Tag Archives: Toyota

2016 Scion iA One Week Test Drive Review: A Great Value for Teen Drivers

March 29, 2016Car ReviewsCar Review, Scion iA, Teen Car, ToyotaAlicia

I spent a week driving the 2016 Scion iA, a new model sedan that offers an incredible value for teen drivers and their families. The iA is a new model for Scion for 2016, and offers several premium features as standard equipment.

The 2016 Scion iA is available in one trim level, which includes a seven inch touchscreen display, an integrated rear view camera, two year no cost maintenance plan, 24 hour worry free roadside assistance, an advanced low speed collision warning and avoidance system, front and rear side curtain airbags, as well as hands free Bluetooth smartphone connectivity, all included in the no-haggle worry free starting price of $15,700. Available extras include a six speed automatic transmission, navigation capabilities for the center mounted seven inch touchscreen infotainment system, as well as a variety of storage solutions.

We are in the market for a car for Sebastian (he’ll be 17 years old this year) and the Scion iA is definitely a contender. I want to know he’s driving a safe car and the Scion iA is an IIHS Top Safety pick AND has all the bells and whistles he’d like to have including Sirius XM, Bluetooth, and navigation.

Under the hood, the 1.5 liter 106 horsepower four cylinder engine offers up to an EPA estimated 33 miles per gallon in typical city driving as well as 42 miles per gallon on the highway. On top of the included two year no cost maintenance plan, an additional 3 year/36,000 mile basic warranty and 5 year/60,000 mi powertrain warranty provide further peace of mind against costly vehicle repairs.The Scion brand was created in 2003 to introduce entry level vehicles with premium features to the American market. While the Scion brand is being phased out at the end of 2016 to transition to Toyota, all Scion vehicles will be easily serviceable at your local Toyota service department. The 2016 Scion iA competes with other subcompact cars including the Honda Fit, Ford Fiesta, and Toyota Yaris.

The 2016 Scion iA offers an incredible, safe introduction to driving for your teen driver at an unbelievable value. Advanced safety features included standard on the 2016 Scion iA such as the low speed collision warning and avoidance system, side curtain airbags, advanced anti-lock brakes, and an electronic stability control system will keep your loved ones safe. The 2016 iA was rated a 2016 Top Safety Pick + by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and earned a ‘Good’ rating, the highest available, in all testing categories.

Purchasing a subcompact vehicle no longer means having to sacrifice on safety, premium features, or comfort. The 2016 Scion iA offers unbelievable value which its in-class competitors simply can not match. As a first car for your teen driver, as an efficient commuter vehicle, or as a city car, the 2016 Scion iA offers something for everyone in your family.
Some photos sourced from Scion.com

Is Your Car Ready For Summer Road Trips? – Toyota Car Care To-Do Infographic

June 23, 2015TravelCar Care, road trip, ToyotaAlicia

It’s summer! Since having kids, by February or March each year we’ve planned our entire summer. A couple trips to the beach, a day trip or two to the lake, a vacation with family. Those are just a few things we do during summer vacation and I’m sure your summer schedule is similar. When planning for a road trip we often forget to give our vehicle a second thought. Before you head out on your next summer road trip, tackle a few technical “to dos” to ensure your road trip is safe.

June is National Safety Month, and Toyota is heavily involved in helping drivers and parents keep their families safe out on the roads so they’ve provided us with this interactive infographic to remind you what’s really important before taking off to the beach this summer!

If you’re in the market for a new car check out our latest Toyota and Lexus one-week test drive reviews including our recent review of the 4Runner TRD Pro.

[pdf width=”700px” height=”1800px”]http://www.themommyinsider.com/?attachment_id=20039[/pdf]

Can’t see the infographic above?

Below are a few of the road trip car care tips. You can click here to open the pdf infographic in your browser.

No tired tires. Before taking those tires on the road, focus on: air, wear and spare.

Air
A properly inflated tire can help you avoid a flat. Refer to the owner’s manual or a label inside the doorframe for the correct pressure and check tires when they’re cold (haven’t been driven on for three hours) for most accurate reading.
Wear
Take five minutes to inspect for excessive or irregular wear. If tread is worn to 1/16 of an inch, it’s time to replace. Irregular wear patterns indicate tires might need rotation or realignment.
Spare
Make sure the back-up has your back and run the spare through the same tests as your other tires.

Take care for rubber wear

Inspect belts, hoses and wiper blades for blisters, cracks or cuts. All are susceptible to summer heat, so replace if not in tip-top condition. And make sure hose connections are secure.

Get plenty of fluids

Be good to your trusted steed and follow up on fluids: oil, brake, automatic transmission, power steering, windshield washer and coolant. And if it’s time to have the oil changed or coolant system flushed, just do it.

Light it up

Check headlights, brake lights, turn signals, emergency flashers, interior and trailer lights.

Be cool

AC working? Hope so.

See these Summer Safety 101 tips and more here (pdf view).

2014 Toyota Prius c Hybrid Hatchback Review

July 1, 2014Car ReviewsPrius, Test Drives, ToyotaAlicia

MSRP: $18,820 – $23,360

MPG: 53 City / 46 Hwy

ENGINE: Hybrid

I’m a mpg stalker. I watch my speed, acceleration, and braking in order to maximize my mpg. I’m not a fan of hard braking but I like speed on the road and I naturally want to accelerate quickly but I try to hold on pushing the pedal to the metal after a stop. I recently test drove a 2014 Prius c hybrid hatchback for a week and found that after a few days I didn’t stalk the mpgs as much as I normally do, contrary to what is heard about many Prius drivers, who pay too much attention to their fuel economy.. even though it’s not that necessary since they’re driving a Prius!

The Toyota Prius c for 2014 offers buyers a lot for their money. Toyota’s alternative version of the revolutionary hybrid Prius has a great list price. The Prius c is smaller than the original Prius and offers the same great gas mileage. If sales are any indication, it is a popular car.

The 2014 Toyota Prius c offers up to 53 mpg city fuel economy, the highest of any vehicle without a plug and is Toyota’s most affordable hybrid model.

The angular body style of Toyota’s Prius has been a gripe of mine for years so I was thrilled to see that the Prius c and Prius v have a softer, less angular look.

With 50-combined mpg, the 2014 Toyota Prius c gets the same outstanding mileage people expect from the original Prius – 47-mpg city/53 mpg highway. Everybody in my family liked the Prius c and the larger v, the Prius v review is coming soon. I appreciate the safety features on the Prius. It has the same equipment as in all Toyota vehicles: Anti-lock Brakes, advanced vehicle stability control, traction control, electric brake-force distribution, brake assist and smart stop technology that automatically reduces engine speed when both the brake and accelerator are engaged. I also appreciate the favorable safety ratings that organizations have consistently given the Prius c. The Prius c comes equipped with nine airbags, including knee bags and an overhead bag.

Prius c Interior

From my past experience with Prius’ the noisiest part of the Prius has been the body. To tone it down, this Prius c comes with a quieter, practical looking exterior that fits families better. The car is longer, and the length increases the cargo space making it more comfortable for an environmentally conscious family of four and in my opinion, the hatchback gives the Prius c a fun family feel, not so much of a college student who lives in the city feel. The cargo space is helpful with errands around town and even long road trips. The interior and cargo space the Prius c offers, is good for a subcompact. The storage compartment above the glove compartment was a huge hit and kept things like my husband’s or son’s iPhone secure as well as a book. The Prius c comfortably seats four adults with average rear head and legroom.

Hybrid Economy vs. Noise – Who wins?

This car is about economy, and the main selling point is the astounding combined city/highway mileage that result from the hybrid technology. The first thing on your mind when considering a Prius will probably not be how powerful or fast the car travels; but to experience the hybrid’s economy, and that will make a slower ride acceptable. How quickly you get over the louder than average and somewhat bumpy the ride is something to consider. My daughter and I drove to Nashville and back in the Prius c and I noticed wind-noise more than usual but the road noise wasn’t too bad and like I mentioned earlier, the handling was great. The Prius c shares the powertrain with the Yaris, Toyota’s economy subcompact, and it shares the same somewhat noisy and slightly bouncy ride but during our 450+ mile road trip in the Prius c, the road noise did not affect the quality of the drive.

Prius c EV and Eco Mode

Toyota offers an EV mode to keep the car in all-electric drive at low speeds for up to half a mile. The Eco mode lowers the climate-control settings and caps power output, for even thriftier use of fuel at the price of sloooow travel. We tested it dutifully, and then switched it off–and found the Prius c to be quite economical even when driven energetically.

The Prius c is a great option for a small family who drives a lot whether in the city or on the highway.

For the budget minded, the same great mileage is found in all the model styles. You’ll get the same hybrid economy across the board.

The four Prius c models are:

One: A basic Prius c comes with power windows and locks, the basic interior, a 3.5-inch center screen and USB/Bluetooth connectivity, all at a price of $19,890.

Two: A Prius c at the second level gets an upgraded interior with comfort features like two-tone seats and head adjustment. Toyota also adds cruise control and intermittent wipers at this level for a price of $20,699.

Three: The Prius gets jazzed up with voice activated commands, an Entune Smartphone app, a navigation system, keyless entry and push button start, at the price of $22,499.

Four: The ultimate Prius c includes everything before it, with the addition of Softex dash and steering wheel covering, alloy wheels, fog lights and heated front seats, all for the price still below what the original Toyota Prius starts at $24,000.

As an inexpensive alternative to the Prius, the Prius C performs well for the budget-minded, small family.

Test drive a Prius c at your local Toyota dealership.

Do you own a Toyota Prius c? Have you driven one? What are your thoughts on the car?

– Alicia

2014 Toyota Tundra 1794 Edition Review: A Luxurious Family Workhorse

May 12, 2014Car ReviewsCar Review, Toyota, Toyota TundraAlicia

MSRP: Starting at $41,977
ESTIMATED MPG: 13 City / 17 HWY
ENGINE: 4.0-liter V-6, 4.6-liter or 5.7-liter V-8

The 2014 Toyota Tundra 1794 is a workhorse disguised as a gorgeous pickup truck. I have wanted to test drive a pickup truck for a long time. Maybe it’s for my need to overcompensate for my shortness or because I want to feel tough on the road for once. I am not an aggressive driver by any means so having the opportunity to drive an aggressive looking but fascinatingly pretty truck was impossible to pass up. The Tundra 1794 handled our busy everyday family-life of hauling kids and their equipment to sports practices, taking several 7-year old girls to get ice cream, and driving up our local ‘mountain’, with incredible ease.

2014 Toyota Tundra 1794

The 2014 Toyota Tundra 1794 is a beautiful 4-door truck with a safe, luxurious family-sized cab and many utilitarian features. It is the top of the line among Tundra’s, and that means it offers the best dashboard technology which will please the geekiest of Moms and Dads, like me. 😉 The price is top of the line, too, jumping over $44,000 compared to the base model’s $26,000 price tag.

Powertrain vs. Fuel Economy

The 2014 Toyota Tundra 1794 offers the 5.7 iForce V8. This 32-valve engine cranks up 381 horsepower and an even better 401 lb-ft of torque. That’s significantly better than the other V8 engine with 310/327 hp/torque and the V6 engine with 270/278 hp/torque. The 6-speed automatic is paired with the V8. Rear wheel drive is a Tundra standard. Fuel economy is only 13 mpg/city and 18 mpg/highway. For a Dad who loves to tow, this high horsepower is a must. For a Mom who is worried about gas prices, the 1794 is a bit of a long shot but it sure is fun to drive!

Safety

Safety equipment includes child-related features such LATCH car seat connectors. This should keep kids’ car seats in place in an accident. Side impact beams and eight airbags should protect precious cargo. The active safety systems provide electronically-controlled stability and traction. The 1794 gains front and rear parking assist sonar systems in addition to its standard rearview camera. Mom and Dad will appreciate the help even when it’s just backing out of a familiar driveway. A blind spot monitor is an important option, especially since it comes with rear cross traffic alerts for reverse maneuvers. The 1794 tightens up security by adding a glass breakage sensor to its anti-theft feature.

2014 Toyota Tundra 1794

Exterior

When I saw the Tundra 1794 being driven into my driveway I got goosebumps. It’s massive size, ravishing red color, and bold silver grille took my breathe away. The 1794 exterior exchanges the color-keyed bumper for a silver one with chrome end-caps and a chrome grille surround. You can even opt to exchange the 1794’s 20-inch alloys for chrome ones. The liftgate has an easy lower/lift feature that will moms and dads with kids who have to haul a lot of sports equipment to practice and games happy. When it came time to put my son’s lacrosse gear in the truck bed and take it out, my 14-year-old welcomed the easy lower liftgate. A windshield wiper de-icer and power-defrost mirrors take care of wet weather problems. The 1794 adds embedded turn signals to the power-folding side mirrors, a must-have in my opinion.

Toyota Tundra 1794 Grille

Interior

The 1794 definitely upgrades the Tundra cabin. It exchanges fabric for premium perforated leather. It adds ventilation and heating to the front seats. It adds a dual zone climate system, which operates with both Mom’s and Dad’s input. To keep the kids cool, the rear window is a vertical-slide, power-operated one. I especially appreciated the 10-way power driver seat. I am 5’1″ and was worried that I wouldn’t reach the pedals easily but the practically endless driver seat adjustment options allowed me to get comfortable and ready for a drive quickly. Front seat passengers will be pleased with their own 6-way power seat.

My kids found plenty of places to stash stuff since the cabin has numerous cup and bottle holders and the largest front cabin storage unit I’ve ever seen! My daughter stored coloring books and more in the storage compartment. As far as the back seat was concerned, my kids were in heaven. You have to see the interior of the Tundra in order to believe it when I saw it’s gigantic! Madelyn, 8-years-old, could barely touch the front seat with her toes.. great for me as she thinks that pushing on my seat with her feet is “giving me a back massage”. I’ll take a professional masseuse, thank you. 🙂 The Tundra’s split rear seat folds away for extra cargo space, in the rare case that you’d need more cargo space. Perhaps for a large stroller?

2014 Toyota Tundra 1794 interior

Technology

The 2014 Toyota Tundra 1794 offers top-of-the-line technology. There’s an Entune screen with easy touch buttons and a premium JBL Audio system. Even GPS navigation is standard and the voice, along with all Toyota’s I’ve tested lately, is incredible polite and soothing. I feel like I needed to say thank you after each directional command. You also get regular Tundra standards such as Bluetooth connectivity, steering wheel controls, and streaming audio from sources including Pandora and iHeart radio. For the price tag, the 2014 Tundra 1794 definitely packs in the luxuries, safety features, dash tech and utility prowess.

Utility

Dads who want a utility vehicle will find that the Tundra is one useful machine for the worksite, for hauling and for towing. To start, ground clearance is a generous 10.4 inches. The towing package is standard and includes the receiver, 4/7 pin connector, tow/haul mode, and engine components like the oil and transmission coolers. This makes the Tundra CrewMax 1794 capable of towing 10,000 pounds. By comparison the standard Tundra can tow less than 7,000 pounds. Trailer sway control is standard, making this comparable to Ford F150 and similar brands.

The only drawback I can think of after driving this stunning truck for a week is its low fuel economy. That being said, I am hard-pressed to think the average driver of a pickup truck is as concerned about getting 30+mpg as they are being able to haul a good amount of stuff in the bed while enjoying a luxury driving experience.

The look on my daughter’s face is what she thought of the Tundra! She and I relaxed in the bed of the Tundra 1794 Edition for a couple of hours while my son practiced Lacrosse. We had a blast!

Find a Toyota dealership near you and take the Tundra for a drive!

In order to facilitate this review, Toyota provided me with a 2014 Toyota Tundra 1794 for one week. All opinions are my own.

The Newly Redesigned 2014 Toyota Corolla, A Car With Wow Power!

October 14, 2013Car Reviewsautomobile, car, Corolla, review, ToyotaAlicia

Is looking for a new car something you’ve had on your mind for a while but haven’t decided on which vehicle you want to look at and learn more about first? While finding the right vehicle can sometimes be a challenge, when you take time to check out the newly redesigned 2014 Toyota Corolla, you’ll be amazed at this car’s “Wow Power”! Wow Power is when a car impresses you on more than just looks alone and the Toyota Corolla has great looks and much more! Cool new features for the tech-savvy driver, a sleek, restyled design that appeals to the eye and the same Toyota reliability that’s been a favorite among buyers for many years adds to the allure of this contemporary and affordable car.

2014 Corolla Safety with 8 Airbags

My review of the new Corolla found the addition of several great safety features, including 8 airbags that come standard on all 2014 Corolla models which include:

driver and front passenger airbags
driver and front passenger seat-mounted side airbags
driver knee airbag
passenger seat-cushion airbags
and front and rear side curtain airbags.

These, along with the three-point seat belts for every passenger make the 2014 Corolla one of the safest vehicles around. Sure, no one plans to be in an accident, but even the most seasoned driver on a familiar commute may still contend with the traffic becoming faster and heavier. Even with the convenient 60/40 rear seat split, no matter which seat you’re occupying, you can be reassured that you will be as protected as possible.

The Corolla has a beautiful interior as well and you’ll be sure to notice the aerodynamic dashboard with sleek, fluid lines. I can almost guarantee that when you get in the Corolla for the first time, your hand will involuntarily caress the dashboard as if you are touching a $1500 handbag you’ve saved for for years.

2014 Corolla Backup Camera

The addition of the backup camera which comes standard on all 2014 Corolla models with the exception of the Corolla L, is a superb touch. How is this a benefit to you? The touch-screen on the control panel gives you not only a view of the area behind your car, but also peace of mind that when backing up there is nothing in your path. You never know what prompts a child to run behind a car and the addition of backup cameras in a vehicle can be a life saver. Additionally, the camera also assists in parallel parking, making it easier to see the curb and vehicles in front or behind you. Tight spot to park? No problem now.

Inside the 2014 Toyota Corolla

Now, let’s take a tour of the other features inside the Corolla that make driving this car an immensely satisfying experience. Available only on the LE, LE Eco, and S Models, the ENTUNE Multimedia Bundle combines everything you love about technology and takes it on the road with you. The touch-screen features a 6-inch display and the AM/FM CD player and six speakers gives you an excellent surround-sound quality. There’s also an auxiliary audio jack for headphones, a USB port, and iPod® connectivity. With the advanced voice recognition and hands-free phone capability, you can dial, talk and control your phone effortlessly. The music streaming via Bluetooth® technology adds to the appeal of this intriguing and sporty vehicle.

Under the Hood

Under the hood, the Toyota Corolla offers two engine options and three transmission choices in the four differing models ranging from a six-speed manual shift to the classic four-speed automatic. I’d be remiss if I didn’t also mention the impressive gas mileage this car can get with an EPA estimated 42 miles per gallon on the highway. In short, the newly redesigned 2014 Toyota Corolla has everything you could want and more. It’s the ideal vehicle for everyone from long-distance commuters to budget-minded college students. It definitely has Wow-Power!

Cost:

MSRP

L – $16,800
LE – $18,300
LE Eco – $18,700
S – $19,000

Explore, Build, or Test Drive a Toyota Corolla Today!

Find your local Toyota dealer
Visit Toyota.com/Corolla to learn more about the Corolla

Thank you to photographer Ernesto Roman for providing a few of the photographs above.

Toyota flew me to Miami Florida to learn about and test drive the 2014 Toyota Corolla. They provided accommodations at the gorgeous Viceroy Miami hotel which I will tell you about in another post so stay tuned. All opinions are my own.

Want to read more about the 2014 Toyota Corolla?

I had a blast hanging out with Zippy from Champagne Living during this trip, who also provided a review of the Corolla on her blog.

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