner’s advantage grows to over $6,000. As you’ll see, the 2011 4Runner offers a number of features – a third-row seat among them – that the Jeep Grand Cherokee does not.

Both the Toyota 4Runner and Jeep Grand Cherokee come equipped with fully modern V6 engines, but the 4Runner offers a distinct advantage in torque – 278 lb/ft at 4,400 rpm vs. 260 lb/ft at 4,800 rpm in the Jeep. So, the 4Runner will feel more responsive in all types of driving, and it also delivers 17 mpg in city driving vs. 16 for the Grand Cherokee 4×4 V6.

Now, consider some facts about every day usage. If you value cargo capacity in an SUV, you’ll definitely appreciate the extra 12.1 cubic feet of space the 4Runner offers behind the second-row seat compared to the Grand Cherokee (47.2 cubic feet in the Toyota vs. 35.1 in the Jeep). Now, consider the practicality of features like park distance sensors, a universal garage door opener and a full-size spare tire; they’re all standard on the 2011 Toyota 4Runner and extra-cost options on the 2011 Grand Cherokee.

The 4Runner even comes standard with a Towing Package and trailer hitch; both are optional on the Grand Cherokee. Now you have an idea of why, in adding options to the Grand Cherokee, you can end up some $6,000 more expensive than a Toyota 4Runner.

Next, consider a valuable safety feature that comes standard on the 4Runner, but that you can’t add to the Grand Cherokee at any price – Brake Assist. In an emergency situation, Brake Assist is designed to detect sudden or “panic” braking and adds the full pressure needed to stop the vehicle as quickly as possible. This additional brake pressure can help the driver avoid hitting something that suddenly veers into the vehicle’s path for example.

In terms of off-road capability, the Toyota 4Runner draws on over 50 years of expertise and counts among its brand siblings the legendary Land Cruiser and FJ Cruiser models. Like those vehicles, the 4Runner is built around robust body-on-frame construction vs. the Jeep’s unit body construction. The 4Runner also provides 9.6 inches of ground clearance vs. the Grand Cherokee’s 8.6 inches, and the 4Runner comes standard with underbody protection including skid plates for the engine, front suspension, radiator, fuel tank (and transfer case on 4X4 models). Such protection, which is vital in off-road travel, is optional on the Grand Cherokee.

Hill Start Assist Control is standard on all 4Runner models, and you can add trail capability with the aptly named 4Runner Trail model, which adds a locking rear differential and Multi-terrain Select and CRAWL Control features. With CRAWL, the vehicle follows a set speed on hills, leaving the driver to simply steer. This kind of technology not only puts the 4Runner ahead of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, but ahead of Land Rover models as well.

Come in and see why with a test drive at Butler Toyota in Macon.