Most people need no introduction to the Toyota Camry.  Even though it is an import, it has been the best-selling car in the US for over a decade.  Beating the “Big Three” automakers on their own turf is an impressive accomplishment; it means Toyota must be doing a lot of things right.

The Toyota Camry is currently in its ninth generation, but it’s a bit complicated.  From 1991 to 1998, there were simultaneous generations of narrow-body and wide-body Camrys.  This is the fifth generation of the current wide-body style.   It started out in 1980 as a trim level of the Celica, called the Celica Camry.

The latest generation started with the 2011 model year, and was a major change.  It was the first Camry in the US that didn’t offer a manual transmission.  It also received an exterior makeover and the interior was made bigger by following the exterior contours.  They also added high-strength steel to make the Camry even safer and increase fuel economy.

The 2012 Toyota Camry XLE is the highest of five trim levels.  We consider it to be the best deal because the difference between the highest and lowest trim levels is less than $3,000, and the list of added conveniences and features for the price is almost staggering.

The Camry XLE comes with a 2.5 liter, inline 4-cylinder engine that produces 178 horsepower and 170 foot-pounds of torque.  It has 17-inch alloy wheels, P215/55/R17 all season tires, front wheel drive, and a 6-speed automatic transmission that has shifter paddles for those who lament the disappearance of the manual transmission.  It is rated at 25 mpg in the city and an impressive 35 mpg on the highway.

The Camry XLE comes with a leather-covered, simulated alloy, tilt-telescope steering wheel that contains audio and cruise controls, an 8-way power driver seat with height adjustment, a 4-way passenger seat, a split-folding rear seatback, a rear folding armrest with storage, cloth upholstery, keyless entry, power windows, power mirrors, electric speed-proportional power steering, and a 12-volt power outlet.

It also has 2-zone climate control divided between the driver and front passenger, simulated wood trim on the dash, console, and doors, a rear defogger, a power glass sunroof, automatic headlights, and foglights.  The audio system has Bluetooth, 6 speakers, AM/FM radio, a CD/MP3 player, an auxiliary audio input, and a USB/iPod port.

Toyota has long had a reputation for safety, and the Camry comes with the usual, extended Toyota roster of safety features: antilock brakes, side front airbags, side curtain airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, stability control, traction control, and active front head restraints which help prevent whiplash injuries.   There are no safety test scores yet, but Toyota is one of about four or five companies whose internal safety standards are more stringent than those of most testing agencies worldwide.

Conclusions and Driver Feedback:

The interior is very nice.  The design follows the exterior contours to create more cabin space, and the end result is something that is both modern and subtle.  Previous Camrys had used some harder materials befitting a family car (harder, cheaper materials are easier to clean), but the 2012 model has all high-quality, soft-touch materials.   The interior space is bigger now, and there is more room all around.  The combined headroom and legroom is 79.5 inches in the front and 76.9 inches in the back, and there is ample room for three adults in the rear seat.  There are 15.4 cubic feet of cargo space in the trunk.

The XLE is the luxury model, and the suspension is tuned for passenger comfort.  The steering, even with the electric assist, is tuned for average response, and the suspension allows for a fair amount of body roll when cornering.  The car, however, does hold the road nicely.  The ride is almost entry-level luxury; passengers don’t really feel minor surface imperfections, and even large bumps are nicely contained.

The engine, while not the biggest or most powerful, still has enough power for decent acceleration and easy operation at highway speeds.  The cabin is quiet, with almost no noise from wind, engine, or road.

All in all, the Camry is a very nice and versatile car.  It is great for family use, commuting, long trips, or just about anything else that comes to mind.  Toyotas are known for being safe and dependable, and they hold their resale value very well.  Besides, any import that can beat the Big Three in the US is a candidate for “greatest thing since sliced bread” status.

The verdict: very highly recommended.

Options, other trims, and miscellaneous caveats.

There is a lot of great optional equipment available for the Camry, especially in the XLE trim.  The most entertaining is the Display Audio Package.  It gives you a navigation system and an upgraded audio system.  The audio system is from JBL and has 10 speakers and Etune.  Etune integrates Pandora radio, the Bing search engine, realtime traffic, stock information, and sports, and you can even make restaurant reservations or buy movie tickets using Etune.    The Display audio package is highly recommended.  There is also a Leather Package which is somewhat self-explanatory.

The other main upgrade is the V6 engine.  Upgrading to the V6 in both the SE and the XLE gets you the Display Audio and Leather Packages.  The V6 engine is 3.5 liters, and produces 268 horsepower and 248 foot-pounds of torque.  Even with 100 more horsepower, it still manages to get you 21 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.

The lowest trim is the L.  It offers the tilt-telescope steering wheel, the power accessories, cruise control, air conditioning, and the 6-speaker stereo.   The other trims go up from there, and the only one that needs to be mentioned is the SE trim.

The SE trim is the sport trim, and is a departure from the rest of the trims.  It has a sport-tuned suspension and unique interior and exterior design tweaks designed to produce more aero and a more sporty experience behind the wheel.  It is great for someone who wants a little more excitement and is willing to sacrifice a bit of fuel economy.

The bottom line is that you really can’t go wrong on any trim level here.

Featured Camry Deals  in the New Orleans area:

2007 Toyota Camry CE, 75,713 miles.

2.4 liter inline 4-cylinder engine, 158 horsepower, 21 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, 215/60R16 tires, steel wheels, front wheel drive, 5-speed manual transmission.

Tilt-telescope steering wheel with audio and cruise controls, front bucket seats, driver lumbar and height adjustment, 60/40 split-folding rear seatback, cloth upholstery, keyless entry, power windows, power mirrors, speed-proportional power steering, air conditioning, 12-volt power outlet, rear defogger, automatic headlights.  Audio system with 6 speakers, 160 watts, AM/FM radio, CD/MP3 player, audio jack,

Safety features: ABS with brake assist, side front airbags, side curtain airbags, driver’s knee airbags.

The Toyota Camry is a midsize family sedan, and 2007 was the first model year of either the eighth generation, or the fourth variant of the second generation, depending on how you count it.  Either way, it was the eighth major change in the Camry since it was introduced in 1983.

The Camry is the best-selling family sedan in the world and the US by a large margin.  It has a large interior, surprisingly sleek exterior styling and aero, an engine with just enough acceleration, and a very compliant, comfortable ride.  The steering and suspension are adjusted for family use on this trim, producing ordinary steering and some body roll, but the ride is very nice for its price range.

The Camry also usually gives more features for the money, and the interior is made of borderline luxury materials.  The combined headroom and legroom in the front seat is 80.5 inches, while the same measurement in the rear seat is 76.1 inches.

All in all, the Camry is one of the safest and most consistent family sedans on the road.

2009 Toyota Camry (Base trim), 1,736 miles.

2.4 liter, inline 4-cylinder engine, 158 horsepower, 21 mpg city, P215/60R16 all season tires, steel wheels, 31 mpg highway, FWD, 5-speed manual transmission.  Tilt-telescope steering wheel with cruise and audio controls on the wheel, front bucket seats with driver’s height adjustment and lumbar support, split-folding rear seatback, cloth upholstery, power mirrors, power windows, 12-volt power outlet in front seat, speed-proportional power steering, standard air conditioning, rear defogger, variable intermittent wipers, automatic headlights.

Audio system with 160 watts, 6 speakers, CD/MP3 player, AM/FM radio, and an audio jack.

Safety features: antilock brakes with brake assist, side front airbags, side curtain airbags.  Perfect crash test scores from both the US government and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Conservative interior, practical design, controls are all easy to reach and operate.  Some of the softer materials in previous years’ models have been replaced by harder plastic for more durable family use.  The 2009 Camry is the same consistent Camry as years past: steering and suspension geared toward family use, compliant ride, and dependable performance.

Please feel free to browse our large database of local and national dealers.  Always remember to contact at least three dealers and preferably more to get the lowest possible prices.   Inventories and prices vary from dealer to dealer.

Click here to search for Toyota Camrys in Los Angeles

Here’s a Toyota Camry for sale now:

2006 Toyota Camry LE, Black, 57,614 miles. Tilt-only steering wheel with audio and cruise controls, 6-way power driver’s seat with height and lumbar adjustment, air conditioning, cloth upholstery, power locks, mirrors, and windows.

Audio system with 6 speakers, AM/FM radio, and CD/MP3 player.

15-inch steel wheels, front-wheel drive, 5-speed manual transmission, 2.4 liter inline 4-cylinder engine, 154 horsepower, 21 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.

Safety features: 4-wheel antilock brakes, front seatbelt pretensioners, emergency brakeforce distribution.

The Camry is a passenger car designed for steady, consistent use and passenger comfort. Though newer models are safer because of the addition of more safety features, the 2006 Camry is one of the safer 2006 models in its class. They hold their resale value well and can be driven for a long time if properly maintained.

Here’s another Camry for sale now:

2010 Toyota Camry LE, 34,484 miles.

2.5 liter, inline 4-cylinder engine, 169 horsepower, 16-inch steel wheels, front-wheel drive, 6-speed manual transmission. 22 mpg in city, 33 mpg on highway.

Tilt-telescope steering wheel with cruise and audio controls, 8-way power driver’s seat with lumbar and height adjustments, split-folding rear seat, cloth upholstery, power locks, windows, and mirrors, keyless entry, speed-proportional power steering, air conditioning, simulated alloy trim on doors, dash, and console, rear defogger, automatic headlights.

Audio system with 6 speakers, AM/FM radio, CD/MP3 player, and audio jack.

Safety features: stability control, traction control, side front airbags, side curtain airbags, driver’s knee airbag, antilock brakes with brake assist, and seatbelt pretensioners.

The Camry was updated for the 2010 model year. It was the first year they instituted electronic stability control on all models, thus preventing over 50 percent of rollover accidents. Tweaks in the transmission, exterior aerodynamics, and engine produced more power, but with higher gas mileage.

The interior design is ordinary, but the materials are of good quality. The Camry is one of the most reliable cars on the road, and the ride quality may be the best in its class for 2010.

We recommend contacting as many dealers as possible. The more dealers you contact, the better price you will be able to obtain. We provide access to an inventory of thousands of cars in the Los Angeles area, and thousands of dealers in the US.

Around 1998 or 1999, Toyota decided they wanted to make an American full-size pickup truck. Toyota had done great in the US with their smaller pickup for years, but hadn’t really cracked the larger truck market. The US Big Three automakers have long had a hold on the US truck market, and it is a hotbed of competition and a source of pride for all three. Somewhere along the line, Toyota decided that the best place to make their big trucks would be in the US.

Fast forward to now: the Tundra is in its second generation. They have been learning on the fly how to make large trucks for the US market, and are very close to catching up. But is the gap between “close” and “caught up” small enough for the US truck buyer?

The 2010 Toyota Tundra Grade is a full-size pickup with a regular cab, and Toyota’s smallest truck in this market segment. It has a 4.0 liter V6 engine that produces 236 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. It also has 18-inch steel wheels, rear-wheel drive, and a 5-speed automatic with a manual shifter. It is rated at 15 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway. It can tow up to 5200 pounds and can carry a payload of 1600 pounds.

The Tundra Grade comes with a tilt-only steering wheel, a 40/20/40 split bench seat, 2-zone air conditioning, chrome bumpers, and vinyl floor covering. The audio system has 4 speakers, AM/FM radio, a CD/MP3 player, and an audio jack.

The Tundra also comes with side front airbags, antilock brakes, stability control, and traction control. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave it perfect scores of “good” in front and side impact tests.

Conclusions and driver feedback:

While the Tundra has done a great job mechanically, they could stand to improve the interior slightly. This is definitely a work truck, and the interior is very simple and unpretentious. If you like your pickups “old school,” you won’t be bothered in the least, but the interior has materials that are pretty much what the Big Three were using five or six years ago. There is plenty of space in the cabin, though, and the seats are very comfortable. Also, the bed measures 6.6 feet in length.

The Tundra handles like a standard pickup, but the steering is a bit easier. The suspension is a heavy-duty suspension, and that means you will get body roll. The ride is old school, also, which could be a problem for people who don’t really need a truck but like how it looks in the driveway.

The bottom line here is that the Tundra is still a couple of years behind the Big Three when it comes to engineering big pickups. It’s a very good truck, but it is competing against three excellent ones. So far, Toyota has made it to the top of every market segment they have entered except this one. I wouldn’t bet against them eventually reaching the top of this one, too, but they aren’t there yet.

The verdict: old school or Toyota fans only. Otherwise, go with the Big Three until there is either an update or a third generation Tundra.

The Toyota Highlander has been around since 2000, and is currently in its second generation.  It is credited with being the first car-based midsize crossover SUV.  Make no mistake: the Highlander is definitely car-based.  As a matter of fact, it’s a bigger, taller Camry with a suspension that is tweaked to handle the extra weight.  If you like the Camry and want a crossover SUV, you will love the Highlander.

The 2010 Toyota Highlander Sport is the second of four trim levels, and the first with the bigger engine.  If you want better mileage, you might want the Base trim, but we prefer a little more oomph.  The Highlander Sport has a 3.5 liter V6 engine that produces 270 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque.  It has 19-inch alloy wheels, front-wheel drive, and a 5-speed automatic transmission with manual shift override.  It is rated at 18 mpg in the city, and 24 mpg on the highway, and can tow up to 5,000 pounds.

The Highlander Sport comes with a leather-covered, simulated alloy, tilt-telescope steering wheel, an 8-way adjustable driver’s seat with height adjustment, split-folding, reclining second row of seats, manual folding third row, cloth upholstery, full power accessories, cruise control, standard air conditioning, 12-volt outlets in the front and rear, simulated alloy trim on the dash, console, and doors, a rear spoiler, a rear wiper, a rear defogger, a roof rack, a rear liftgate door, foglights, and a trip computer.  The audio system has AM/FM radio, a CD/MP3 player, and an audio jack.

The Highlander also comes with antilock brakes with brake assist, side front airbags, side curtain airbags all the way to the rear, stability control, traction control, active front head restraints, and driver’s knee airbags.  In crash tests, the Highlander received perfect scores of 5 stars from the government for all side impacts, and front impact driver protection, and 4 stars for front impact passenger protection.  It received perfect scores of “good” from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for front and side impacts.

Conclusions and driver feedback:

The interior is one of the best in its class.  The design is attractive and straightforward, while the materials are top-notch.  There is plenty of cabin space, especially in the first two rows.  The first two rows have plenty of head, leg, and shoulder room, while the third row is for kids only.  There are only 10.3 cubic feet of storage space behind the seats, but a total of 95.4 cubic feet if you fold down the second and third rows.

The drive and ride are typical Toyota.  The Sport trim is tweaked a bit for sporty performance, with fairly tight steering and suspension.  This makes for great handling and minimal body roll.  Somehow, it doesn’t detract from ride quality, which is very smooth and compliant.  The engine is powerful enough to provide very good acceleration and smooth operation at highway speeds.

All in all, this is a great crossover SUV.  The only negative is the third row seat being too cramped and small for adults.

The verdict: unless you need to transport eight adults, highly recommended.

The Toyota Tacoma has been around since 1995.  It was a replacement for the Hilux, which was simply called a Toyota Pickup in the US, and had been around since 1968.  In other words, the Tacoma replaced the iconic, compact, long-lived Toyota Pickups that people used to drive until the body rusted away.

The 2010 Toyota Tacoma Base is a midsize pickup, and is the lower of two trim levels.  It has a 2.7 liter, inline 4-cylinder engine that produces 159 horspower and 180 pound-feet of torque.  It has 15-inch steel wheels, rear-wheel drive, and a 5-speed manual transmission with a rear limited slip differential.  It is rated at 20 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway, and can tow 3,500 pounds and carry 1,350 pounds in its 6.1 foot bed.

The Tacoma comes with a tilt-telescope steering wheel, a 40/20/40 bench front seat, cloth upholstery, and air conditioning.  The audio system has 4 speakers, AM/FM radio, a CD/MP3 player, and an audio jack.

The Tacoma also has active front head restraints, side front airbags, side curtain airbags, traction control, stability control, and antilock brakes with brake assist.  The Tacoma aced all front and side impact tests.  It got a perfect 5 stars from the US government and the highest score of “good” from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.  The IIHS made it one of their “Top Safety Picks.”

Conclusions and driver feedback:

The interior is standard pickup fare, but with slightly nicer materials.  It is practical and unpretentious.  There is plenty of headroom and legroom in the front seat, which is the only seat.  The cargo bed has a composite bedliner that protects the metal from wear and tear.

The drive and ride are typical old school pickup truck.  There is a bit of steering lag, and some body roll, and the ride is not uncomfortable, but still lets you know you are in a truck.  You can even take this truck off-road if you want to with good results.  The only problem in handling or ride, and it has been this way since compact pickups were introduced, is that small pickups can sometimes get a little skittish if there isn’t any cargo.

All in all, this is a great little truck for light duty use.  Also, like its progenitor, the Tacoma still lasts forever if you take care of it.

The verdict: if you need a small pickup, you can’t go wrong with this one.

The Toyota RAV4 can say something that no other vehicle can say: it was the first compact crossover SUV.  Toyota introduced it in Europe and Japan in 1994, and brought it to the US two years later.  Since then, they have sold a lot of RAV4′s.  The RAV4 is currently on its third generation, as it was in 2010.  It has off-road chops, but is used more often for “urban off-roading.”

The 2010 Toyota RAV4 Sport is now officially a midsize crossover SUV, is the second of three trim levels, and seats five.  It has a 2.5 liter inline 4-cylinder engine that produces 179 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque.  It has 18-inch alloy wheels, front-wheel drive, and a 4-speed automatic transmission.  It is rated at 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway, and can tow a handy 1,500 pounds.

The RAV4 Sport comes with a tilt-telescope steering wheel, front bucket seats with height adjustment for the driver, a split-folding and reclining rear seat, full power accessories, air conditioning, cruise control, front and rear 12-volt outlets, a rear defogger, a rear wiper, and foglights.  The audio system has 6 speakers, AM/FM radio, a CD/MP3 player, and an audio jack.  Upgrades that are available include a third row seat for three kids, 4-wheel drive, and a V6 engine.

The RAV4 also has stability control, traction control, side front airbags, side curtain airbags, antilock brakes, and active front head restraints.  In government tests, the RAV4 received perfect scores of 5 stars on side impact and front impact rear passenger, while it got 4 stars for front impact front passenger.  The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave it their best scores of “good” on all front and side impact tests, and its second-best score of “acceptable” for roof strength.

Conclusions and driver feedback:

Because the RAV4 is built more to the SUV side of crossover SUV, it’s interior is simpler than most of the Toyota line.  It is not as sparse as a Jeep, but it does use harder, more durable interior materials for those who actually use it off-road.  The design is unpretentious, and the controls are practical.  There is plenty of cabin space, especially for five.  Both the front and rear seats are spacious, adjustable, and comfortable.  If you want to turn it into a small cargo vehicle, all you do is flip a lever to turn down the rear seat, and you get 73 cubic feet of storage space.

The RAV4 is built for off-road, and does a really great job, but it doesn’t detract from the ride quality on the street.  The suspension is tuned tightly for sporty off-road performance, and the steering is very responsive,.  The ride, though, is smoother than one might expect on the road.  There is a bit of road feel and road noise, but they are both kept to a minimum.  The engine is just enough for decent acceleration, good off-road performance, and smooth cruising, but an upgrade to the V6 is necessary for those who want a little more punch.

We like the RAV4 because it has very good off-road chops but doubles as a very nice family vehicle.

The verdict:  highly recommended.

The Toyota Prius has been around since 1997.  It is and always has been a dedicated hybrid model.  Prius means “before” in Latin.  According to Toyota, they  chose the name because they were producing a hybrid before they became mainstream.  In other words, they were guessing that it would be a precursor of a hybrid era.  The era hasn’t happened yet, but the Prius is a very nice hybrid at a very reasonable price.

The 2010 Toyota Prius III is a full-electric, midsize hatchback hybrid, and is the third of five trim levels.  It was fully redesigned for 2010.  It combines a 1.8 liter 4-cylinder engine with two electric motors: one to help the engine, and one to run the electrical system.  It has 15-inch alloy wheels, front-wheel drive, and an automatic, continuously variable transmission.  It is rated at a whopping 51 mpg in the city, and 48 mpg on the highway.  For those unfamiliar with hybrids, the higher city figure is because the electric engine drives the car at slower speeds such as those in the city.

The Prius III comes with a tilt-telescope steering wheel, front bucket seats with driver height adjustment, a split-folding rear seat, cloth upholstery, cruise control, full power accessories, automatic climate control, a rear defogger, a rear wiper, and a trip computer.  The JBL premium audio system has 8 speakers, AM/FM/satellite radio, a 6-CD/MP3 changer, an audio jack, and Bluetooth.

The Prius also comes with side front airbags, side curtain airbags, driver’s knee airbag, antilock brakes, stability control, and traction control.

Conclusions and driver feedback:

The interior is a mixed bag.  For the most part, it is very high-quality, but some of the parts are a bit cheaper than in past years and other models.  The dash is very attractive, and the controls are mostly easy to reach and understand.  There is plenty of cabin space here for a hatchback.  The front seats are especially spacious, with ample headroom and legroom, while the back seats are very comfortable for average-sized adults.  There are 21.6 cubic feet of space behind the seats, and you can get a total of 39.6 by folding the rear seats down.

The Prius has four modes that allow you to decide how much power your engine uses: normal, power, eco, and EV.  You can get maximum fuel efficiency with the eco mode, or you can get maximum acceleration with the power mode.  You can even disable the engine with the EV mode, but it goes a golf cart-like 25 mph maximum.

The steering is accurate and responsive, and gets an electronic assist to make it even better.  The suspension is a bit tight, but doesn’t detract from the ride.  The Prius, like most hybrids, is eerily quiet, and the ride is very comfortable and smooth.

This is our favorite hybrid.  It gives the most mileage for the least money while retaining all of what makes a Toyota a Toyota.

The verdict: very highly recommended.

The most popular passenger car in the US isn’t an American car.  Think of what that means. In this era, Americans really like to buy American cars as a show of patriotism.  For a Japanese car to be the most popular, it can’t just be a little bit better than its competition.  It has to be a lot better.  Let’s take a look at what Toyota is doing to make the Camry America’s number one car.

The 2010 Toyota Camry SE is a midsize sedan and the third of seven trim levels.  It has a 2.5 liter, inline 4-cylinder engine that produces 179 horsepower.  It has 17-inch alloy wheels, front-wheel drive, and a 6-speed manual transmission.  It is rated at 22 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway.

The Camry SE comes with a leather-wrapped, tilt-telescope steering wheel that has audio and cruise controls, an 8-way power driver’s seat with lumbar and height adjustments, a split-folding rear seat, full power accessories, air conditioning, simulated alloy trim on the dash, doors, and center console, a rear defogger, foglights, automatic headlights, and a rear defogger.   The audio system has 6 speakers, AM/FM radio, a CD/MP3 player, and an audio jack.

The Camry also comes with a driver’s knee airbag, side front airbags, side curtain airbags, antilock brakes with brake-assist, stability control, and traction control.  The Camry not only aced all government tests for side and front impact with perfect scores, but did the same on all front and side tests performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Conclusions and driver feedback:

The interior is a bit above average for the market segment.  Like most Toyotas, the Camry SE has all of the controls in the right places for the easiest use.  The design, while not garish, is very attractive.  The simulated alloy trim gives an almost-luxury look at times, and the materials are mostly high-quality.  The dash has electric blue backlighting at night, which you will either love or hate.

The cabin is almost spacious.  There is plenty of both headroom and legroom all around.  To make it even better, the seats are comfortable and supportive.  Even the rear seats will comfortably seat adults on long trips.  The trunk has a capacity of 15 cubic feet.

In all of its existence, the Camry has never pretended to be a sport car.  It is always tweaked for passenger comfort, and old-time Camry customers won’t be disappointed.  The Camry handles like a luxury car.  There is steering lag and body roll.  The upside is a ride that is not only the best in its class, but better than that of a few luxury cars.

The engine is enough for adequate acceleration, but its strength is cruising down the highway in a straight line, quietly and without the slightest hint of effort.

Basically, the Camry is designed to be driven from point A to point B in a conservative manner, and it will get you there in the height of comfort over and over and over for as long as you decide to keep the car.

The verdict: very highly recommended.  Once again, the public got it right.

When it comes to a combination of price, reliability, off-road ability, and civilized performance for the ninety percent of people who never take their SUV off-road, there is no way to sugarcoat it: Toyota is kicking everyone’s butts.  There are SUV’s that are slightly better off-road, some with better rides, some with more power, and some that are a bit cheaper, but nobody is close to putting together the total package that Toyota provides right now.

The 2010 Toyota 4Runner Trail is a 5-seat midsize SUV, the second of three trim levels, but the first with the larger engine.  It has a 4.0 liter V6 engine that produces 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque.  It has 17-inch alloy wheels, part-time 4-wheel drive, and a 5-speed automatic transmission with manual shifting.  It is rated at 17 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway, and can tow up to 5,000 pounds.

The 4Runner Trail has a tilt-telescope alloy steering wheel with audio and cruise controls, an 8-way power driver’s seat with lumbar and height-adjustment, a 4-way passenger seat, a split-folding rear seat, full power accessories, standard air conditioning, a roof rack, a sunroof, a rear defogger, foglights, and a trip computer.  The audio system has 8 speakers, AM/FM/satellite radio, a CD/MP3 player, an audio jack, a USB/iPod input, and Bluetooth.

The 4Runner also comes equipped with active front head restraints, side front airbags, side curtain airbags, stability control, traction control, and antilock brakes with brake-assist.  In addition, the 4Runner has a brake hill holder and descent control.  No ratings are available, but this is one of the safest SUV’s on the road.

Conclusions and driver feedback:

The interior is a good combination of rugged and functional while sustaining a high visual quality.  There are plenty of nooks, crannies, and conveniences to keep one occupied during on-road “adventures.”  If you want, you can even watch the ECO meter that tells you whether you are using fuel in an efficient manner or not.  There is plenty of room for five people here, with headroom and legroom to spare in both the front and rear seats.  The optional third row seat is pretty much for kids only, though.  We recommend keeping the 4Runner a 5Seater.

We chose the second trim level here because we greatly prefer the V6 engine over the 4-cylinder engine in the lower trim level.  The V6 on the Trail model has enough power for moderate towing, decent acceleration, and smooth operation when it goes on the highway.  It also has enough low-end torque for effective off-road performance.

The 4Runner Trail has some very nice suspension tweaks.  It has a rear locking differential and independent suspensions for the front and rear.  It also has front and rear stabilizer bars.  There is an optional feature called Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System.  This disconnects the front and rear stabilizer bars when you are going under 40 mph, and allows the wheels a lot more versatility in their angles of contact with the surface.  In plain English, it provides better off-road traction.

The 4Runner is a great off-road vehicle with 9.6 inches of clearance from the road.  It handles well off-road, and gives a very civilized on-road ride as long as you don’t try to turn it into a sport wagon.  Even though the 4Runner performs well off-road, it doesn’t sacrifice ride quality on the road.  The ride on the highway is smooth enough that you almost forget about its off-road chops.

All in all, this is the most versatile of the off-road SUV’s.  If you actually use the 4Runner off-road as well as on the road, you can’t find a better combo.  If you don’t, you may like it anyway.

The verdict: you can’t go wrong with the 4Runner.