About: Autolove

2018 Toyota Avalon Hybrid

An Automotive Love Affair
By Joe Mavilia

Overview:

This is the 2018 Toyota Avalon Hybrid. You know what, it is so nice to look at the instrument panel and see the range is like 500 miles. Those days of 7 MPG is behind us, thankfully. Then you look at the price of oil at $61.00 a barrel (55 gallons) turns into $4.00 per gallon at the pump. Now I’m just breaking even. Cars get more economical and the market (oil companies) get their pound of flesh. Then government taxes it heavily and the consumer is back to square one. OK, so that is a myopic view and we really need to put it all in perspective. The cost of goods and services has, overall, come down over the years.

Consider the price of a Ford Model A in 1929 in any color you wanted it (grey, green or black) began at $500 up to $1,200. Surely everyone could afford $500, which translates into $7,200 in 2018 dollars, to $17,000 for the top of the line. Pretty amazing, eh.

General Information:

Assembly: Georgetown, Kentucky, USA; Classification is Midsize; Vehicles from Toyota: 4Runner, 86, Avalon, Camry, C-HR, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Mirai, Prius, Prius C, Prius Prime, Prius V, RAV4, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma, Tundra.

Handling & Performance:

Smooth and comfortable is my first impression. If this were a Corvette, for example, you would be as pumped as a thoroughbred at “post time”. But a sophisticated passenger car isn’t off to the races but more a ride in the park. For sure this is a nice ride and has been an enjoyable week of leisurely travel.

Styling:

Typical Toyota design is to provide good functionality which has surely met consumers appreciation and we know that because Toyota is one of the top selling cars in the world. Fiat has edged them out worldwide in recent years to be number one.

Fit and Finish:

Toyota quality has infected all brands over the past few decades. Most brands have the Toyota standard to live up to. Some do, some don’t. For example, my 2011 Ford F350 is an exception. I just can’t find a cause of whistling sound emanating from the dash that would drive most to drink, or worse.

Cost:

The price of admission is about what I expected and a good value at $40,000.

Conveniences and comfort:

All the bells and whistles are included and what isn’t there isn’t all that important.

Consumer Recommendations:

I’m not a fan of ‘all electric’ but I am a big fan of Hybrid technology for today. Tomorrow – the moon, but I’m in no hurry. Before you’re ready, cars will be driving you. Be patient and enjoy the ‘drive’ in the meantime. The future? I can just imagine race drivers will be obsolete and computers will drive the cars and compete, for what I can’t imagine? Can’t wait, though and quite frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn. I’ll enjoy ‘Lizzy’, as long as I can.

Recognised Competition:

Good News:

Comfortable affordable near luxury sedan with very good fuel economy.

Bad News:

N/A.

Standard Equipment:

Hybrid drive with a 2.5 liter 4-cylinder engine, automatic transmission, 17” alloy wheels, power assisted 4-wheel disc brakes, pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert with steering assist, dynamic radar cruise control, automatic high beams, star safety system stability and traction control, electronic brakeforce distribution, and smart stop technology, 10-airbags, LATCH child anchor and tether system, anti-theft system with engine immobilizer, blind spot and cross traffic alert, heated mirrors with turn signal indicators, power tilt and slide moonroof, climate control with rear seat vents, AM/FM/CD/HD SXM audio system with 9-speakers, Aux/USB, Bluetooth, backup camera, leather trimmed steering wheel with audio, Bluetooth & voice command controls, leather seating with 8-way driver power seat and 4-way passenger power seat, smart key system with push button start and wireless smartphone charging.

Gas Stats:

40 City and 39 Highway MPG

$3.35 / Gal avg. March 10, 2018

www.fueleconomy.gov
for more information.

Pricing:

MSRP $40,132.

2018 Toyota Yaris iA

An Automotive Love Affair
By Joe Mavilia

Overview:

This is the 2018 Toyota Yaris iA and. since my review research of the 2013 model, as you might expect, Yaris has matured a bit for 2018. It has some history now and it remains in the top half, in class, for reliability and low ownership costs for a roomy interior car with good overall comfort.

My highway miles told me it was a nice stable car for its size and weight. Others I’ve recently reviewed, you may recall, in similar stature were not so good. No complaints from me here, especially for the money one must wonder – you can’t go wrong.

General Information:

Assembly: France; Classification is: Subcompact; Vehicles from Toyota: 4Runner, 86, Avalon, Camry, C-HR, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Mirai, Prius, Prius C, Prius Prime, Prius V, RAV4, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma, Tundra.Yaris, Yaris iA .

Handling & Performance:

Great turning radius and although I was impressed with the highway performance this would be a great commuter and small family sedan. Not much to complain about here and moreover the fuel economy is a big plus and can only grow more important as gas prices continue to rise.

Styling:

Basic design and quite frankly simple clean lines is good for me, especially in such an economy vehicle.

Fit and Finish:

Good.

Cost:

Outstanding value.

Conveniences and comfort:

Pretty basic but the standard features are very good for the money.

Consumer Recommendations:

Usual stuff to make your drive comfortable and economical, but as you look at all the standard features for the money you should be impressed. Overall it is a bargain for your transportation needs and a great young family car.

Recognised Competition:

Good News:

Good performer, unbeatably priced, comfortable and roomy in class.

Bad News:

Not much to bitch about.

Standard Equipment:

1.5 liter 106 Horsepower 4-cylinder engine, 6-speed automatic transmission, sport drive mode, front wheel drive, 16” alloy wheels, low speed pre collision system, stability and traction controls, anti-lock braking system with electronic brake force distribution and brake assist, front and side curtain airbags, LATCH child safety system, rear view backup camera, tire pressure monitor, variable intermittent wipers, power mirrors with LED turn signal indicators, fabric trimmed 6-way adjustable driver’s seat and 4-way adjustable passenger seat, 7” color touch screen display, AM/FM/HD radio with 6-speakers, 2-USB ports with iPod connect, Bluetooth hands free phone and music streaming, voice recognition, connected suite for Pandora, Aha and Stitcher audio, remote keyless entry with push button start, cruise control, power windows and locks, tilt / telescopic steering wheel with audio controls, air conditioning, 60/40 split fold flat rear seat.

Gas Stats:

$3.35 / Gal avg. February 26, 2018

www.fueleconomy.gov
for more information.

32 City and 40 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $17,050.

2018 Toyota Camry 4-door XSE

An Automotive Love Affair
By Joe Mavilia

Overview:

This is the 2018 Toyota Camry 4-door XSE. When we buy a product it’s always good to look at the philosophy of the company, to the extent we can. I’ve spent time in the manufacturing process in Japan and have reported, to you in the past, on their culture and thus its influence on work ethic. Here is a short look into how a company mission or philosophy can lead to the processes they employ in making the car you may own.

The push towards lean manufacturing originates from the Toyota Production System which is often referred to as Just-In-Time (JIT) Production. The Toyota Company became successful after World War 2 when Japanese factory owners adopted many American production and quality techniques. The manufacturing techniques of Henry Ford and the Statistical Quality Control ideas of Edwards Deming became the foundation of Toyota’s production process.

Unlike the American automotive industry, Toyota encouraged employees to be a part of the production process. The company introduced quality circles, which was a group of workers who meet to discuss workplace improvement. Quality circle members make presentations to management with regarding the quality of production.

Toyota developed a set of procedures that reduced the time required for setup and changeovers. Unlike Ford’s production, Toyota developed manufacturing in smaller batches and this required a set of processes that reduced setup and changeover times. The resulting procedure was Single Minute Exchange of Die (SMED). There are seven steps used in the SMED method for the changeover, including streamlining the external and internal activities.

The developments made by Toyota were adopted by other Japanese manufacturers but none were as successful. In the 1980s, American companies began to adopt some of the processes developed by Toyota and gave these names such as Continuous Flow Manufacturing (CFM), World Class Manufacturing (WCM), and Stockless Production.

It is this playing off one another’s experiences that has been the foundation of our world society today. You know, the invention of the wheel. As simple or basic as things are, the rest could never follow to evolve without beginnings. I suspect we need be very careful of thinking ‘we’ did this or that, unless the “we” includes those who came before us.

General Information:

Assembly: Georgetown, Kentucky, USA; Classification is: Midsize; Vehicles from Toyota: 4Runner, 86, Avalon, Camry, C-HR, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Mirai, Prius, Prius C, Prius Prime, Prius V, RAV4, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma, Tundra.

Handling & Performance:

There are three driving settings, ECO, Normal and Sport. Select sport and it will ‘rocket’ your driving experience. It is a quick and fun performer, while the ECO setting will get top fuel economy, thus it fits all driving choices with a touch of a button. I like it – and Normal is good too.

Styling:

Toyota has always been in style and has led the way in many respects. This ‘Flag Ship’ of their fleet has attractive clean lines. Some may be off-put by some unusual accent lines but the look grew on me over the week of testing.

Fit and Finish:

Very good and consistent with a maturing reputation of Japanese quality. Remember Avis’ advertisements in competition with Hertz rent a car battles? Avis smartly said, “We’re #2 – We Try Harder”. Today reflects that slogan in that there are some ‘also rans’ to Toyota that are challenging their perch on the top spot.

Cost:

Toyota is at the upper end of the cost spectrum and for sure Hyundai will impress you as well for the money.

Conveniences and comfort:

All the hi-tech equipment features I recommend and generally very comfortable seating. I really enjoyed the ride.

Consumer Recommendations:

Toyota has earned their many years of consumer recognition of Toyota as a quality product. People have embraced the product, over those years, and thus they have been included in our test drives. They have become the standard of excellence image for foreign cars to America just as Cadillac has been the standard of excellence for domestic cars in America.

All here listed are worthy of your consideration. Try them all and you’ll make the most informed decision about the best car in your future.

Recognised Competition:

Good News:

Quality product with consumer endorsement, Camry has matured nicely over the years and this is a good example of that progress.

Bad News:

Annoying seat belt bell that goes from a gentle ding to a louder unnecessary gong. I get it. Perhaps if they provided a ‘variometer’ so I could adjust the reminder bell to decibels more suited to my sensibilities. I do wear my seat belt but I object to an obnoxious reminder.

Standard Equipment:

3.5 liter V6 301 hp engine, 8-speed automatic transmission, sport tuned suspension, pre-collision system, dynamic radar pedestrian detection, cruise control with lane departure detection, steering assist, ABS with brake assist and smart stop technology, traction control, ten airbags, electronic brake force distribution, blind spot detection with cross traffic alert, anti-theft system with alarm, 19” black machined finish alloy wheels, auto on/off LED headlights, panoramic glass roof with power moonroof, 8” touch screen with connected Nav and App suite, USB, AUD, 10” color heads up display, sport leather trimmed heated front seats and leather trimmed steering wheel with audio, Bluetooth phone and voice command controls, backup camera with dynamic gridlines, 7” multi-information display, tire pressure monitor, wireless charging pad, smart key system with push button start and dual zone climate control.

Gas Stats:

22 City and 32 Highway MPG

$3.25 / Gal avg. February 11, 2018

www.fueleconomy.gov
for more information.

Pricing:

MSRP $34,950.