Independent Reviews of Toyota New and Used Cars

You can see why used pick-up sales continue to rise. They're practical, quite tax efficient and more car-like than ever before. Too car-like perhaps? If you're worried on that score, then this MK8 Hilux will suit you perfectly. The eighth generation changes made this Toyota a slightly more practical day-to-day tarmac tool, but never far below the surface is the rugged toughness that has taken this vehicle to the furthest and most inhospitable parts of the Globe. Ultimately though, this remains one of our preferred options in the pick-up segment from the 2016-2020 era - and we're not alone. From Alaska to the Sahara to the Australian Outback, this is the vehicle of choice for people who need to get the job done. Drive one and you'll see why.

In the Toyota Corolla, we have a name from the past which packages up technology from the future. Very soon, all family hatchback-class models will feature model line-ups that are primarily electrified. But Toyota has brought us that right now. In a car its volume brand competitors will have to take very seriously indeed. If you're going the hybrid route with a car in this sector, it makes sense to buy into the brand that has most experience in producing this kind of powertrain - and that's unquestionably Toyota. But this model also has other things to recommend it, with levels of safety and media connectivity that rivals struggle to better. If you're looking for a car in this segment, a Corolla probably isn't currently on your shopping list. We think it ought to be.

In MK4 form, Toyota's Prius finally made real world sense. A car you can justify buying, even if you're not trying to make some kind of environmental statement. True, it isn't cheap but it's decent value for what you get, especially if you compare against comparably-specified high-efficiency diesel rivals featuring engine technology that by comparison, dates back to the Ark. With enhanced driving dynamics, a roomier cabin and more user-friendly design, this fourth generation version dealt with many of the drawbacks which used to be part and parcel of Prius ownership. As a result, Toyota created a model that used car buyers looking for a family hatch hybrid from this period might find difficult to ignore in the gloomy times we live in. A Prius for the people then? That's about the size of it. Toyota's hybrid revolution continues to gather pace.

Many serious off-road vehicles are about as comfortable as going over Niagara in a barrel when used on the road, but Toyota's Land Cruiser is one champion mud-plugger that can hold its own on the tarmac. The latest model enhances this reputation with sleeker exterior styling, a more sophisticated, comfortable and higher quality interior, plus improvements to its dynamic performance and user-friendliness, both on and off-road. Overall, the Land Cruiser still seems happily out of step with its rivals in the large family 4x4 segment. As they get ever more sporting and powerful, this Toyota seems a breed apart, resolutely rugged despite the improved quality of the latest car. It's as if the brand has dialled in a little Lexus into the Land Cruiser mix without diluting the core proposition. Perhaps that's no bad thing.

Toyota's Corolla Saloon blends an old-school look with modern tech. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.