Latest Toyota Cars (Toyota Camry) 2018

Strong, but Slowing Sales: The Toyota C
 amry was not only the best-selling midsize car, but also the best-selling car in America in 2016. So far this year, however, sales have dipped 10 percent compared to the same period in 2016. Demand likely won’t spike any time soon despite a redesign for 2018, as consumers gravitate towards SUVs and crossovers and away from sedans

 High Pricing: Pricing for the Camry starts at $24,000, which is only $1,350 above the class average. However, the highest trim level is priced more than $2,000 below the norm for comparably equipped alternatives.

Pros & Cons

• Impressive list of standard safety features
• User-friendly infotainment system with standard smartphone integration
• Peppy, fuel-efficient base engine
• Enjoyable driving dynamics

• Below-average trunk space
• No Apple CarPlay or Android Auto available

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Hyundai i10 Price £9,250 - £13,540

Hyundai i10

Price : £9,250 - £13,540

PROS:

• Very comfortable
• Spacious interior
• Fun to drive

CONS:

• Lack of badge appeal
• No diesel engine available
• Interior quality poor in places

Review :

This Hyundai i10 1.2 SE fits our requirements perfectly. When researching potential replacements for our Mazda 2, I was especially influenced by the lack of serious complaints about reliability and design shortcomings for the i10. The car looks stylish to me. I chose sleek silver paint; a £550 option, which I think really suits the shape but white and morning blue are no cost options. The interior is well assembled. There is no soft touch trim inside but the design looks clean and bright with all of the shut lines close fitting and even. There is very good storage; a decent sized glove box, several useful cubby holes, bottle and cup holders, USB and 12v connections, steering wheel controls for entertainment, trip and cruise functions plus 5 doors with 4 fully opening windows which are standard on all model specifications. It is therefore a very practically equipped vehicle for a cheaper price than obtaining all of these features on many other A segment cars. I especially like the driver information display which has the usual trip computer but includes an outside temperature readout, tyre pressure monitor and an ice warning symbol and alarm which bleeps when the outside temp drops to 4C; a shock when it goes off for the first time when cruising at speed. Now with several thousand miles covered, the Hyundai i10 is proving a very likeable little car in its own right but comparing it to the two cars I have recently owned for 7 and 11 years respectively, there are some surprising similarities. The i10 is exactly the same length and width as our Citroen C2 but can seat 4 average sized adults comfortably and still has a boot as big as the larger Mazda 2 it replaces. The 1.2 Kappa engine also has near identical power and torque as the Mazda 1.3 TS2 but like the Mazda it produces it’s maximum torque at quite high revs; 4000rpm in the 1248cc i10 and it does not pull happily up even a gentle gradient at 30mph in 4th so town driving can lead to frequent gear changes; one of the few irritations. Above 3000 rpm it pulls with increasing flexibility and motorway and dual carriageway cruises are quiet, comfortable and economical. The car is stable and well planted at speed, visibility is good and all of the controls have a well judged cohesion that make this a very pleasant car to drive and a relaxing mode of transport for passengers. It handles well if cornered smoothly. It is not as accurate as the Mazda if driven enthusiastically but the ride is far more comfortable. The gearbox is light and precise and I can claim from experience, a close match for the fabled Mazda manual boxes. The average fuel consumption over several thousand miles is shown on the trip computer as 55mpg. This is a pleasing result as many of the journeys have been short. Longer drives at sustained cruising speeds has the trip showing 58mpg. The seats are very supportive. A spacesaver spare wheel and not a near useless can of foam, is now standard on SE models and above but only a £50 option on the S model. In summary this i10 is rather like driving a 5 door version of our Citroen C2 (an ultra reliable, best pal for eleven and a half years, so far) but with the passenger room, boot space and engine of our belated Mazda 2. Yet, it is much more economical on fuel than either. I really like this car and would put it in the top three of the dozen or so cars I have owned over the past 42 years.

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NEW NISSAN Qashqai £18,795

Exterior

Most SUVs, especially smaller ones, are about style above all else, and this is an area in which the Qashqai excels. The front end features crisp lines and bold details, the LED running lights and the deep, angular grille being the highlights. Things are just as fresh at the rear end, with swooping LIGHT clusters and muscular rear haunches. This is one very handsome car. Entry-level Visia cars miss out on alloy wheels, but they still look reasonably swish.

Interior

If you thought the Qashqai looked swish on the outside, you’ll be just as impressed by the interior. All the materials have a plush, high-grade feel, particularly on the main touch-points, and the design is modern and attractive.IMPORTANTLY, though, this hasn’t come at the expense of ergonomics. The various switches and buttons are logically placed and clearly marked, and the touch-screen infotainment system (standard on the top two trims) has sharp graphics and clear, logical menus. What’s more, the high driving position that SUV buyers love has plenty of adjustment, so life is very comfortable at the wheel. The limited rear visibility is the cockpit’s only real weak point.

Practicality

Even when compared with its best rivals, the Qashqai has no trouble on this score. The rear seats have plenty of headroom and legroom, making life very comfortable for four gangly adults, and five will cram in at a push. The 430-litre BOOT rivals those of the best cars in the class for capacity, and it also has some really clever features. We particularly like the two movable boards, which help give you a perfectly level load floor when the back seats are folded, and which can be slotted in vertically as well as horizontally, to stop small items sliding around. These boards are standard on all trims except entry-level Visia.

Ride and handling

On the road, the Qashqai’s focus is very much on comfort, with good bump absorption at low speeds and fantastic smoothness and stability at moderate and high speeds. Despite the Qashqai’s civilised character, the handling is also impressively neat. The body stays impressively flat in corners so you don’t get thrown around in your seat, and the car always feels grippy, stable and predictable. You can change the weight of the steering by selecting one of two modes, too. The Sport mode has an artificially heavy feel, but in Normal mode, the weighting feels just right and gives crisp responses.

Safety

All Qashqai models come with six airbags and stability control as standard, while Acenta Premium models have a few more clever safety features and Tekna models have more still. The Qashqai has also achieved the maximum five-star rating in Euro NCAP crash tests.

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NEW SEAT Alhambra From £25,380

Exterior

Many MPVs have a boxy appearance, and it’s no coincidence; boxy is always best when you’re looking to maximise space. The Alhambra follows this recipe unashamedly, but although its lines aren’t exactly what you’d call ‘flowing’, the looks aren’t too bland. All versions come with alloy wheels and colour-coded bumpers and DOOR handles, along with a chrome surround for the radiator grille. Go for the SE car, which most buyers will, and you also get chrome window surrounds, darkened rear windows and chrome roof rails. SE Lux and FR-Line cars, meanwhile, have a panoramic roof.

Interior

Life’s pretty sweet at the wheel of the Alhambra. You get a cracking view out in all directions – which helps you manage the car’s cumbersome size during low-speed manoeuvres – and all versions have the added security of front- and rear-parking sensors. Everything on the dashboard is logically located and really easy to use, and there’s a feeling of substance and solidity because most of the materials look and feel very nice indeed. Some of the plastics are a little hard and unappealing in places, but it all looks like it’ll last a lifetime.

Running costs

The Alhambra is significantly bigger and heavier than a lot of seven-seat MPVs, so it’s never going to be the cleanest option, but even so, it doesn’t do too bad a job. The cleanest version, the 2.0 TDI 150 Ecomotive S, returns 56.5mpg, along with CO2 emissions of 130g/km, and all versions bar the petrol will better 50mpg. Purchase prices are very competitive, especially considering the amount of space and kit you’re getting for your money, and resale values aren’t half bad, either.

Reliability

The Warranty Direct Reliability Index tells a bit of a mixed story where the Alhambra is concerned. As a manufacturer, Seat doesn’t do too badly, hovering around the mid-table mark in the brand rankings. Look at the results for the older version of the Alhambra, though, and the reliability score is about as low as it’s possible to get, with engine troubles being the biggest cause of mechanical issues. The owner reviews on our own website also report some rather nerve-wracking stories about the car’s dependability. A rather average three-year/60,000-mile warranty package is included.

Safety

We always like it when the safety kit you get in a car is the same no matter whether you have the most basic version or the range-topping version, and the Alhambra is one of those. Stability control, tyre pressure monitoring, tiredness recognition and multi-collision braking (which locks on the anchors after a shunt to prevent further collisions) are all provided, along with no less than seven airbags including a driver’s knee ‘bag and curtain ‘bags that cover all three rows of seats. 

The only thing that’s really missing is autonomous city braking, and it’s not even available as an optional extra. Nevertheless, the car has achieved the full five-star rating in Euro NCAP crash tests, even though that was back in 2010 and the tests have become considerably harder since then.

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Toyota New Prius 2016

Toyota New Prius Preview

The Toyota Prius needs no introduction. One of the highest selling hybrid cars in the world, the Prius has been endorsed by everyone from Greenpeace and Hollywood celebrities. Toyota has been selling the Prius in India for quite some time now and has unveiled the next generation Prius at the Auto Expo 2016.

The fourth-generation Toyota Prius gets all new looks. While we could best describe the looks as alien, the car looks striking. The boomerang-like headlamps, vertical LED fog lamps and a snout-like front bumper can best be called futuristic by all standards. Moving on to the side, it is a four-door coupe with a sloping roofline that blends into the notchback. The cabin seems spacious for four with enough headroom in the back. The rear also gets the boomerang-like lamps with LEDs flowing down from the top of the boot. The creases and cuts toe the alien-design line from the front. As for the dimensions, the new Prius is 60mm longer, 15mm wider and 20mm lower than the old Prius.

The dashboard is a geek paradise with its many buttons, screens and warning lights. The speedometer is digital and the infotainment system is touchscreen. The infotainment system can be connected to your phone via Bluetooth and gets the latest software like Apple Car Play, Android Auto and MirrorLink. Dual-zone automatic climate control, automatic headlamps, cruise control and automatic climate control are standard. It gets airbags, an electronic stability programme with emergency braking.

The Prius is a hybrid and has a 1.8-litre four cylinder petrol engine paired with electric motors to make up its powertrain. While the setup is same as before, the engine has been tuned for better efficiency. The batteries have a higher energy density and the motors are smaller. The efficiency has improved by almost 10 per cent and Toyota expects the Prius to deliver 40kmpl.

The current Prius is offered at about Rs 38 lakh in India. The new generation Prius will also be imported as a CBU with an estimated price a tad under Rs 40 lakh ex-showroom Delhi.

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KIA SORENTO

KIA SORENTO

While Kia packs its cars with features at the standard level, the Sorento that best replaces the minivan includes optional equipment like a macho V6 engine and the third row seating. That brings the ability to haul kids to six or seven in number, and provides the horse power and torque to feel pretty darn good on the road. Because the ride is excellent, and it’s easy to operate, the V6 Sorento climbs to the top of the list of manly cars to replace the minivan. The third seat definitely works for kids, and the second row is roomy enough for the grandparents.

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TOYOTA AVALON

TOYOTA AVALON

Starting price:  $32,285

The Toyota Avalon has been one of the best sedans sold on the market for several decades and counting now. The stock engine in the car is a 3.5 liter V-6 rated at 268 horsepower coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission. The Avalon has a maximum speed of 127 MPH, and the vehicle can go from zero to 60 MPH in just 6.1 seconds. In addition to being an above-average handling automobile, the car has slightly above average gas mileage with a 21 MPG (city) and 31 MPG (highway) overall rating. The cabin space in the Avalon has always been above average when compared to other cars of the same class, and the current edition of the vehicle continues to offer consumers a very luxurious auto cabin.

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1965 PONTIAC GTO

1965 PONTIAC GTO

Current value: $85,500

The early Pontiac GTOs are best known as the original American Muscle Cars, and they are some of the most amazing vintage cars on the market today. The 1965 Pontiac GTO was sold with a racing car option, and can go from zero to 60 MPH in 6.1 seconds which remains respectable compared to equivalent cars from its class from the same timeframe. The original GTO would go on to see six different generations of the car built by Pontiac before the manufacturer discontinued the original car line in 1974. The GTO was sold as both a two-door hardtop as well as a convertible, and featured a number of large V-8 engines to power the vehicle over its production life. All of the GTOs produced from this era were rear-wheel drive cars, and they remain a favorite for car collections.

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MERCEDES-AMG GT S

MERCEDES-AMG GT S

Starting price: $129,900

The Mercedes-AMG GT S has not only been a highly successful succeeding auto to the SLS AMG model, but it has quickly become one of the best handling sports cars in the world. The AMG GT S is not only an excellent handling automobile at high speeds, but it also does significantly above average as a daily driver. The car’s engine is rated at 479 ft-lbs of torque and 503 horsepower. The car has a zero to 60 MPH time of 3.5 seconds, and it has a top overall speed of 193 MPH. The auto manufacturer has even expanded the trunk size so that it can fit up to golf bags for those who like to hit the links or take their sports car to the super market.

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NISSAN GT-R NISMO

NISSAN GT-R NISMO

Starting price: $149,990

The Nissan GT-R NISMO supercar is one of the best handling sports cars on the market today. The auto lives up to its six figure price tag when it comes to driving the auto on the highway, and it handles just as good at high speeds as it does driving it around town. The stock engine in the vehicle is rated at 481 ft-lbs of torque and 600 horsepower. The GT-R is also fast. It can go from zero to 60 MPH in just 2.9 seconds, and it runs the quarter-mile in 10.9 seconds with a top overall car speed of 193 MPH. Although consumers who can afford to drive this car likely don’t worry much about fuel economy, the GT-R is rated at a decent 16 MPG (city) and 23 MPG (highway).

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MERCEDES-BENZ CLA-CLASS

Starting price: $31,500

The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class is a lower priced German car that is one of the best sold in America today. The CLA-Class is the first model sold by the company to offer front-wheel drive in the United States, and it is one of the more stylish cars on the roads today. The car is powered by a 2.0 liter four cylinder engine rated at 208 horsepower, and it comes with either a seven-speed automatic transmission with all-wheel drive available as an option. The car can go from zero to 60 MPH in 6.3 seconds with a top speed of 133 MPH. The car’s fuel efficiency is above average with a 26 MPG (city) and 38 MPG (highway) rating.

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AUDI A6

Starting price: $44,800

The Audi A6 is one of the best German cars sold in the United States today. Audi has put focus on making the A6 a more luxurious version of the A7 in recent years, but its performance is on par with the A7. One of the most technologically advanced cars on the market today, the A6 base engine is a 2.0 liter turbo-four cylinder rated at 252 horsepower, and it comes with front-wheel drive and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is an option to add to the A6, and there is a supercharged 3.0 liter V-6 rated at 333 horsepower, and a 3.0 liter V-6 diesel engine available for consumers to choose from when buying the car. The A6 can go from zero to 60 MPH in 5.1 seconds, and it gets respectable fuel economy at 19 MPG (city) and 28 MPG (highway) with a top overall speed of 129 MPH.

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AUDI A7

Starting price: $65,900

The Audi A7 is one of the best German cars sold in the United States today. The A7 is a sportier version of the A6 and handles nicely in all types of weather. The standard powertrain on the car is a 3.0 liter supercharged six cylinder engine rated at 333 horsepower combined and comes with all-wheel drive with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Audi also makes a turbo-diesel 3.0 liter six cylinder engine rated at 240 horsepower for those who desire an improved fuel economy. The A7’s fuel efficiency is rated at 20 MPG (city) and 30 MPG (highway), and it can go from zero to 60 MPH in 4.7 seconds with a top overall speed of 130 MPH.

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BMW 6 SERIES

Starting price: $76,100

The BMW 6 Series is one of the best German cars sold in the United States today. BWM has made the 6-Series one of the most exclusive car offerings of the company, and it is available with either a 3.0 liter inline six cylinder engine rated at 315 horsepower or a 4.4 liter eight cylinder engine rated at 445 horsepower. Both engine choices come with an eight-speed automatic transmission with rear-wheel drive coming standard on the cars and all-wheel drive available to add to the car when buying it new. The car’s fuel efficiency is rated at 20 MPG (city) and 31 MPG (highway), and the V-6 is rated at 332 lb-ft of torque.

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