Independent Reviews of Toyota New and Used Cars

This post-2016-series RAV4 grew up, matured and become more sensible. And what could be more sensible than the installation of a hybrid engine under the bonnet? This car represents a way to more affordably buy into mid-sized SUV motoring from a Crossover from the 2016-2018 period, the petrol/electric formula offering extra refinement, cheaper fuel and lower taxation levels. Perhaps then this is, as Toyota assures us, 'a better way' of owning a model of this kind - you decide. One thing's for certain: for many, this car's buying proposition will make family-friendly, real world sense.

The Toyota Camry shares much of its engineering with its Lexus ES cousin but, as Jonathan Crouch discovers, this spacious medium-sized saloon is also very much its own car.

Toyota's Corolla returns the brand to prominence in the family hatchback segment. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Toyota's fifth generation RAV4 has become quite the polished item. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

If you're the kind of person who brings uncompromising reason to the purchase decision when it comes to getting yourself a new family hatchback, then you'll bond with this Auris right away, particularly in this revised MK2 form. Optimal Drive technology, hybrid power, low servicing costs, decent residuals: it'll all be music to your ears. What changed with this improved second generation Auris design though, was that the car became sharper looking, more accomplished to drive and more value-orientated. Plus the introduction of 1.2-litre petrol Turbo power and the 1.6-litre D-4D diesel engine meat that at last, this car could be a fully competitive prospect for those not prioritising hybrid power - or those who can't quite stretch to it. The petrol/electric option's worth trying though and it remains unique amongst family hatchbacks from this era. There are still, it's true, more dynamic, more versatile and more up-market-feeling choices in this class from this period, but not many of them stack up quite as well as an overall ownership proposition. What we've got here then, is a family hatchback with a Toyota badge that's class-competitive in almost every way. There are more exciting options in this class from this era. But you may struggle to find more sensibly-orientated ones.