There were no significant changes to the Highlander until the 2004 model year. The appearance of the 2004 Highlander was refreshed both inside and out and given a slightly more modern look. Comfort and convenience options such as a rear DVD entertainment system and fold flat third row seat were offered to increase both utility and passenger comfort. A tire pressure monitoring system and an electronic stability control system were part of the standard equipment package to promote safe driving. The 3.0 liter V6 engine was replaced with a more robust 3.3 liter V6 which increased the horsepower from 220 to 230.

The 2005 through 2007 model years were relatively quiet in terms of Highlander changes with the exception of a Sport trim being added to the lineup; a few additions to the standard equipment list, such as remote keyless entry and a roof rack, and a new headlight design. Overall, the Toyota Highlander is a reliable and versatile midsized SUV that responds quickly and delivers an exceptionally smooth ride.

As, which is acceptable, while everything else was G, which is the best score. Safety features include child safety locks on the four-doors, anti-theft system, locking tailgate, limited slip differential, airbags everywhere and antilock brakes with traction control, electronic braking assistance and vehicle stability control system.

The base price for the 2009 Toyota Tundra is $22,490, which is well below the class average. No doubt, Tundra is a nice pickup, and certainly one of the best looking on the road. Still, overall it doesn’t seem to quite measure up to the same high standards as the Tacoma, Toyota’s small pickup.

The larger engine gets a six-speed automatic transmission, while the two smaller versions get a five-speed automatic, both with overdrive. Manual transmission is not available.

Fuel economy numbers for the 4.7 liter engine, which is the most common, are 14 miles per gallon city and 17 miles per gallon on the highway, with rear wheel drive. Actually, the other engines and four-wheel drive are all the same or very near the same figures.

Maximum towing is 10,800 pounds, which is about average for class. Maximum payload is 1990, which is a little light for class.

Tundra can’t really lay claim to better than average in terms of safety.

The Tundra has not changed looks since 2007, but new for this year are a couple of performance packages and Flex Fuel capability.

The Tundra comes in three cab sizes. Regular is the normal two-door pickup. Double Cab is the small rear doors (which is different from the Double Cab on the Tacoma). CrewMax is the full four-door version, especially nice as it has front hinges on the rear door and it opens a full 80 degrees. Tundra also comes in three bed sizes and either rear-wheel or four-wheel drive.

Tundra comes with three available engines. First is the same 4.0 liter, 236 horsepower V6 found in the larger Tacomas. The standard engine, however, if there is one, is the 4.7 liter, 276 horsepower V8. There is also the larger 5.7 liter, 381 horsepower V8. All are gasoline powered.

Both the smaller engines are a little underpowered, but the 5.7 liter is ahead of class in both horsepower and power to weight ratio. The larger engine gets a six-speed automatic transmission, while the two smaller versions get a five-speed automatic, both with overdrive. Manual transmission is not available.

The engine also depends largely on the pickup style. Regular cab and some versions of the Access cab come with the 2.7 liter, 157 horsepower gasoline powered I4 engine, which can be matched with either a four-speed automatic or a five-speed manual transmission with overdrive. The rest of the Access cabs and all of the Double cabs come with the 4.0 liter, 236 horsepower gasoline powered V6 engine with either a five-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission with overdrive.

Maximum towing weight for the Tacoma is 6500 pounds. Maximum payload is 1570 pounds. The payload is excellent for class, while the towing weight is fair. The four-cylinder engine is somewhat underpowered, making the power to weight ratio a little weak, especially on the Access cab models. Front legroom is also a little tight.

The Tacoma is very safe for a small pickup. NHTSA ratings are five-star everywhere except rollover, which is either three- or four-star, depending on the cab style. The lower rollover rating for a small pickup is not uncommon. IIHS gives G’s straight across.

Safety features include child safety locks on the Double cabs, an anti-theft system, antilock brakes with electronic braking assistance, traction control and vehicle stability control, limited slip/locking differential, electronic parking aid and seat belts everywhere. It does not have a locking tailgate.

The base price for the 2009 Toyota Tacoma is a mere $15,170. That’s almost $10,000 below class average. The fact is, as the sales numbers attest, if you want a small pickup and willing to give up the room, horsepower and hauling capacity of the bigger trucks, the Tacoma is hard to beat. If, for instance, you want an inexpensive vehicle to drive to work and do some light hauling now and then - and it seems a lot of us want just that.

The 2010 Toyota Prius, with a base price of $22,000 and a fuel efficiency rating of 51 mpg city and 48 mpg highway, is the third generation of the gas-electric hybrid which the automotive world is still scrambling to overtake. “Prius,” which is Latin for “first,” does not rest on its laurels, satisfied that being first will be enough to keep it on top. Replete with some of the most sophisticated technology around, the 2010 Prius, with an optional photo-voltaic roof solar panel, has a new bag of tricks with which to dazzle us.

The Hybrid Synergy Drive System in the Toyota Prius allows the power plant to operate at maximum efficiency and minimum emissions regardless of engine speed by using either the electric motor alone, in combination with the gasoline engine, or gasoline engine alone. An inside and out redesign, the Prius also swapped out its 76 hp 1.5 Liter gas engine for a 98 hp 1.8 Liter, jumping the net horsepower from 110 to 134. The 2010 model offers the ability to choose among three Performance Modes: EV which only engages the electric motor, ECO for economy and POWER for those times you may need 0-60 performance in under 10 seconds.

The optional photo-voltaic solar panel powers the ventilation system, which can keep the interior temperature close to the outside temperature by drawing air inside and venting it to the outside when the cabin temperature exceeds 68 degrees Fahrenheit. It does not operate the air conditioning.

The styling of the 2010 Toyota Prius continues to address aerodynamic issues such as modifying the roof arch, sharpening body corners and smoothing underbody panels and elongating the spoiler. By making those adjustments, lightening the transaxle 20 percent and dropping in a smaller nickel-metal-hydride battery, Toyota was able to increase the car’s crash protection, add more leg and shoulder room while increasing its fuel efficiency by 5 mpg compared with last year.

The new Prius will come in four trims: II, III, IV, and V, with more features, option packages and higher prices. A fully-loaded Prius V will run in the vicinity of $30,000. In addition, Toyota is planning to trot out numerous stand-alone options such as: GPS systems, pre-collision automatic braking, radar cruise control, lane departure alerts and parking assist.

On the road, the Prius has a more stable, centered feel, riding on the new Camry platform. With 1.2 million of the hybrids sold in the U.S. so far, Toyota plans to achieve sales of one million units per year over the next few years. Competitors like Honda Motor Co., which will introduce the Honda Fit gas-electric hybrid next year, plus three other hybrids by 2012, will help keep Toyota on top of its game as the world’s foremost authority on fuel efficiency, low emissions and automotive innovation.

Prius also swapped out its 76 hp 1.5 Liter gas engine for a 98 hp 1.8 Liter, jumping the net horsepower from 110 to 134. The 2010 model offers the ability to choose among three Performance Modes: EV which only engages the electric motor, ECO for economy and POWER for those times you may need 0-60 performance in under 10 seconds.

The optional photo-voltaic solar panel powers the ventilation system, which can keep the interior temperature close to the outside temperature by drawing air inside and venting it to the outside when the cabin temperature exceeds 68 degrees Fahrenheit. It does not operate the air conditioning.

The styling of the 2010 Toyota Prius continues to address aerodynamic issues such as modifying the roof arch, sharpening body corners and smoothing underbody panels and elongating the spoiler. By making those adjustments, lightening the transaxle 20 percent and dropping in a smaller nickel-metal-hydride battery, Toyota was able to increase the car’s crash protection, add more leg and shoulder room while increasing its fuel efficiency by 5 mpg compared with last year.

The Hybrid Synergy Drive System in the Toyota Prius allows the power plant to operate at maximum efficiency and minimum emissions regardless of engine speed by using either the electric motor alone, in combination with the gasoline engine, or gasoline engine alone. An inside and out redesign, the Prius also swapped out its 76 hp 1.5 Liter gas engine for a 98 hp 1.8 Liter, jumping the net horsepower from 110 to 134. The 2010 model offers the ability to choose among three Performance Modes: EV which only engages the electric motor, ECO for economy and POWER for those times you may need 0-60 performance in under 10 seconds.

The optional photo-voltaic solar panel powers the ventilation system, which can keep the interior temperature close to the outside temperature by drawing air inside and venting it to the outside when the cabin temperature exceeds 68 degrees Fahrenheit. It does not operate the air conditioning.

For example, Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive is the heart of a number of their best-selling models, allowing owners to save gas at the pump and to save the planet as well. Toyota hybrid stablemates include: 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid, Prius, and Highlander Hybrid.

If you are interested in the outdoors, offroading, or just traversing the urban jungle in style, consider the lineup of SUVs offered by Toyota. Although it looks small, the 2007 Toyota RAV4 is a lot of SUV for its size, especially with the optional 3.5 liter 269 hp V6. For running with the true off-road crowd, try on the new FJ Cruiser. Travel large and in charge in the 2007 Toyota Sequoia if you need a dose of respect from your homies. These and all the SUV models in between mean Toyota is in touch with you and your automotive needs.

If you are interested in the outdoors, offroading, or just traversing the urban jungle in style, consider the lineup of SUVs offered by Toyota. Although it looks small, the 2007 Toyota RAV4 is a lot of SUV for its size, especially with the optional 3.5 liter 269 hp V6. For running with the true off-road crowd, try on the new FJ Cruiser. Travel large and in charge in the 2007 Toyota Sequoia if you need a dose of respect from your homies. These and all the SUV models in between mean Toyota is in touch with you and your automotive needs.

Toyota puts cars on the road with heavy steel door sheet metal and door beams, ABS, and side impact curtain airbags, all with one purpose in mind, to keep you and your family safe and secure. It is this no-nonsense approach to automotive engineering that has Toyota in constant competition for the number one spot in car sales and consumer loyalty in the US.

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