• Test Drive

    Test drive Toyota Corolla: the story continues

    Our first test with the new edition of the bestseller Whether a person is a fan of the Toyota Corolla or vice versa, there is no doubt that this model is important for the global industry. Because it is the best-selling model in history. Even before the twelfth generation Corolla hit the market, over 45 million units of its predecessors had been sold. The fact is that each edition of the Japanese compact model is a completely different product, so if we have to take a closer look at the question of which car is the best-selling car in history, the prize could be awarded to the “tortoise”. “About VW, because in all the decades of its production it has not changed dramatically either in design or in technology. However, in…

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    Test drive Toyota Avensis 2.0 D-4D: Sharpening the blade

    Toyota Gives Its Mid-Size Model a Partial Overhaul. First Impressions The current generation of the Toyota Avensis has been on the market since 2009, but it seems that Toyota continues to rely on it to achieve a more than decent market share in the mid-size segment in a number of European markets, including ours. In 2011, the car underwent its first facelift, and in the middle of last year, it was time for a second major overhaul. More decisive radiation Even those who are not particularly sophisticated in the field of cars will have no trouble distinguishing the updated model from its previous versions - the front end has received the characteristic sharpened features of the updated Auris, which is characterized by a small radiator grille and dried-out headlights. In combination with a completely…

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    Test drive VW Passat against Toyota Avensis: duel Combi

    Large interior volume, low fuel consumption: this is the concept on which the Toyota Avensis Combi and VW Passat Variant are built. The only question is how well the basic diesel engines cope with driving both models? The Toyota Avensis Combi and VW Passat Variant flirt with their practicality, visible in every detail. But this is where the similarities between the two models end, and here the differences begin - while the Passat attracts attention with its large, shiny chrome grille, the Avensis remains discreet to the end. The Passat wins in terms of interior size - thanks to its larger exterior dimensions and more rational use of useful volume, the model offers more space for passengers and their luggage. There is enough headroom and legroom for both rear passengers ...

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    Test drive basic off-road SUVs

    We are talking about the most authentic of their kind: Mitsubishi Pajero, Nissan Pathfinder and Toyota Landcruiser do not obey road fashion. The Land Rover Defender does even less. A true SUV makes you feel like you're venturing outside of civilization - even when the next village is just over the next hill. For such an illusion, a rocky scree is sufficient if it is dug into the ground and looks like a closed biotope. Such, for example, is the off-road park in Langenaltheim - the perfect terrain to inspire three Japanese 4x4 legends and pit them against the old European rugged Land Rover Defender. He started first - so to speak, as a scout who must find his way. If the Defender encounters difficulties, it will mean the end of the adventure for...

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    Toyota RAV4 4WD Hybrid Test Drive: Affordable Lexus?

    Behind the practical RAV4 Hybrid lies the technology of the Lexus NX300h. The fourth generation Toyota RAV4 has recently been given a partial overhaul, with some styling changes, the most significant of which is a radically redesigned front end. The interior has also been updated, with softer surfaces and redesigned controls. Thanks to Toyota Safety Sense, the RAV4 now boasts automatic high beams, traffic sign recognition, lane change assist, adaptive cruise control and a collision mitigation system that can bring the car to a complete, automatic stop in the event of imminent danger. Perhaps the most interesting new feature, however, is how Toyota has re-prioritised the RAV4’s range of drive options. In the future, their SUV will be…

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    Test drive of the new Toyota Land Cruiser Prado

    In the twelfth year, the SUV became more powerful, faster and a little more fashionable. But how much does he need all this? Let's immediately agree that this is not a restyling. The Japanese abandoned the purposeful modifications of the elderly “pradik”, and all the updates that will be discussed here are made more out of economy. There are essentially two of them, updates: the engine and the multimedia system. And both are installed in the car only because they appeared on other Toyota models - it just doesn't make sense to simultaneously produce old and new versions if you can focus only on the latest ones. At the same time, exactly those things that "rubbed" the owners the most were improved. So to speak, win-win. Moreover, the modified motor promises not just a win, but a real jackpot. Four-cylinder turbodiesel 1GD-FTV with a volume of 2,8 liters ...

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    Test drive Toyota Verso 1.6 D-4D: the heart of a European

    Introducing the first model of the Japanese company equipped with a motorcycle with a Bavarian start. Toyota's decision to start sourcing diesel units from BMW There is certainly logic in this decision - the Japanese manufacturer intends to focus on improving its traditional strengths, such as the development of gasoline and hybrid technologies, and diesels will rely on one of the proven leaders in this field. However, as a rule, in the Japanese language, the first step in a new endeavor is small, carefully thought out and not at all confident. The role of pioneer of the diesel cooperation between BMW and Toyota fell to the well-known seven-seater family model Verso, under the hood of which you could recently find a 1,6-liter self-igniting engine with 112 hp and 270 Nm inherited a two-liter unit with 124 ...

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    Test drive Toyota GT 86: breaking point

    The GT 86 brings a new lease of life to the Toyota range, and harks back to the days when some of the brand’s cars enjoyed cult status. Can the new model recapture the glory of its famous ancestors? I admit that in recent years I’ve been more interested in Toyota’s hybrid technology and issues such as the energy cycle of both electric cars and internal combustion engines. Especially since I recently had the chance to personally speak to some of the creators of these systems. But now, here I am behind the wheel of something that doesn’t have the letter “H” in its abbreviation in any form. Not alone, not as part of other words. This time, the combination of GT 86 – the first two letters succinctly express the character of the car,…

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    Aerodynamics Handbook

    The Most Important Factors Affecting Vehicle Air Resistance Low air resistance helps to reduce fuel consumption. However, there are huge opportunities for development in this regard. Unless, of course, experts in aerodynamics agree with the opinion of the designers. "Aerodynamics for those who don't know how to build motorcycles." These words were uttered by Enzo Ferrari in the sixties and clearly demonstrate the attitude of many designers of the time to this technological side of the car. However, it was not until ten years later that the first oil crisis occurred, which radically changed their entire value system. The times when all the forces of resistance during the movement of the car, and especially those that arise when it passes through the air layers, are overcome by extensive technical solutions, such as increasing the displacement and power of engines, ...

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    Test drive Toyota Land Cruiser 200

    Toyota Land Cruiser is a cult car for Russia. In our country, this SUV has been considered a symbol of success since the 90s of the last century. It is often used both as an escort car, and as a vehicle for transporting high officials, and as personal transport. At the height of the crisis in March this year, the Land Cruiser 200 entered the top 25 best-selling models on the Russian market. And that's starting at $39. To get a feel for what's special about this bulky SUV, we've given it to people with different driving habits. Aleksey Butenko, 450, drives a Volkswagen Scirocco Something is wrong with this 32. I shamefully overslept the new restyling? No, everything seems to be in place. Bypassed…

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    Test drive Mazda 6 vs Toyota Camry

    The second update brought a supercharged version to the Mazda 6 range, with which the Japanese sedan can challenge the top-end Toyota Camry V6. Moreover, the price round of the duel Mazda wins in advance In the Russian segment of classic large sedans, everything seems to be clear for a long time, but Toyota Camry competitors do not give up. Kia Optima can be considered a good alternative, Skoda Superb is selling well, VW Passat is steadily strong. Boredom? Then it makes sense to take a look at the updated Mazda 6 - the Japanese brand has always made cars with character for people who like to drive. It is clear that in the mass segment it will be difficult to fight the Camry, but for those who want to take a car for driving with pleasure, Mazda now offers a perky turbo engine ...

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    Test drive Toyota Highlander

    In the Old World, they don't know about the big Japanese crossover. But there it would actually be very useful ... What is good for a Russian is uneconomical for a European. Liter turbo engines, Euro-6 diesels, manual transmissions on business sedans - if we heard about all this, it was mainly from the stories of friends who drove rental cars in Germany. Europeans, in turn, do not know what an SUV is in a metropolis, huge gasoline engines and fuel for 60 cents. Even in the Old World, they have not heard of the Toyota Highlander, a large crossover that is sold in our database with front-wheel drive and a long list of standard equipment. An SUV atypical for Europe would actually come in handy there. German Toyota configurator…

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    Test drive Toyota RAV4 vs Nissan X-Trail

    Toyota RAV4 was updated at the end of last year and is selling better than all its classmates, but in some regions it still seems like a new product. The same situation is with the localized Nissan X-Trail “Dear, come here, please,” the whitewash seller on the highway somewhere between Safonovo and Yartsevo was very persistent. — Do you have a new “Rav”? Or what kind of car is this anyway?” Half a minute later, the crossover was surrounded by so many onlookers that it seemed that I would remain in the Smolensk region forever - without a car, money and a good weekend. “My name is Samat, I want to buy myself a Toyota, but I don’t have enough for a Kruzak, and you know what a Camry is for local roads,” the owner of the shop sincerely revealed his plans and thereby reassured me.…

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    Toyota Aygo driver test: Mr. X.

    First impressions of the boldest-looking member of the trio – the Toyota Aygo Even a quick glance at the new Toyota Aygo is enough to make one thing clear: this is one of those cars that you either like or dislike, with little room for compromise. The stylised X element dominates the layout of a number of key elements – the front of the car, the rear of the car and even the centre console. From any angle, the little guy looks provocative, interesting and definitely different from anything we’re used to seeing in the small city car segment. The customisation options are also impressively rich – the Toyota Aygo can be ordered in six versions, each with its own distinctive stylistic accents. Toyota deserves admiration for its boldness this time around…

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    Test drive Toyota Fortuner

    In the era of universal fashion for crossovers, Toyota brought to Russia another honest frame SUV. Is he tempting fate or hitting right on target again? Thin ice crunched under the jagged wheels, and muddy water began to rise from under it. For a second there was a desire to stick "R" and pass back. Who knows how deep it is and what's at the bottom? However, curiosity took over. I added gas, leaving the "automatic" lever in "Drive", and began to storm the reservoir. In the end, I should have been lucky, because I was driving an SUV with the telling name Fortuner. Moreover, half an hour ago, he easily crossed the beds of small steppe rivers. The main thing is that the depth of this pond, lost in a small ...

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    Test drive Toyota Camry vs Kia Optima

    Disputes about D-class sedans often end in quarrels, so it's best to keep a close eye on the wording. Especially when it comes to Camry and Optima Until a few years ago, the Toyota Camry had many more strong rivals. Nissan periodically burst into the top 25 models of Russia with the Teana (which, by the way, was sold even with all-wheel drive), and Honda offered an obscenely stylish Accord. Now everything is different: the dollar is 67 rubles, VAT is 20%, and the new Camry competes primarily with the very pretty and richly equipped Kia Optima. We argued for too long about which is better to choose, but each remained his own. Roman Farbotko: “Stories about “I left the dealership and lost a third of the cost” definitely do not bother Camry buyers” ...