Car Review – Gripshiftslide

Reviewed :: 2018 Camry SL Hybrid

Grant — Thu, 17 May 2018 11:19:23 +0000

Last month we returned to our favourite place on Earth, Japan. With a tight schedule planned we had just one week free to head out and explore the countryside and thought we might ask our friends from Toyota for a car. When asked “What do you want to drive?” Immediately we thought let’s get an 86!… However after driving the new V6 Camry back in Australia we were quite curious about taking the hybrid version out and comparing the two. Luckily there was a hybrid SL free while we were in town, so we headed to Toyota’s office in Tokyo to grab the keys and hit the road. If you haven’t seen much of the new Camry yet it is quite a departure from previous designs and has a dramatic new look, especially in this colour! Offered in 4 variants, Ascent, Ascent sport, SX and the range topping SL seen here. With choices of ether the petrol 2.5l 4 Cylinder, 2.5l hybrid and 3.5l V6. Why did we go for the hybrid? Well we’ve heard plenty of good things about it and wanted to see how it faired in a larger sedan. With the future of the car quickly changing to suit both the environment and the economy, petrol engines and even hybrids like this might soon be the next floppy disc or Walkman of our lifetime. When push comes to shove the 2.5l hybrid is surprisingly brisk off the line thanks to the added torque from the electric motor. The novelty of the almost silent electric motor at low speeds was strange at first. Once you press the accelerator the volume increases and it sounds remarkably like a Japanese train racing away from the station. When the speedo reads around 20kph the 4 cylinder petrol engine seamlessly kicks in and it starts to sound like a regular car again. You may notice that compared to our local model the exterior is a little different thanks to the larger grill taking up most of the front bumper. I was a little on the fence about the bumper design until I saw it in person and I found it really complements the new design rather well. The new Camry is built on Toyota’s new ‘TNGA’ platform which is highly adaptable to suit different sized cars and drivetrains, like RWD and AWD. We’ve driven both the C-HR and Prius built on the same platform and it feels a lot more dynamic across all the models when compared to their predecessors. The ride quality was quite surprising in comparison to the sport suspension offered in the SX model. It was softer over bumps without feeling floaty and didn’t fall off the road around tight corners. Overall it is quite balanced and provides a fair amount of feedback for a stock standard car. A testament to the new TNGA platform. Back to the cosmetics the 18” alloy wheels are our pick of the bunch from the new line up, they also feel a lot more suited as opposed to the monstrous 19” wheels offered on the SX model. We have not been a fan of many of the latest OEM wheel designs offered in recent years… *Looks at the Toyota 86*. If run of the mill mid-size sedans are considered plain or “vanilla” than this new model shines amongst the competition. This is the organic vanilla bean car right here! The exterior is not the only thing that’s changed. The interior has been given the same bold makeover. Gone are the plain cloth seats of the previous generations. The design of the dash alone draws your eyes into the centre as the asymmetrical lines intersect underneath the 7” screen. All in all It’s a rather nice place to be. Clever additions like the heads-up display and wireless charging pad for smart phones are the cherry on top! Driving the Camry around for the week, I started to appreciate the hybrid a little more than I had first anticipated. The fuel consumption was fantastic even with spirited driving on some of Japan’s famous mountain roads. I can’t tell if it’s just that I’m getting older but if I was in the market for a sedan I think I’d be hard pressed to go past the new Camry. You might even catch me looking back over my shoulder after parking it. Sitting inside it feels more akin to the upper-class brother, the Lexus IS300. Sharing the same powerplant options as the Lexus, the Camry might be closing the gap between the two cars just a little too much for some buyers. At an extra $24,000 It might be hard for some to shell out for the “L” badge. As for our time on the road it was incredible catching the tail end of the cherry blossom season out in Nikko. The panoramic glass roof helped to take in all the beauty while the trees were in bloom. During the week we only spotted two more Camrys in the wild, we also had a couple of admires keen to have a closer look at the new car. I’m actually quite excited to see if any receive the aftermarket VIP treatment in Japan. After seeing a few examples of the CH-R getting some love from Japanese workshops it seems more than likely. Simple is best so we think a subtle lip kit, dual exhausts, de-badged nose grill, Japanese front bumper and a set of SSR Professor SP4 wheels in silver would complete the car. The big question, would we still choose the V6?… Nope! As great as the V6 is to drive it just doesn’t seem suit the front wheel drive/automatic platform. If the option of a manual transmission and rear wheel drive were thrown into the mix with this body shape, we’d be lining up around the block with the rest of the world with cash in hand. Until then we think the Hybrid is the star here, all the comfort and it still moves when you put your foot down. I think most people would agree when it finally came time to filling up at the petrol station. Thanks to the team from Toyota and as always, thanks for reading. – Gwyn.

Reviewed :: 2018 All New Camry SX

Grant — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 12:09:02 +0000

You cannot go anywhere within Australia without seeing a Toyota Camry on the road. The humble Toyota Camry is a car that for generations has embodied sensibility, stability, and reliability.

This is the first fully imported Camry in 30 years! Built in Japan the Mk8 Camry is longer, sportier and packed with heaps of extra goodies. Based off Toyota’s new global vehicle platform, this new Camry will be seen all over the world.

Toyota gave us the chance to experience the all new Camry SX V6 3.5L with the panoramic full glass roof! In go fast red with big 19 inch alloys; these are the biggest wheels ever fitted to a Camry.

The Camry has been one of the most popular fleet vehicles for Australian’s over many decades. The closure of the Altona plant does not mean you will not be seeing thousands of white Camrys on the road.

With the imported model being slightly more expensive than the Australian built Camrys the new safety features well outweigh the price increase and I’m certain you will see plenty of the all new Camry on the road in the future.

Toyota’s New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform is at the very heart of the all new 2018 Camry. This platform has also been used in the new C-HR which also handles well and is a joy to drive.

So what has changed since the previous model? Nearly everything! It’s 30 per cent stiffer, it’s 25mm lower, and with completely new suspension all round which helps deliver a fun car to drive.

The Camry is treading on the luxury saloon market with this very capable sporty revamp of the Camry! The 2GR-FKS engine is a 3.5L V6 that has been used in other luxury cars like the Lexus GS350 and shares lots of similarities to the engine seen in previous models of the Crown Athlete and the Mark X.

For the last three generations of the Toyota Camry you can see that Toyota has been making a concerted effort to improve and develop the Camry into what we see today. Safety features, looks, and interior have all been upgraded.

What caught my eye initially was the new aggressive front face of the Camry with styling cues taken from the Japanese Toyota Mark X GRMN.

With the longer body, the double moon roof, and the crazy new dash I was hooked! I’m normally not a fan of the Camry but this has opened my mind.

Gone is the boring Camry of yesteryear! Today Toyota has brought new life to a car that has been seen for many years as the quintessential accountants car.

The Camry SX is no slouch as its factory claimed 0-100 figure is 6.5 seconds and several car magazines have street tested this and have got the very close figure of 6.79 seconds.

I’m not saying this is a street weapon but it will definitely give a Commodore a run for its money! That said if Toyota did some weight stripping off this car it could be much quicker. Or if they wanted to take the market all they would need to do is make this car rear wheel drive and strap a turbo on the engine. Then they would own the gap in the market left by the exit of the SS Commodore.

The eight-speed automatic does a good job of getting off the line quickly although it does get a little lost if you accelerate hard, then lift your foot, and apply it again. However this can be overcome by the paddleshifters on the steering wheel.

It’s almost embarrassing to say but for the first time I actually enjoyed driving a Camry! I’m all for the changes! Their entertainment system is 90% there, its exterior looks phenomenal, and its performance level has been raised. If they added Apple Car Play and Android Auto plus some better UI design in the GPS area they would have the best package available on the market.

Take for instance Ford; the exterior design of their entertainment system is terrible but the features and ability of their units are class leading. People will buy a car just for its abilities to better interact with their phone.

The car market is changing rapidly and before we know it driverless cars will rule the world! Although we are not there yet the future is coming whether we like it or not. Car manufactures are scrambling to get cars to market quickly and the rapid amount of new in between models are starting to flood the market. I’m glad that the classic Camry remains in a form that is not too different from its original inception in the 1980’s.

The Camry now feels a lot larger with plenty of leg room in the back and more space up front. The SX Camry comes standard with high-grade LED front and rear lights, auto emergency braking (AEB), and lane departure warning.

The boot is massive and it could easily fit a pram or golf clubs if needed. Plus as a bonus you can fold down the back seats and fit extra long items in the boot.

The automatic high beam is another great feature that is the best when your on a long drive. As soon as you reach for the stick to turn your lights back to normal the system beats you and is ready to switch the high beams on as soon as the cars pass.

Toyota has done a great job tuning the suspension for Australian conditions. The car corners nice and flat with little to no body roll. It does not feel floaty or disconnected but rather it feels tight and tuned. The suspension can uncharacteristically feel rough over any deep pothole and this may be one of very few flaws that the Camry exhibits.

Have Toyota reinvented the Camry; or just merged the Aurion and Camry together, thereby dropping a badge and increasing the performance whilst improving the image of the well known Camry.

Whatever the case I’m glad they have improved the humble Camry. Much less boring than its predecessors and finally the Camry has a little spark in its step.
Thanks again Toyota for letting us get our hands on the all new Camry.
– Grant

Reviewed :: TRD Equipped SR5 Hilux

Grant — Sun, 21 May 2017 10:56:43 +0000

The last time we saw Toyota apply a TRD badge was in 2008; yet it is now 2017. So what has changed since then? A whole lot has changed! The Hilux is all grown up and ready to challenge its new rivals.

Although everyone is calling this the TRD Hilux, Toyota likes to refer to it as the TRD equipped Hilux, or the Toyota HiLux with TRD accessories. Unfortunately this means you will not be setting any 0-100 records any time soon but at least it looks like it would go fast!

There is a massive gap in the market for a fast ute as Holden and Ford are no longer able to produce cars in Australia; and they were the one stop shop for go fast utes. So is the market completely changing to prefer styling over performance? Or is it really too expensive to produce a true performance version of the Hilux.

I’m not sure but it is great to see the TRD brand back again in whatever form it takes. When Toyota decided to create a modified version of the Hilux they looked towards their best selling model of the Hilux. Based on the Toyota Hilux SR5 dual-cab diesel 2.8 4×4 the TRD equipped Hilux features all the best bits of the SR5 and a little bit more.

Toyota has made sure that the TRD equipped Hilux looks the part with its bright red bash plate, black wheels, and fancy front grill. The subtle yet aggressive styling makes the TRD equipped Hilux stand out whilst not screaming look at me. But lets face it you do not buy a brand new TRD Hilux to not be noticed and I think the bright red bash plate is just the right amount of kit to make onlookers realize this is not your standard Hilux.

Toyota has dominated the 4×4 ute sector for the last ten years or more. Now with threatening competition from the Ford Ranger, Holden Colorado, VW Amorok and the Nissan Nirvara it’s time for Toyota to step up their game.

The Hilux is an Australian icon and you will see one in nearly every major town across Australia. It really is one of the most capable 4×4 utes ever made.

You can’t stay on top of the market forever though and Toyota recognises this. In retaliation to models like the Ford Wildtrak and Holden Colorado Z71 they have released the all new TRD equipped Hilux SR5. In a bold move Toyota is only offering the TRD equipped Hilux in black or white making the decision much easier for punters.

Passenger-friendly, mid-sized utes, are starting to explode as a category. Just like we saw with the introduction of the SUV, at first there are a few in the market and now its starting to hit the saturation point. Yet the mid sized 4×4 ute is in the early to mid stages of the epic boom that is predicted for the next ten years.

When brands like Mercedes are just about to jump in the ring you know there is money to be made in the segment. So why are family style 4×4 utes growing so much as a category? My opinion is that cashed up millennials and centennials are looking for adventure.

Realizing that playing the game, as an adult, in a world that worships capitalism isn’t the most rewarding pursuit when even billionaires are seen as unhappy. Evidence shows that the likelihood of being addicted to a whole swag of pharmaceuticals is the case for the majority of the super successful capitalists.

So what do millennials desire? Apart from social media fame! “Experience” is the new currency for millennials. Adventure and life experience are what millennials really value! So the best way to achieve this is with a go anywhere vehicle that can carry the family and tow all your adventure gear.

The Hilux is the ultimate vehicle for adventure as it’s tough, sturdy and full of Toyota’s famous reliability. The Hilux is one of the markets top selling vehicles and currently it is dominating the light commercial sector closely followed by the Ford Ranger.

According to statistics 4×4 utes are one of the fastest growing segments in the world so it seems Toyota picked the right time to release the TRD sports pack.

The only things I would like Toyota to add to the TRD Hilux is some extra detailing inside the cabin apart from just floor mats. It would be great if they could have some small hints of red inside the cabin or some TRD stitched seats just to make it feel a bit more special.

The TRD gear knob is a bit dainty for the size of the Hilux. It really needs a big, chunky, manly TRD gear knob! One you can comfortably rest your hand on whilst driving.

After cruising around in the Hilux as a daily I eventually stumbled across the 3 power modes; when initially I thought it only had eco and power mode. Yet strangely there is a mode in between eco / power. This mode I would suppose would be called the normal mode? So why did I let the Hilux default to eco for so long… because I wanted to feel like Captain Planet!

Yes that’s right. I wanted to see if it was possible to save the environment while navigating Melbourne’s traffic and not getting into an accident. I’m sad to say I had to gather the Planeteers and “let our powers combine” and by pushing the power button I was able to get across roundabouts while chanting “go planet”! Power is not a dirty word. I’m glad the Hilux has a good amount of up and go when you need it!

I’m normally not a fan of electric seat controls but the one in the Hilux is amazing and you will find yourself adjusting your setting as you drive just because you can. If the seat came with an extra lumbar support button and a captains chair armrest it would be the perfect seat!

If you want the best 4×4 in its class than the TRD equipped SR5 Hilux is the only choice. Also the Hilux special models tend to hold their value quite well. Although it may look like Toyota has just slapped some accessories on the Hilux it feels like a lot more than that! No wonder the Hilux is respected and loved around the world.
Thanks to Toyota Australia for giving us the opportunity to test and review the new Hilux SR5 equiped with the TRD sports pack.
Thanks for reading,
Grant

Reviewed :: Toyota C-HR Koba

Grant — Wed, 03 May 2017 13:23:34 +0000

The C-HR is Toyota’s newest compact SUV boasting bold looks, class leading technology, big space and reliability. This is a completely new car built on Toyota’s TNGA platform and from concept to reality this is one creation that Toyota did not skimp on! They really pushed the design envelope making a small four door SUV look like a two door sporty hatchback on steroids.

The proportions of this car are visually mind bending, sometimes it looks small and other times it looks like a large soft rider. Sharing Toyota’s new headlight design that is a theme running through all of its current models and most notably the new Rav4. You may of noticed that the humble Rav4 has grown bigger in its current form making way for the C-HR to fit right into the stables at Toyota.

The model I was testing was the All Wheel Drive C-HR Koba. The first thing I noticed about this car was its interior space! It’s deceptive to say the least! It has a high viewing angle for the driver with a large windscreen and big side windows giving the driver a super panoramic view of the road. It almost feels as large inside up front as an XF Falcon!

The interior is very distinctive with its silver highlights and high gloss glitter surrounds. The C-HR not only has LED tail lamps but also LED headlamps which are super bright! So bright that you will constantly think you have your high beams on.

Yet when you venture to the back seat things change drastically! The lack of light caused by the small rear side windows creates a very dark and claustrophobic feeling. Although they are great if you want to stop young kids sticking their heads out the window!

For adults in the back there is adequate room despite the need to lean forward to see out the window.
Gone are the days of an ashtray in every arm rest. Todays ashtray is the cup holder! Toyota has made sure that there is one within reach everywhere inside the C-HR.

You can see Toyota has focused on the driver with a premium seat, complete with height adjustment and electronic lumbar support, which really helps on a long trip. The C-HR feels fun, light and agile to drive.

The 1.2 litre 4 cylinder turbo engine has been the main talking point around this car across the internet…
So I decided to take it up some big hills.

Having owned a Honda Beat with only 3 cylinders at a whopping 660CC I know a thing or two about low powered cars and the internet whinging was clearly coming from people who drive Holden Commodores. The fact that the C-HR is only pushing out 85kw and pulling 1510kgs sounds like it could be a struggle, yet I’m here to tell you that this little eco engine goes well for what it has to accomplish.

Driving around Mansfield and all the way up Mt Buller was a big test for the little engine. I drove up to Mt Buller in the pouring rain with no problems! Yeah the CVT gearbox is a bit slow at times but all CVT autos have that delay. Once you put the car into sport mode you can alleviate at least 70% of that delay and pull out a bunch more response from the little engine.

As any boy racer would do I looked for the intercooler and turbo straight away! Were both hidden ? Was I going blind?…Yes the car has hidden the turbo behind the engine against the firewall! So no quick turbo upgrades! The intercooler well… Toyota decided to save space and go for a fancy water-cooled exhaust manifold instead of a traditional intercooler.

So if you intend to modify the C-HR the only quick fix would be a tune/remap, more boost, and a bigger exhaust system. Although for this type of car people will more likely go for aesthetic over power. We can only hope that Toyota brings over some of the proposed TRD kits for the C-HR into Australia.

A recent speedhunters article featured a C-HR with a set of airbags and some great wheels this really shows just the tip of the iceberg of what can be done with the C-HR.

The car itself has some spectacular line. It looks fast, sleek and sophisticated. Those sneaky rear doors help to make the car look smaller than it really is and they give it a coupe style appearance with attitude.

The Koba has many awesome features just like a new mobile phone! You have lots of things at your disposal yet it’s only when you need that specific function that you discover the feature that can help you.

Basically this car does heaps of things I never knew it did! Auto high beam, Lane Departure Alert, PreCollision Safety system, Active Cruise Control and the main feature that was the most helpful; the blind spot indicators!

So what is the C-HR? Is it a mini-SUV? A small soft rider or a high-riding coupe? It’s all of those things and more.
With a sprinkle of Lexus and a dash of inspiration from Honda the C-HR is made to turn heads.

Will cashed up hipsters trade in their old VW Golfs for a funky family fun mini-SUV? Lets hope so because Toyota has thrown everything at the C-HR! They have packed a lot of technology into this car yet most of the technology seems to be focused on safety.

However I think millennials would rather Apple Carplay and Android Auto over extra parking sensors or emergency braking systems. As the mobile phone continues to move towards human symbiosis complete and seamless connectivity is at the forefront of all young peoples minds.

For that reason I find its strange that Toyota has skimped on the entertainment system in the C-HR. Overseas C-HR models have been pictured with a sleek flat panel media system yet the Australian version gets a clunky Chinese unit that is not very user friendly.

The audio/media system in the car is really the only thing that Toyota needs to work on; otherwise the C-HR is a great little car. Fun to drive, easy over speed humps and rough roads and it genuinely handles well for a car of this type.

The cabin has great noise cancelling and the drivers seat can be raised or lowered which is amazing for child sized adults like myself.

The real party piece of the C-HR is its unmistakable design! It really stands out among it’s competition especially with the amount of dress-up options available. There are even three different trim styles to choose from; Icon, Excel and Dynamic. Not to mention the wide range of accessories you can add in the mix.

The C-HR is very comfortable and easy to live with and it really is a cut above the rest. Toyota has taken a risk making such a bold, mini SUV but I think they have pulled it off and I cannot wait to see more of these on the road. Thanks to Toyota Australia for giving us the opportunity to test and review the new C-HR.
Thanks for reading,
Grant

Reviewed :: New-look Toyota 86

Grant — Fri, 20 Jan 2017 06:10:50 +0000

When Toyota invited us to take an extended test drive of the new-look 86 we jumped at the chance! Being a huge fan of the original car and its re-birthed version in 2012 this was a perfect opportunity to see how the car had been improved.

Having driven the previous 86 before we knew what to expect from the car but had things changed? The new-look 86 definitely looks more aggressive. We had 5 days to test and run the car through its paces from taking it to get groceries to spirited driving runs through the hills.

From the outside you can see they have given the front a new treatment; with all round LED lights in the fog lamps, headlights, taillights and an all new indicator position that sits just above the updated front bar.

What you may not notice at first are the small details that have been updated. From the new aluminium spoiler with its flat grey two tone finish to the little logos etched into the side of the headlights. Even the small side vents have been changed in favor of a more sleek look.

The improvements in style and handling are the most evident changes although some interesting features have been added like hill start assist and a built in lap timer.

When you look even closer you will notice the fine detail that has gone into the all new LED taillights that really help the car to stand out. You can see it has taken influences from after market taillights like the very popular Buddy Club LED taillight.

One of the more modern features they have added to the all new look 86 is its new multi information display that is integrated into the existing gauge setup. It’s great to see Toyota putting some effort into bringing more information to the driver. The multi function display lets you see oil and water temp and even battery voltage.

To make things more exciting Toyota has introduced a new button into the cabin. This ‘Track Mode’ button turns half of the stability control system off so you can really enjoy the car in its rawest form as it was intended.

Although everyone is begging for a factory turbo version of the 86 Toyota has instead brought out an even more refined version of the hugely successful 86. It’s widely rumored that Toyota is saving the turbo for a Supra rebirth.

The GTS manual gets a new cast aluminium manifold, polished valve stems, and cam journal plus a slightly revamped air intake which has added a whole lot more low down torque off the line! Enough to throw your shopping around the boot especially if you launch it at the lights.

Unfortunately the automatic version does not get the altered engine and retains the same engine as the previous version of the 86.

Honey I shrunk the kids… I mean steering wheel! Toyota has decided to decrease the size of the steering wheel to an impressive 362mm which make this the smallest production steering wheel in all of Toyota’s vehicles. The only thing that I didn’t like was the entertainment system. Although it was quick to recognize Bluetooth and continue podcasts; it’s cumbersome controls and GPS were old fashioned.

Everything has had a revamp including the wheels! These new-look 17-inch metallic alloys with fancy machine-cut highlights give the car a much needed aggressive look.

The newly added extra welding to the back end of the car helps stiffen the car up and improve response along with the quick steering rack. The car feels super tight and sharp during cornering especially if the car gets a bit tail happy. The quick rack, smaller steering wheel, and stiffer front suspension all combine to give the driver more control when things do go wrong.

Having driven the previous model I’ve noticed that the sound of the all-new 86 is a lot more aggressive and it revs more freely than the previous models! The quick revving nature of engine makes the gear ratios feel shorter which intern makes you feel as though you are going much faster.

So what else have they added? Steering wheel controls have been added on GTS models for that added bit of luxury. Plus a fancy new Grand Luxe’ trim on the instrument panel and door trims that looks and feels like fancy flocking out of a rally car.

After driving this car for a week I really started enjoying the car even more each day. Comfy for the daily commute, yet fun like a gokart, though the suburban sprawl or a thump in the hills.

I really like the newly tuned suspension. It’s soft, yet firm and responsive. It feels almost like coilovers on their soft setting. The new suspension set up really makes the car a joy to drive especially over speed humps.

Overall they have pulled together the best elements of the 86. Toyota further improved the car by making it look more bold but kept an elegant take on balance and performance.
All in all this is one of the best 86s ever produced and the 2017 new-look 86 is a true pleasure to drive. Not only does it put a smile on your face every time you drive it but it makes you realize exactly why the Toyota 86 is such a popular car in Australia. Thanks to Toyota Australia for giving us the opportunity to test and review one of their very special cars.
Thanks for reading,
Grant