Tag Archives: Toyota

2026 Toyota Crown Platinum

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Yes, electrified. Yes, a hybrid. Yes, the top trim. But no, not amazing mpgs. . .

By Gary S. Vasilash

The people who operate the Toyota shopping site know that while EVs may have lost luster, in the context of gas prices that have shot up significantly as of late, there is a bit more interest in not to have to pump so many dollars into one’s tank.

So where they can—and there are a lot of where’s there—they label vehicles as “Hybrid EV.”

Even though Toyota has been offering hybrids in the US for 26 years—yes, the Prius was launched in 2000—there are probably those who are still wondering just what a hybrid is.

So by calling them a “Hybrid EV” there might be some benefit at the moment.

But I would argue that they are actually making the wrong move, just as I thought Toyota did when the infotainment screens in a Prius would focus on the flow of energy from the engine to the wheels and the wheels to the battery: ideally people simply drive and let the propulsion system work behind the scenes. I really don’t care how the computer I am writing this on does what it is doing, and I suspect you don’t care how the website you are looking at right now puts words and images on your screen.

The point is, the Crown Platinum is a hybrid.

Yes, it has a fuel filler neck just like on probably every vehicle you’ve ever driven.

No, it doesn’t have any place to plug it in.

It has an engine, a 264-hp turbocharged 2.4-liter four. But it also has supplemental electric motors in the front and the back and it even has a nickel-metal hydride battery for purposes of propulsion.

So the Crown Platinum—yes, the top-of-the-line—produces, with the engine and the motors, 340 hp and 400.4 lb-ft of torque. What’s more, it has full-time electronic all-wheel drive (which basically means that the vehicle figures out when all the wheels need to be powered and when they don’t).

Yes, that is the Toyota Crown Platinum in front of appropriately swanky digs. (Image: Toyota)

But here’s something that is somewhat non-hybridesque in the minds of those who think about hybrids: the Crown Platinum is not exactly the sort of thing that is going to keep you from visiting gas stations with some frequency: It doesn’t provide the sort of fuel efficiency that a “hybrid” brings to mind.

It has an estimated fuel economy of 29/32/30 mpg (city/highway/combined).

By way of comparison, a 2026 Toyota Camry XSE AWD—the least fuel-efficient Camry (all Camrys are hybrids)—returns 44/43/44 mpg.

And know that all of the other Crown trims–XLE and Limited—have estimated fuel economies of 42/41/41 mpg.

But they aren’t as powerful as the Platinum, having a combined system horsepower of 236, not 340, in large part because the internal combustion engine is different, as is the transmission (the Platinum has a six-speed automatic and the others an electronically controlled CVT).

The MSRP difference is notable, too, as the entry XLE starting at $41,440 and the Platinum $54,990.

But the Platinum brings with it more stuff than just a more powerful powertrain.

Like an Adaptive Variable Suspension that uses variable oil pressure in the shock absorbers to minimize pitch when going into a turn at speed as well as (and this is probably more important for people who are going to buy a hybrid sedan) attenuate some of the bumps on bumpy surfaces. There is also Active Cornering Assist, again to help when making turns by reducing understeer.

While this is a feature that was once talked about more, it has an Advanced Park system that can perform hands-off parking, parallel or perpendicular.

There is a 10-inch head-up display. There are standard 21-inch wheels. A hands-free power trunk (yes, a regular trunk with 15.2-cubic feet of cargo space).

The Crown is an interesting sedan, one that replaced the Avalon in the U.S. market.

In the Japanese market the Crown badge was the flagship model (there is one above it: Century, which was a niche model compared to the Crown; Century is now being established as a brand above Lexus). As the flagship, it has nice materials and tech, so know the Crown Platinum ticks the boxes in that space.

Still, there’s the 27% reduction in fuel efficiency between the Platinum and its other trim mates, which makes me wonder.

Toyota 2026 bZ XLE

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Something to know about some numbers. . .

By Gary S. Vasilash

Some people spend a lot of time searching out stats before buying a vehicle, which is certainly a good thing to do because there is that very big stat, which is the MSRP, which then comes along with plenty of additions that make what might have started out as a reasonable number a whole lot higher.

When it comes to electric vehicles, one of the stats that is highly significant is range: how many miles the vehicle is expected to go on a full charge of its battery.

(It has occurred to me that there are few vehicles powered by gasoline that ever even talked about range. Miles per gallon, which is more about efficiency than anything else, yes, but range? The only ad I can remember touting range was in the mid-teens, pre-Dieselgate, when two guys were driving a VW Golf TDI across country and refueling wasn’t an issue because the vehicle had a combined range of nearly 500 miles.)

So if someone looks at the range stat for a 2023 Toyota bZ4X XLE FWD they’re going to see a range of 252 miles. Since that 2023 model Toyota has dropped the last two alphanumerics on the name and made some other changes.

Like the range of the 2026 bZ XLE FWD being 235 miles.

Toyota bZ. Charged up. (Images: Toyota)

Clearly a move in the wrong direction, right?

What’s more (or less) is that the power output of the 2023 model is 201 hp. It is 168 hp in the 2026 model.

But then we get to the really important number, the base MSRP for each of the vehicles.

For the 2023 XLE FWD it was $42,000.

For the 2026 XLE FWD it is $34,600.

Toyota did something else for the 2026 model.

It added the XLE FWD Plus model.

It provides 314 miles of range. It generates 221 hp. And it has a starting price of $39,100.

And it—and the other bZ trims—has the NACS charging port (a.k.a., the Tesla port) so the bZ can use Tesla Superchargers. (It also comes with an adapter so it can use the non-Tesla CCS stations, too.).

A most interesting feature of the bZ is it offers support for Apple Maps EV Routing via Apple CarPlay. What this means is that Apple Maps has access to real-time vehicle information so that drivers can get routed to chargers on their way to wherever they’re going. Not only does it take into account the battery performance and charge, but any elevation changes along the way (which, again, is something that drivers of ICE vehicles pay little attention to unless they are traversing the Alps or something). This is displayed on the bZ’s 14-inch multimedia screen.

Know that Toyota has developed its own operating system (Arene) so it is not wholly relying on third parties like Apple.

Apple Maps connect to the system to help drivers find charging stations along their routes.

But it clearly recognizes lots of customers—including customers of EVs—are part of the Apple ecosystem and want to use it, something that General Motors thinks isn’t particularly important.

The 2026 bZ is a competent car crossover. (It looks like an enlarged hatch, not like any of the other Toyota crossovers, with the exception of the Crown, which also seems very car-like to me.)

Going back to the spreadsheet, there are a total five variants of the bZ, the two mentioned, as well as the XLE AWD (288 miles; 338 hp), Limited FWD (299 miles; 221 hp), and Limited AWD (278 miles, 338 hp).

2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro

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Even if you have no intention of taking on trying conditions, this truck has got to make you smile just looking at it

By Gary S. Vasilash

If there is any television segment that is more popular than “Saturday Night Live’s” “More cowbell!” it has to be that of Jeremy Clarkson in the early days of Top Gear—series 3, episode 5—when he takes a beat-up Toyota Hilux pickup truck and beats the you-know-what out of it.

If you haven’t seen it, here you go.

It is amazing what that midsize truck can take.

Now the Toyota Hilux and the Toyota Tacoma are relatives, but they are not the same vehicle.

While the Hilux is engineered for an array of global markets—including places on the globe where demanding circumstances are just the order of the day—the Tacoma is engineered for the North American market where, let’s face it, there is a desire for comfort, the latest tech, and the like.

But let’s face it: when you have the Hilux in your bloodline, the engineers who put together the Tacoma aren’t oblivious of what can be accomplished.

The 4th generation Tacoma, which debuted in model year 2024, is available in eight different trim packages–SR, SR5, TRD PreRunner, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, Limited, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter—each providing its own packages and available options.

Arguably because of the variety there was the possibility to tailor the Tacomas to their likely use, from daily driving to, well, traveling in extreme conditions.

Some times you just want to get out there. (Images: Toyota)

Which brings me to the TRD Pro.

The thing about this truck is that it is a toy dream-come-true for grownups. Grownups who can look at the base MSRP of $64,450 and see it as nothing unsurmountable, just as the truck seems as though there’s little it can’t overcome.

There’s cool stuff galore on the TRD Pro.

Like TRD-tuned FOX Quick Switch 3 adjustable internal bypass shocks with rear remote reservoirs. External FOX Internal Floating Piston (IFP) rear bump stops. An ARB steel rear bumper with recovery hook. Rigid Industries LED fog lights.

And a plethora of Toyota tech, too.

One of the elements that indicates just how serious this all is: the IsoDynamic Performance front seats.

You know when the seat is engineered to this extent, this truck is built to take it.

Yes, there are those clever shocks to deal with the structure of the truck, but in the case of this seat, there is an air-over-oil shock absorber system that accommodates lateral and vertical seat movement so that the head and neck stay better aligned with the spine.

Yes, under some driving conditions that isn’t a quick run for some milk, the head, neck and spine are certainly considerations.

And here’s another feature that just seems incredible: This model is a hybrid.

It has the i-FORCE MAX 2.4-liter turbocharged four that is integrated with a Toyota hybrid setup. It produces 326 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. The vehicle—and note it is a double-cab 4×4—is EPA stickered at 22 city, 24 highway, 23 mpg combined.

Yes it has a solid 10-speaker JBL audio system (and one of the speakers, the one on the top of the IP, can be removed for listening outside the truck. It has a 14-inch infotainment screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A moonroof. And, of course, the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 system with pre-collision.

One can only think that the engineers who put this truck together—especially this TRD Pro truck—had one hell of a good time.

2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid MAX Platinum

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Impressive, capable and even fuel-efficient. . .

By Gary S. Vasilash

The word “grand” isn’t used as much today as it once was.

Way back in the day, the Latin word was grandis, meaning “full-grown,” “big,” “great.”

Then that was picked up the French (grant, grand) and then moved over to Middle English, which added some meanings, including “important” and “magnificent.”

We use “grand” to designate $1,000.

We watch the Grand Prix races.

We sometimes eat a 1000 Grand candy bar.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee was launched in model year 1993.

The Pontiac Grand Prix went out of production with model year 2008.

The Dodge Grand Caravan—evidently the folks in Auburn Hills like the adjective—ended its decades-long run in 2020.

Toyota took up the mantle in model year 2024 with the Grand Highlander.

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One of the things that some people were concerned about who liked the Jeep Grand Cherokee was that grandis notwithstanding, it was a two-row SUV from its beginning in 1993.

Toyota rolled out with its Highlander SUV in 2001 and offered a third-row as an option. It wasn’t much of a third row if a row is supposed to accommodate people above the age of 5. The Highlander offers 28 inches of legroom.

In model year 2021 Jeep put a third row into the Grand Cherokee, creating the Jeep Grand Cherokee L. That “L,” presumably indicating “long,” put a row back there with 30.3 inches of legroom.

For model year 2024 Toyota decided that it wanted to up its game, so it brought out the Grand Highlander.

And one of the most notably grand things about it is the third row. It is designed to accommodate people who are “full-grown,” thereby getting back to that Latin etymology.

The legroom is 33.5 inches.

Grand, indeed.

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The name of this trim—one of 10 trims available—is certainly big: Grand Highlander Hybrid MAX Platinum.

2026 Toyota Grand Highlander: yes, it truly is grand. (Image: Toyota)

To dissect that, the “hybrid” part goes to the 2.4-liter turbo-charged four cylinder engine that’s supplemented by a front-mounted hybrid motor and a rear-mounted eAxle electric motor, all of which means total systems output of 362-hp and 332 lb-ft of torque and full-time electronic AWD (you don’t have to do anything; the system will figure out the demand).

Now here’s an impressive thing to know, also to the point of the hybrid: even though this model has a curb weight of 4,905 pounds, the estimated fuel economy is 26 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, 27 mpg combined.

That in a vehicle that can accommodate seven people in—dare I say?—grand comfort.

And it takes regular fuel.

Consider: this is a vehicle that’s 201.4 inches long, 78.3 inches wide, 70.1 inches high, and features an 8-inch ground clearance. This is a large vehicle with lots of visual presence. A large vehicle that is accommodating of the aforementioned seven adults. A large vehicle with plenty of technical amenities. A large vehicle that features a well-appointed cabin that is both quiet and immensely comfortable.

Yet it gets a combined 27 mpg.

And let’s take that number a bit further.

The fuel tank on this Grand Highlander has a 17.17-gallon capacity.

So let’s say that you’re a bit heavy-footed and are getting 25 mpg. And let’s round that capacity to 17 gallons.

This means that there is a possible range of 425 miles. You could drive from Memphis to St. Louis and still have some gas in the tank.

Of course, if you’re towing that number is going to be reduced. But the tow capacity is a notable number, too: 5,000 pounds.

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Inside, where it really matters, the Toyota Grand Highlander must make the product planners who work on the Lexus TX look over their cubicle walls. This Platinum trim is very nicely done.

The seats from front to rear are trimmed with leather. There are Ultrasuede insets. The front seats are heated and ventilated; the second row heated; the third row. . .well, they’re in the third row.

There is three-zone automatic climate control, so that’s a benefit throughout.

There is a 12.3-inch infotainment screen. There is an 11-speaker JBL audio system. There is a panoramic moonroof. There is a 10-inch color head-up display.

The color and material combinations in the cabin are absolutely well done.

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The base MSRP is $59,575.

Certainly not humble, but certainly not grand.

Arguably for all that it provides, it very well may be a bargain, which is certainly not something that you’d expect for something so grand.

2026 Toyota RAV4 Limited AWD

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Toyota’s continuous improvement ethos means that it does mess with success—it makes it better

By Gary S. Vasilash

The first Toyota hybrid, the Prius, was introduced in the US market in 2000.

In terms of chronological time, that’s a quarter century of putting electrified vehicles on the road.

Initially that road was somewhat bumpy as while that first-gen model had some serious fans, as is the case with anything with fans, there were those who weren’t supporters. There was all sorts of grumbling about how inefficient it is to have two propulsion systems and how that was something that Toyota simply could not do. (Many of these people were the same ones who grumbled about a decade before, when Lexus was introduced: it was impossible for the LS 400 to exist with a starting price of about $35,000—Detroit had years and years of Cadillacs and Lincolns so they knew that was the case.)

But Toyota continued with the Prius, generation after generation, and in addition it began putting hybrids into other models in the Toyota showroom (as well as the Lexus facilities).

2026 Toyota RAV4 Limited. (Images: Toyota)

And it made a tremendous statement with the model year 2025 Camry, offering it only as a hybrid. Consider: it has been the best-selling car in the US for decades (with 2025 sales it has held the crown for 24 consecutive years) and Toyota had sufficient confidence in not only the hybrid tech but the market acceptance to make that switch.

Although Toyota sells a lot of Camrys—through the third quarter of 2025, 234,426—it sells a tremendous number of RAV4 crossovers:

Through Q3 2025: 358,134.

To put that in perspective, the combined sales through Q3 of the Ford Bronco Sport (103,261), Escape (114,728), and Bronco (109,921) are fewer than the RAV4 sales: 327,910.

Or the number of Chevy Equinoxes sold through Q3 (203,583) can be added to the Ford Escape sales during the same period (114,728), and that sum, 318,311, is 39,823 units shy of the RAV4 sales.

All of which is to say that the RAV4 is an awfully popular vehicle.

So what did Toyota do for the sixth-generation, all-new 2026 RAV4?

It decided every model on offer—LE, XLE Premium, Limited, Woodland, SE, XSE, GR SPORT—is powered by a hybrid system: a 183-hp four that is supplemented by electric motor(s) such that in front-drive setups there is a total 226 hp and for AWD 236 hp.*

Those models fit in three categories: “Core,” “Rugged” and “Sport.” The Woodland is the “Rugged,” the SE, XSE and GR SPORT are the “Sport,” and the remaining are “Core.”

While it might be imagined that the “Core” models, like the Limited driven for this, would be less visually rugged than, say, the Woodland, on a macro view, the exterior design of the RAV4 is more truck-like than, say, the fourth-generation RAV4—which was the first to offer a hybrid (model year 2016).

All of the 2026 models have a chiseled look.

A purposeful interior.

And that chiseled approach carries into the cabin. While there is an extensive use of polymer-based materials (e.g., while the heated steering wheel is leather-trimmed and the armrests are, too, the front seats are heated and ventilated SofTex, a synthetic leather), the execution is such that it doesn’t look “plasticky,” but the materials are used to their advantage so they look and feel (i.e., there are soft-touch surfaces were one is likely to touch) appropriate.

One nice touch is a slot in the instrument panel that contains two Qi-compatible wireless charging surfaces so the driver and the passenger each have one. (There are also two 45-W USB C ports in the front, as well as a center console media USB-C port, and two 15-W USB-C charging ports in the rear.)

There is a 12.9-inch infotainment screen that runs the Toyota Audio Multimedia system developed by Toyota’s Plano, Texas-based Connected Technology team.

There is also a 12.3-inch LCD-based digital gauge cluster. (The Limited trim comes with a head-up display, too.)

Yes, there are buttons for a variety of functions, like for the front defroster (something necessary to get to quickly on a Michigan winter morning), and a (smallish) knob for the audio.

The vehicle provides 98.9 cubic feet of passenger room and 70.4 cubic feet (second row folded) for cargo.

Which brings me back to the hybrid powertrain.

In this AWD model the fuel economy numbers are 44 mpg city, 39 mpg highway, and 42 mpg combined. Which is certainly nice. (As electric vehicles are always touting range, here’s something to consider: the RAV4 has a 14.5-gallon gas tank. If you drove it to empty, based on the combined range you’d go 609 miles. Yes, there are emissions involved. But fewer than if you were to drive a non-hybrid to empty.)

But the thing is, the fifth-generation Toyota Hybrid System used in the RAV4 is transparent. It just works.

Were I to be working in a dealership I might skip using the word “hybrid” and just say, “This RAV4 gets great gas mileage on regular fuel” and leave it at that.

One of the reasons the original Prius had some problems was because people wanted to know where you plugged it in. (“What do you mean it just uses gas? How do those motor-generator things get power?”)

I suspect there are more than a few people who stay away from hybrids because they can’t figure out how they work. (“Will I be stranded on the side of the road when the battery runs down?”)

So leave it at: this is a powertrain that Toyota has spent 25 years working on and it just works.

With the RAV4 it is wrapped in a nice package. Period.

*There is also a plug-in hybrid RAV4, which has a combined output of 324 hp.

2026 Toyota Corolla Hybrid SE

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It’s got nice looks and the fifth-generation Toyota hybrid system. A competent combo. . .

By Gary S. Vasilash

“What kind of car is that?” my brother-in-law asked as we arrived for Thanksgiving.

“A Toyota Corolla.”

“They sure have come a long way,” he responded, shaking his head with a bit of disbelief. “Corollas didn’t look like that before.”

Yes, that’s true. Previously, Corollas had a design that indifference could be an appropriate response to. Not bad. But not the sort of thing that would cause comment like that which took place in this instance.

Now the Corolla is sporty in its styling, which is remarkable for a vehicle that, in all manifestations, has an MSRP of under $30,000 (from the Hatchback SE at $24,180 to the Hybrid XLE at $28,940).

Some people may be surprised to learn that that’s a Toyota Corolla. The style is notable, as is the fact that this model is fitted with a hybrid system that makes stops at gas stations comparatively infrequent. (Image: Toyota)

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And that there is a Corolla Hybrid makes the proposition for getting a highly fuel efficient vehicle that is sporty all the more interesting.

How efficient?

Well, here is the lineup and the EPA estimated fuel economy numbers for each:

  • LE/XLE: 53 / 46 / 50 city/highway/combined mpg
  • LE AWD: 51 / 44 / 48
  • SE: 50 / 43 / 47
  • SE AWD: 47 / 41 / 44

The Corolla Hybrid is powered by Toyota’s fifth-generation hybrid system. There is a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine as the core element. With the attendant electrification the propulsion system produces 130 hp and 105 lb-ft of torque.

While the styling might make it seem as though the Corolla Hybrid is something that goes really, really fast and gets there really, really fast, the acceleration and overall performance is more conventional compact car.

But again, it allows you to quickly go past gas stations for a longer period of time than is the case of some even bigger vehicles from other OEMs who are still working out their hybrid strategies.

And the available all-wheel drive (there is a rear-mounted electric motor that kicks in when needed, not only when the sensors determine slippery conditions, but when starting from a stop and getting on the throttle) is certainly a good feature.

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The vehicle as driven has the “SE Premium Package,” which means there is a 10.5-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia screen (the standard size is 8 inches), six audio speakers, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, and a wireless charger.

While the steering wheel is wrapped with leather, the seats are “Sport Fabric-trimmed), a.k.a. cloth.

A helpful and useful standard feature is Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, with the first part of that being helpful when driving and deciding whether to move from one lane to another and the latter when, say, backing out of a parking space at the grocery store, when you’re likely to have two full-size pickup trucks on either side of you.

After all, the overall height of the Corolla Hybrid is 56.5 inches, so you’re comparatively low.

That’s one of the sacrifices you make for sporty styling.

2026 Toyota Corolla Cross XSE

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Considering the Corolla. . .

By Gary S. Vasilash

Although people who live in places like southeastern Michigan would probably answer the question “What is the best-selling automotive nameplate of all time?” with “Ford F-150” because there are so many of them evident on the roads and in the driveways (in fact, it almost seems as though the “most people” have one), that is not the right answer.

The right answer is “Toyota Corolla,” the compact car that can.

Even though the F-Series has been available since 1948 and the Corolla since 1966, the Corolla has about 20% more sales (~50 million v. ~40 million), even with the 18-year difference in availability.

That’s largely because whereas there is a huge concentration of F-150s (and yes, Chevy SIlverados and Ram 1500s) in places like southeastern Michigan, the Corolla is available on five continents. (There is yet to be a Toyota dealership in Antarctica.)

Even though many people maintain there is waning interest in cars—especially compact cars—because everyone wants trucks or crossovers, there is still immense interest in cars.

Consider: through Q3 2025 Toyota sold 179,983 Corollas. GM’s Buick Div., which offers only crossovers, had sales of 156,835.

But this is not to say that the folks at Toyota don’t recognize a couple of things, like the value of the Corolla badge and the interest in crossovers.

So it has on offer the Corolla Cross which, too, is doing well in the U.S. market. Through Q3 it outsold the F-150’s little brother, the Ranger: 73,341 to 48,278.

Now there’s another aspect to the Toyota approach to the market, which in its case is a global market. (Yes, the Corolla Cross is available around the world, too.)

Toyota has not only maintained its hybrid offerings, but it has expanded them throughout most of its lineup, including to things like the Corolla Cross. While there have been some people who were critical that the company wasn’t going “all-in” on electric vehicles in a way some of its competitors seemed to be, because Toyota does have more of a global view than some of its competitors, it recognizes that EV charging isn’t as everywhere convenient as gasoline, so hybrids are a sensible alternative.

2026 Corolla Cross Hybrid XSE. Note the available Cavalry Blue body color and Jet Black roof. Also the hexagonal pattern of the upper grille is specific to the hybrid trim. (Image: Toyota)

And the U.S. market is certainly interested in the hybrid powertrain offerings. Of the Corollas Crosses sold through the first quarter 24,594 are hybrids, which is more than the Chevy Blazer EV, at 20,825 or the F-150 Lightning, 23,034 (not that anyone is likely to cross-shop a pickup with a compact crossover).

The Corolla Cross is categorized as a crossover. Presumably that has a lot to do with ground clearance. That is, a Corolla sedan has 5.3 inches of ground clearance and the Corolla Cross 8 inches, which is just 0.1 inch less than that of a RAV4, which is clearly a crossover.

But the Corolla Cross and the Corolla sedan are both built on the same platform, TNGA-C, whereas the RAV4 is based on the TNGA-K, which goes to the point that the Corolla Cross really drives, well, like a car, albeit with a higher seating position for better visibility.

The Corolla Cross Hybrid (it is also offered with no electrification of the 2.0-liter engine) provides a system horsepower of 196 net, which is reasonably peppy for the vehicle. What is more to the point of it vs. the standard is its superior fuel economy: 46/39/42 city/highway/combined miles per gallon for the hybrid and 31/33/32 mpg for the standard engine.

It is also worth noting the Hybrid—available in three trim levels—are all all-wheel drive, using Toyota’s 5th Generation Hybrid System. (The whole Toyota “continuous improvement” approach is something it has been applying to its hybrid systems, which can certainly provide consumers with a sense of confidence.)

The 2026 Corolla Cross Hybrid XSE has a base MSRP of $33,330 and with the $1,450 delivery, processing and handling fee (which gets you out the door), it is up to $34,780.

Exterior-wise, the XSE trim brings things like 18-inch black-finished alloy wheels, and black rocker panels, over-fenders and badging. There is a special grille design that has intimations of electrification.

On the inside there are a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 10.5-inch infotainment setup. There’s a heated steering wheel and heated front seats (good for those in southeastern Michigan this time of year).

There is Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Proactive Driving Assist, Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Automatic High Beams, Lane Tracing Assist, and Road Sign Assist)—again, going to the point of continuous improvement.

All in, it is a competent package that, because in large part of its global footprint, has the kind of build quality and amenities that are a consequence of this massive scale.

2025 Toyota Crown Nightshade

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It isn’t just the dark color scheme that makes this stealthy. . .

By Gary S. Vasilash

Quick: what is the top-of-the-line car model offered by Toyota?

As you’ve probably read the headline, you made a correct guess.

And I’m guessing that it was a guess because the Toyota Crown is something that is not as well known as it ought to be in the lineup.

The Crown was introduced in the U.S. as a model year 2023 vehicle. It replaced a vehicle that also didn’t have the visibility it deserved, the Avalon.

(Arguably in the case of the Avalon there was reduced promotion because it was so well executed that the owners of Lexus dealerships probably wouldn’t have liked that the Avalon would give the Lexus ES a run for the consumers’ money.)

While you might think that this is a bit of an exaggeration to talk about the relative invisibility of the Crown, consider this:

Through the first three quarters of 2025, there were 8,669 Crowns sold in the U.S. (The Crown Signa, which, in effect, replaced the Venza, a crossover, had nearly double the sales of the sedan: 16,277.)

The GR86 sports car—even available with a manual transmission, so this is not designed and engineered to take the kids to school or to shop at Costco—nearly had as many sales at the Crown: 8,107.

And the Crown is the kind of vehicle that you can take the kids to school in and to shop at Costco (it is a hatch that offers 15.2 cubic feet behind the second row, so there is space for stuff).

Toyota Crown: a stylish hybrid that, even if it wasn’t in the Nightshade trim, is still stealthy. (Image: Toyota)

The Crown has stylish sheet metal, which is certainly not unusual for Toyota models of late. It could be said that one of the reasons why Toyota still has cars on offer while Chevy and Ford have abandoned them (yes, yes, there is the Mustang, but it is hardly a “car” in the sense of the classic four-door architecture: the GR86 is a car, too, but the “sports” modifier separates it) is because it has freed up its designers.

For the Nightshade edition there is that “dark” theme, with Storm Cloud paint, 21-inch, 10-spoke wheels with a black finish, and dark door handles, mirror caps and rear badging.

Inside there’s a black leather interior and features and execution that may bring Lexus to mind, but not in the way the Avalon did (and if I had to think of a Lexus that might be Crown-like it would be the HS 250h, the brand’s first hybrid sedan, which had but a short (2010-12) run in the U.S.). The front seats are heated and cooled; the rear seat is heated. There is a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen (which has, just below it, a volume knob for those so inclined to take advantage of the JBL 11-speaker system).

The Crown is a hybrid that produces a system horsepower of 236. (For those who want more power, there is the Platinum trim providing 340 hp.) By and large the 236 hp is certainly sufficient for the aforementioned daily drives. This is an all-wheel drive vehicle.

 The vehicle EPA rated at 42 mpg city, 41 mpg highway and 41 mpg combined. Given that it has a 14.5-gallon tank that is filled with regular fuel, if you were to drive the Crown such that you’d leave one gallon in the tank just in case, you’d have a range of over 550 miles.

Which means Crowns are certainly not seen that often at gas stations.

2025 Toyota Highlander 25th Edition AWD

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The 25th anniversary is the Silver Anniversary. This anniversary Highlander is available in Heavy Metal. . .

By Gary S. Vasilash

One of the things Toyota did early on that caused many of those in Detroit to grumble was use the platform from one vehicle for another. This wasn’t a case of simply slapping new fascias on a car and using different seat fabrics and saying “Voila! something different!” but of creating something different.

This approach had several advantages. It spread engineering costs from one vehicle to another. It increased scale for a given platform. Both of these things led to better quality (focused engineering resources) and lower costs for consumers (economies of scale).

Case in point: the Toyota Highlander. The vehicle was introduced at the 2000 New York Auto Show as a model year 2001 vehicle.

It was based on the platform used for the Camry sedan, with slight modifications to accommodate things like a higher ride height.

Toyota Highlander 25th Edition. Celebrating a quarter century. (Image: Toyota)

This was not only clever, but arguably revolutionary, given that back then vehicles with that body architecture had frames, like pickup trucks. Cars like the Camry, with unibody construction, provided a more comfortable ride.

So one could say that the body-on-frame vehicles were sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and the first gen Highlander ushered in the midsize crossover utility vehicle (CUV). (The first-generation Toyota RAV4, introduced in the U.S. for the 1996 model year, was based on the Corolla platform, so it gave rise to the compact CUV segment.)

There was something else that happened with the Highlander that’s of some significance.

Model year 2006 was available with a hybrid powertrain. That made the Highlander the first Toyota after the Prius that had one. While it might have seemed that the Camry would get a hybrid after the Prius, that didn’t occur until model year 2007.

(The hybrid in the Highlander could have had something to do with the fact that also in model year 2006 the Lexus RX 400h was launched: the “h” is for “hybrid.”)

Currently, the Highlander is in its fourth generation. It is clearly a case of improvements all along the way.

For the 2025 model there is a special edition, the 25th Edition. Perhaps not the cleverest of names, but a well-appointed Highlander.

The celebration of the milestone is performed with a variety of touches, inside and out.

On the exterior view there are—yes, changes to the front and rear fascias (silver accents on the bumpers), 20-inch wheels, and side rockers.

Inside there are carpeted floor mats and an all-weather rear cargo liner. The seats have leather trim.

And in the space between inside and out there are illuminated door sills and puddle lamps (although they shine on the outside, they are meant to help you get to the inside, so we’ll put them in this intermediate space).

The powertrain (there is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine coupled with three permanent magnet motors (two front, one rear)) provides a combined output of 243 hp.

This results in EPA fuel efficiency numbers of 35 mpg city, 34 mpg highway and 35 mpg combined.

Which is most impressive for an AWD vehicle with a third row.

But about that third row. . . .

The legroom back there is 28 inches. No, not a whole lot of room.

The 25th Edition is based on the Highlander Limited Hybrid grade which provides things like a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen and 11-speaker JBL audio system. Yes, there is a small volume knob for those who prefer torquing a knob rather that using the steering wheel controls.

The base MSRP for the vehicle is $52,680, which is certainly reasonable for something that (1) is so well-appointed, (2) a hybrid and (3) is limited to 2,500 units.

2025 Toyota GR86 Hakone Edition

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Fun rather than function. . .

By Gary S. Vasilash

One of the vehicles you will not see coming and going is the Toyota GR86* Hakone Edition. This is not because the sports car, with its Ridge Green body color that is a visible tribute to spirted sporty driving, isn’t eye catching, nor because the coming-and-going can be done rather quickly, as it is powered by a 228-hp 2.4-liter boxer engine and is quick.

Rather, it is simply because this is a special-edition vehicle. There will be just 860 sold in the U.S., so this is a rather rare beast. (Given that in 2024 all trim levels of the GR86 combined had U.S. sales of just 11,426 vehicles, seeing any GR86 is a sight to behold.)

The GR86 Hakone Edition is based on the GR86 Premium model.

Toyota GR86 Hakone Edition: solid style. (Image: Toyota)

So they both have the same engine. They both are available with a six-speed manual transmission. They are both rear-wheel drive. They both have a Torsen limited-slip differential. They both have a top speed of 140 mph. They both are rated at 0 to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. They are both fairly similar.

But then it is important to get to the Hakone aspect.

That comes from the Hakone Freeway in Japan, a two-lane toll road.

The road, which traverses mountains, is not designed like many freeways in the U.S. that seem to have been laid out by someone with a T-square. Rather, the Hakone Freeway has plenty of twists, turns and gradient changes.

So maneuverability is important to going fast.

While the GR86 and the Hakone both have MacPherson struts in the front, the Hakone has SACHS dampers, too. And while both have a multilink rear suspension, again Hakone goes SACHS.

Brembo two-piston rear brakes and four-piston front brakes are standard on the Hakone. Optional on the GR86.

The vehicle is structurally engineered with a specific selection of steels and aluminum, with high-strength fasteners and the addition of structural adhesives so that while the vehicle is light (2,811 pounds), it is solid.

Inside there are Ultrasuede sport seats that keeps one fairly planted. The shift knob for the manual has a special badge on top:

Although there is a backseat, let’s face it: this is essentially a two-seater. The truck has a volume of 6.26 cubic feet, so you’re not taking this to Costco.

But as it is rated providing 20/26/22 city/highway/combined mpg, you could conceivably use it as a daily driver. But as you’re pumping premium, you might reconsider that.

This is a car that is fun to drive. It may not be the most functional. But that isn’t the point. Toyota has plenty of models that can fulfill the function.

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*A quick word about the name. The “GR”—which is used for other Toyota models, too—refers to “Gazoo Racing,” the motorsports division of Toyota. The GR badge indicates that the vehicle is engineered for performance. The “86” goes back to the AE86 Corolla GT coupe, which was available in Japan from 1983-87 and extremely popular among performance enthusiasts.