Toyota road test reports and car reviews

Toyota Yaris 1.33 2009

I will continue to update information as my experience and opinion with the car change. New stuff to report. Water is a huge issue with the design of this car. I mentioned earlier about trapped water due to excessive condensation. I now notice that water gets trapped on the bottom of the door jam. It’s not a little bit of water either, it’s a whole lot. The water never enters the car interior,it just remains trapped leaving oone to worry about future rust.I suspect this water issue had a lot to do with my not being able to unlock my doors during to cold winter days without the help of graphite oil in the key hole (the wife has the only remote control key). I really like driving this car a lot, and what surprises me is that this is truer now than when I first purchased it. Yes the car has some issues,and I get the feeling that quality was not a top priority with this Toyota as would have been with previous models, but it really feels good to drive. We are of course talking about a price catagory so lets not get carried away. In my moments of doubt, I decided to go back and test drive the competition once again. I drove a variety of cars,all with either the 1.2,or the 1.4 engines. I seriously considered selling the car in my moments of winter frustration. None of the cars felt as good to drive in the under 120 kmh range,while a few were as good in the higher ranges. The third gear is very long,and the power delivers the promised horsepower. Fourth and fifth gears do very well too, the sixth gear a little disapointing in power. At lower speeds this car wants to please you badly. It does almost everything right including taking sharp turns. I am not too happy about the brakes, they tend to bite in a strange way at lower speeds,but at higher speeds they feel normal. My hope is that this car with its European driving characteristics will perform like a Japanese car when it comes to reliability. My German car driving neighbours have greatly enjoyed watching the latest news on Toyota’s troubles. I can no longer drive down the street with that smug I outsmarted you look on my face.

Toyota Prius T3 2005

I recently told of how my Prius was returning 43 mpg on very short runs and in very cold weather which I thought was good, but over the last week or so I have learnt that by driving the car in a different way has improved my mpg by 4mpg urban driving. At the start I used to drive the vehicle as slowly as I could but I found driving this way drained the battery much faster bringing the engine in to play much quicker, but now accelerating up to speed much faster then just feathering the accelerator has increased my mpg. I believe driving this way keeps my battery charged up more which in turn helps the engine more, but even more impressive was my first real run out in the car of a 45 mile round trip with 4 adults in 67 mpg it returned, which I never thought I would see but it proves that with the right kind of driving under the right conditions Toyota’s figures are possible. The journey consisted of dual carriage ways country roads and some stop starts through a small town. I hope this was helpful.

Toyota Hilux Surf SSR-X 2.4TDI Manual 1992

Not a bad motor really, drove well, needed a 6th gear, 5th gear wasn’t tall enough. Mine was a slightly rare modified jap import though, so it had a high-flow full-through exhaust, 5" backbox. Induction kit, boost was increased, noisy wastegate etc. Buy a 90’s landcruiser amazon 4.2 V8 instead. Beast.

Toyota Aygo 2009

Best advice - don’t buy an Aygo. Bought the car new for my wife and took delivery in October. initially very happy until about 1 week after when front and rear offside footwells soaked with water. Went into garage; this was the first of 4 visits. On 2nd visit they put stupid rubber roof seals on that my son pulled off within seconds; they said they were not aware of any leaking Aygos as all customers were very happy with the cars. 3rd visit they kept it for close to 3 weeks and was only repaired after I phoned up constantly. 4th visit to garage because plastic panels were falling off; they said it was a manufacturing fault and the clips that held the panels on could not be repaired. They said the fault with the leaks was due to faulty speaker seals. I can only sum up by using the word SCRAP. Think carefully about this purchase.

Toyota Hiace 95 d4d 2007

I have had this van since 2007 it has done a very hard 117000 miles since being with me and it has never missed a beat. It has been serviced every 10,000 miles and has not broken down once. The engine is very strong it doesn’t do too bad with mpg either. Now for the bits I find let the van down a little: The noise from the outside when travelling at motorway speeds is quite loud and I sometimes find it difficult to hear the hands free for my mobile phone unless i slow down to 55 mph; The seats get little bit uncomfortable if on a very long journey as I liked to have my legs stretched and the rear of the seat tipped quite far back. If you don’t have any weight in the back when the roads are snowy or icy it tends to get a bit frisky or will struggle to manage even the slightest incline, which can be very frustrating. And finally I think it could do with a larger fuel tank as they only have a 60l capacity. All in all This has been a very reliable strong workhorse and I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone (With a set of snow chains handy). If maintained and serviced regulary you will end up with a very reliable van.

Toyota Aygo Aygo Blue 2009

Will try and keep this short as possible!! Took delivery of my leased Aygo on the 23rd November 09. TWO DAYS later I had about 4 inches of water in the rear passenger footwell. Went to my local dealership to be told by a sales advisor that this was a common fault!!! HORRIFIED. Could not provide me with a courtesy car untill the 7th dec. Came home and read the previous reviews and was gutted that I’d chosen it. By the 29th had water slopping around in both rear footwells. After numerous phone calls to the main dealership and the very helpful James from Leaseplan,a hire car was provided and the car went in for repair!! My dad went down to view the stripped car. The "problem" it seems is the manifolds under the internal door frame. You could have fitted your fist through it!! These were replaced along with the carpets which i INSISTED upon. TOYOTA need to act and sort out this persistent problem, along with the others that are now apparent (only automatics are affected in the Aygo.) I’ve told everyone I have dealt with to read the reviews on here, and family/friends to be wary of what they buy!! No more leaks so far, but I don’t hold much hope . Apart from water and now condensation it’s a nippy little car.

Responses to this review

Don’t hold your breath, my Aygo is booked in next week for the 6th time since owing it from new (September 08) for water problems in both front wells. Thought the problem had been fixed the last time in April but it is now just as wet; freezes and steams up inside all the time it’s like driving in a wet box and is now beginning to smell like a damp sponge. Toyota are well aware of the problem but just in denial! Service Manager has informed me today that yet another modification was issued in October to solve the problem. Do I believe him? In a word NO! Now because of the other problems I can’t get a decent trade in price - Ed from Nottinghamshire

Toyota Yaris 2008

I wish I had read these reports before I bought my Yaris, it has been a total mess from the day I bought it. Everything I have read I can relate to and now they are recalling so many cars because of the accelerator sticking makes me wonder what else could go wrong. I should have stuck with my reliable Clio, never had any issues with it apart from wear and tear. People need a reality check, Toyotas are no longer what they used to be. Do not buy a Toyota Yaris if you want a car that is good to drive and own.

Toyota Land Cruiser 1996

Brilliant family bus. Throw everything into it, suitcases, dogs, kids, etc. Never fails me. Huge machine with turbo to leave them standing. 230000 miles on clock and will go the same again. Great off-roader and brilliant in the snow and ice we’ve been getting lately.

Toyota Aygo 3 dr 2009

Water leaks into the footwells. Horror! Thanks to these reveiws I hit the dealership running and there was no debate. Had a hire car and my Aygo was returned within 2 days. BUT it is far from clear what was done to the car as I had a different story from everyone I spoke to at the dealership/service area. The is no sign of damp or condensation and it has been cold and wet since the "fix" so fingers crossed. The big question remains is why has Toyota not fixed this problem at the factory? The company is held up as world leader in "continuous improvement" "best practice" etc, etc., yet this very serioius problem appears to have been ongoing for years! Big black mark Toyota and as for the sticky accelerator pedals..???

Responses to this review

My ’fix’ lasted 6 months and the problem is now just a bad as before - Ed from Nottinghamshire

Toyota Hiace d4d 2002

I bought this van 8 years ago new and have had no problems whatsoever. I’ve done 100,000 miles and it’s as good now as the day it was made. I personally would not buy any other type of van. PERFECT.

Toyota Yaris Verso Manual GLS 2002

This is the most amazing little ’big’ car! We have owned it since new and it’s now on 190,000 miles! Maintenance has been cheap; serviced at regular intervals and that’s about it! So it’s not pretty, but who cares. What it lacks in looks it gains in versatility. We’ve driven to the south of France several times, visited the local tip with huge amounts of garden rubbish and travelled to work it in our reliable ’Verity’!! It’s been called other names; Postman Pat’s Hearse, the bread van etc, etc.,but everyone loves it when they need something large transporting. My biggest disappointment is that Toyota stopped making them in 2006 or we’d be looking to buy a new one!

Toyota Corolla Verso 1.8vvti t3 manual 2005

I bought this car from new in 2005 and it has been an excellent and reliable family car offering good handling and plenty of internal room. That was until last Friday when at 4yrs and 6 mth old (62k mileage) the gearbox ceased on me in the middle of our high street. I have serviced this car from new with a Toyota Dealer and my driving consists of regular commutes to work with no towing what so ever and would expect the gearbox to last considerably longer than 4yrs. On review it would appear that it is not an isolated incident and there are several other verso owners with manual boxs that have had similar gearbox problems at around the 50-60k mark. I’m awaiting what Toyota Customer Services will do for me and will keep you posted.

Toyota Prius T3 2005

I bought this car in December 2009, just as the ice and snow arrived. Most of my trips are short just 2 to 5 miles at a time and even with the temperature as low as 0 to -5 for 4 weeks I still averaged 43 mpg ,so in the summer should be close to 50 mpg. This is 16 mpg better than my 1.4 corolla averaged in past winters even with warmer temperatures.

Toyota Aygo 2007

Mine leaks as does my next door neighbours and my friends went back to the dealer within 10 days of getting it. I have heard of the leaks comming from door seals, rear high vis light, dirt caught in rear windscreen seal, faulty or missing rubber seals in boot and under rear passenger carpet. My advice and it wont be everyones cup of tea(Toyota warranty is not worth the paper its printed on) Clean and remove the rubber seals then refit with a touch of silicone on them. Same for door seals and the high vis tail light. Buy some febreeze for the stink...

Toyota Picnic 2005

I purchased my second hand Picnic, without ever having heard of it previously, on the advice of the salesman. How glad I am. It’s comfortable easy to drive(automatic). So far it has given no trouble at all so it’s cheap to run. It’s the six seater but I use it with the two back seats removed, which affords plenty of boot space, but when I have extra passengers it’s easy to re-install them. At my age I doubt I’ll need another car but if I did I’d buy a new Picnic. Pity they don’t make them! They are ideal for every sort of journey and living in the country they allow you to see over the hedges. In town they’re good for the all round vision and easy to park. Funny thing; you don’t see many around.

Toyota Yaris TR 2008

I could not disagree more with Alex E of Oxfordshire about the Toyota Yaris. Having owned a few Toyotas in the past and been very pleased with them, driving about 200K a year I have never been so disgusted by any other make of car since having the Yaris...and I have driven just about every make and model there is. What has happened to the quality of build and materials? The brakes and clutch are terrible, it is near impossible to make a smooth gear change in the lowest gears and the brakes are dangerously snatchy and what is that roaring noise? It sounds like the pads are covered in rust. Why can I hear the gear linkage clonking? I have a Yaris 1.3 which is 2 years old and it is full of rattles, the engine is weak and makes odd noises especially when cold. The ride is wobbly and the car seems to bounce over the slightest uneven surfaces. The boot and rear seats may be adjustable but the rear shelf kind of just sits there, there is no proper fixing. The internal plastics seem to scuff very easily. The pedals all seem far too high, on long journeys I find my ankles ache as I am having to hold my feet up. There is nothing nice about this car unless you are deaf, dumb and blind. I am glad that reading other posts, I am not the only person who thinks the Yaris is a complete LEMON. The quicker I get rid of it the better. If anyone things the Toyota Yaris is a good car, THINK AGAIN!

Toyota Aygo 2008

Yet again November 2009 when temparatures drop I have ice plus condensation on the inside of the front screen. The dealer has had the car in but cannot find any leaks for the moisture to get into the car. The only suggestion from Toyota Technical is to drive through the winter months with the air con on. Not acceptable proves a fault with the car, which I will be pursuing. I also have the Iced front screen this year AND last year. The dealer has tested the car and found NO LEAKS or wet places in my car and returned the car to me WITH THE PROBLEM UNRESOLVED. I am very unhappy that a BRAND NEW car under warrenty HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED and was returned to me with just as much condenstation on the front screen as ever. The Service Manager actually drove the car from the rear of their garage for my collection with 50% of the front screen covered in moisture and DID NOT SAY ANYTHING. When I challenged this would not own up to accept that this was NOT RIGHT. Why do they not accept, Yes there is a fault lets sort it out properly and not let the customer SUFFER anymore.

Responses to this review

Keep on at your Toyota Service Centre. This is the first winter that I have been through with my two year old Aygo and I have had EXACTLY the same problem with condensation and ice incide the car. It’s just been in for its service to Toyota and I asked them to investigate the issue. I kicked up a huge fuss when they rang me prior to returning the car and told me that they had checked it for water leaks and found nothing wrong with it and dismissed the problem. After I told them that I that I was not prepared to put up with that explanation and it was unacceptable, I was put on hold until he came back and told me that actually there IS a problem with condensation with some Aygos and some new parts for modification have been produced to install into those affected cars - something to do with the seals, headlights etc apparently. The man said that Toyota have not issued a recall as "most but not all Aygos were affected and there were too many to do at once"!! My car has now been rebooked in for what I’ve been told is a minimum of two days for tests and for installation of the parts to (hopefully) fix the problem. I can’t believe that if I had not pursued it they would have just let the problem continue whilst knowing full well that there are modifications to the car that can be made! No doubt waiting for the warranty to expire..- Janine Daniel from London

Hi Linda, Have you got any further with Toyota regarding this? I bought my new Aygo blue in Sept 08 and have had almost identical problems to you. I too find it completely unacceptable that they are suggesting using the air con to ’cope’ with the problem. My car is going back to the dealership on Monday and I’ve insisted that they keep the car for the whole week. This will be the third time they have had the car to try and resolve the problem. I’m seriously considering handing the car back to them as it becoming a right pain to live with. The service manager tried to suggest that I was the problem saying that maybe I’d put the moisture in the car by getting in it with wet clothes!! Looking around the internet it seems this is a common problem. I’d be grateful if you could update this site if your dealership manage to fix the problem as it’s driving me crazy!! Good Luck! :-) - Vikki from Wiltshire

Toyota Corolla Verso MMT T spirit 2004

What a waste of hard earned money! Bought new with extras with view of reliability & durability. I was conned and made to believe it works like an automatic by the salesmen at the showroom, however, less than 3 months later I’ve had countless problems with the MMT gearbox followed by recalls i.e., safety air bags etc. ’Til now, no Joy despite recent recall,the car has been back to the garage twice within 6 weeks with the same problem while, some of the staff at the service dept. were very rude & unapproachable at any attempts to get through for assistance. Toyota has now burst the bubble, I’ve counted & accept my loss, as it’s shameful & very dangerous stalling to N on a motorway daily. I,m now searching for a new reliable family car, definitely not Toyota group.

Toyota Hiace 1997

I’ve had my powervan nearly 8 years - easy to service myself. The bodywork is unmarked, you won’t find many other vans as strong. The van in front is definailey a Toyota.

Toyota Yaris TR 2007

This is a fab ’little’ car and ours has been far more reliable than my Boxster S. While the Yaris is my wife’s car it is the one I choose for popping to the shops for both ease of parking and load carrying capacity. In September we took a trip to the Lakes and our TR (1.3) coped well with four adults and our rather large Tibetan mastiff when driving up and down the back roads between lakes. We’ve been amazed at the load carrying capacity as the back seats can be independently slid forward or folded flat as needed. The boot floor can also be lowered to give a deeper boot for carrying plants or my tuba for band practice. In terms of performance, this is not my Porsche but it has enough oomph for the daily commute and with the optional lowered / stiffened suspension it can be a laugh around the Oxfordshire country roads. Niggles? 30,000 miles in and we’ve changed the front tires twice but we do drive this car. Other than that, this a pretty great car. In fact, we bought one of the older models (second hand) for my cousin I’ve just ordered a new one for my mum. The Yaris beats the Fiestas (1.3 & 1.25 Zetec) we’ve had hands down.

Toyota Aygo 2007

I am experiencing the same condensation problem. Water on the inside of the windscreen and in the cold weather, the whole windscreen freezes on the inside. I have taken it in 3 times, since I bought it from new. I had the door seals replaced and they did some humidity tests to say the car was dry inside. But its still not resolved. I am going to write to the manager of the dealership, Toyota’s HQ and trading standards after reading these reviews. Very disappointed.

Responses to this review

I have recently had the same problem with very heavy condensation in the similar Peugeot 107. I discovered the sound insulation under the boot carpet was soaking at each side. I came to the conclusion that dirt had built up around the seal between the rear window and the car body, allowing water to enter. I have cleaned it all thoroughly (it was thick with dirt), and the condensation problem seems to have gone - Ian Carson from Somerset

Exactly the same for me this year and last year. Speak to Consumer Direct for legal guidance. My car has also been checked and no leaks found HAS TO BE A FAULTY PRODUCT - Linda Woolley from Worcestershire

Aygo Blue, 09. I have had exactly the same problems with condensation. Also, when I turn on the heater the windows would steam up in no time. The only solution was to turn on the A/C (heating on). This did clear up the condensation. Up until this time I have always had the air intake selector set on recirculate. I changed it to draw air from outside and the next day (7/2/10) when I drove the car I found I did not need to turn on the A/C - the windscreen did not steam up. I’m going to try it again when it is very cold and see if this actually does solve the problem - Ben Richards from Middlesex

Toyota Corolla Verso T3 D-4D 2007

Diesel version with 6 speed box gives excellent consumption. Normally get around 49 mpg. Did a fully loaded run between Boulogne & Dunkirk and returned 74.4 mpg at average speed of 66.6 mph. Check tilt & slide mechanism on rear seats, mine broke on both seats but was fixed under warranty. Turning circle is poor but improved on ’09 models. Toyota no longer fits roof rails and roof bars only mount 2 foot apart, no good for long items! I have to consult handbook to refit luggage cover. I often do 600 mile trips and have ditched the skinny wheel in favour of a standard steel wheel & tyre. Otherwise very happy with the Verso.

Toyota Aygo 1.0 Black 5dr 2007

Had this car three years and as far as "doing what it says on the can" is concerned I’d say it was the best car I’ve ever had. Reliability has been faultless. I’ve had Renaults and Vauxhalls in the past and this is my first Toyota and whilst the former were reliable they always felt like something could go wrong at any time where as my Aygo is rock solid. I am most amazed by the performance as it seems to have long gears and the guts to pull them where as most small cars require constant gear changes to keep them moving. It is very nippy and nimble and I am most often being held up by slower cars in front. I’ve taken it on holiday and after a long trip I didn’t have single ache or pain and neither did my passenger. It is definitely comfortable and relaxing to drive. Fuel consumption is excellent so no complaints there. The boot is a bit small but I expect that with a small car and with the 5dr I can chuck stuff on the back seats. I wish I had bought the option glove box cover though. Such a small piece of plastic should surely be included in the price. Dealers have been great. Highly recommended car and I will either get another Aygo or a Yaris in the next couple of months.

Toyota Hiace 2007

I owned two Vaxuhalls and have had no end of problems with them, then after a lot of reseach I decided to buy a Toyota Hiace. After nearly three years and 45,000 miles it has been faultless. Since buying mine I have met someone who has done 125,000 miles in his and he has never had a single problem, I dont understand why Hiaces aren’t more popular?

Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon VX Diesel 1998

I was a garage owner selling 5-600 used vehicles per year, I owned my first Landcruiser Amazon for 7 years and my current one for 8 years. I have bought, sold, owned and driven most cars during my motor trade career up to and including a Rolls Royce, but I can honestly say The Amazon is the best vehicle by miles I have ever owned and driven, and that amounts to around 300,000 miles all across the UK and Europe in all terrains and conditions. I would also say that it drives as well today as it did 8 years ago, and I still look forward to every trip I take in it, it’s an absolute delight to drive. Running costs; apart from tyres, oil and filter changes and brakes, nothing, zilch, zero, except a brake light bulb that went yesterday, my first bulb replacement in 15 years.

Toyota MR2 MK3 Roadster (manual) 2001

I have had mine just over 2 years. In that time I have had brake discs replaced and a full set of Toyo’s fitted which improved it greatly. It only let me down once, when the battery died on me, other than that, trouble free, joyful motoring. If you are thinking of getting one go for one with the hard-top which will cost more, but you will be grateful for it in the winter months: it also stiffens the car a bit and makes it a tauter drive wheras you do notice a bit of chassis flex at speeds with the roof off and top down. The only real word of warning is to treat it with respect in the wet, ’cos like all rear wheel drive cars it can bite you in the ass if you get too enthusiastic. I don’t know why people moan about the standard stereo, mine sounds fine and its plenty loud enough for anyone to destroy their hearing. It’s relatively cheap to insure, good on fuel (for a sports car), reasonable service costs but with the bonus of 10K intervals!! I think it’s one of the most attractive roadsters out there. Pose factor is high - and people regularly let you out at junctions, which doesn’t seem to happen a lot to BMW or Porsche drivers. Some people call this the poor man’s Boxter, which I do get, but honestly I would rather have the MR2 because you get a HUGE amount of bang for your buck, without the cost disadvantages or the resentment that other road users seem to dish out to more expensive marques. A fabulous little car. Who can knock it? It’s fast, good looking, reasonable to run, handles great and puts a huge grin on your face.

Toyota Hiace 2003

I have had this toyota 2003 model for 2 years now, have never had no problems and the only money I have ever spent on this van is servicing. A great work horse that never lets you down and great for pulling heavy loads and Very reliable. Now days when driving a van we expect what we get in a car and the new toyota does this. I am not trying to make this out to be the perfect van but if you want to go to work every day and want reliability choose a toyota hiace. Thanks.

Toyota Aygo 2008

Wow, I cannot believe there are so many reviews regarding the water damage. My girlfriend has the Aygo and to be honest it hasn’t been a bad car until the inside windows kept steaming up making it so dangerous to drive,we took it in to toyota twice who eventually changed the air filters however this was the second of asking!?! Afew months later we opened the car door to find the drivers footwell full of water approx 4 inches. The car was taken back to toyota and returned with no explaination only for it to happen two weeks later. This time Toyota said it was the seal on the door which was out of line,they fixed it and sent back, then it happened again the next time it rained....currently waiting to hear what excuse we are given this time?! I think it’s a joke that Toyota have not recalled these cars back or at least admitted this is a common fault on the aygo and customers have to come on here to complain!?! Another gripe is the light not coming on when the passenger door is opened and the seats recline to most uncomfortable position when they are swung back to allow passengers on the back!

Toyota Aygo Platinum 2009

My Mother bought this brand new in November. 2 weeks later I borrowed it, only to find the carpet under the front seat & rear carpet & mats to be soaking wet. I rang the dealer on the Monday & they collected it on the Wednesday & returned it within 4 hours saying they needed to order the parts. The car became undrivable due to the amount of water, causing it to mist up. The dealer said the parts were not due in until January. How stupid do the dealers have to be to let a car on the road with a fault such as this AND allow it to get even worse over the following weeks? The car was returned and the dealer said we could have a loan car till the parts came (Jan) only ring on 23rd December saying it was all ready and we could collect it. We said no as it is a 30 mile drive. We did go there on 29th and found the car was still damp, heated rear screen still not fully working and the wrecked mats just dried out & put back in. We rejected the car (again) and trading standards have been informed and told us we have done the correct thing. We now want shot of this mouldy wreck of a car and either a replacement car or our money back. The dealer was most suprised when they were shown printed material off the internet about water leaks. The new part they had put on was just a rubber strip. In the showroom at the time was a new 3dr Aygo WITHOUT the strip so whoever buys this will get wet too.

Toyota Aygo 2004

The water described by plenty of others, is a problem of my own. Tearing the car apart, we discovered that THIS IS NOT A LEAK! The water poors in when you open the door, and gets down in the pit beneath the driver or passenger seat. From there, it goes back to the rear of the car. Also, the mats are very short beneath the pedals, so wet feet make the carpet wet, and water is trapped under the rubber mat. There is nothing physically wrong with the car, you just have to be very careful when you open the door, and that you don’t bring in any snow or water with your feet. (Which is nearly impossible...)

Responses to this review
The door seals leak. Twice fixed by dealer, only to fail again. Leave the car out in the rain and the rear footwells fill with water - Doug Salmon from Oxfordshire

Toyota Yaris 1.33 2009

I forgot to mention a few other things that I dislike about the car. Cold air is always blowing on my feet when it’s cold outside, I have tried everything to make it stop but it won’t. Dealer says this is normal and I should turn the heater at the feet vent on a higher setting. What I get now is hot air from the vent at feet level while cold air blows in from somewhere else also down at foot level but it’s not coming from the vent. The start stop feature is an absolute joke as so far in my driving experience, it has only worked for about twenty percent of the total driving time. The manual says that in cold weather the battery needs more energy and thus the start stop will only work sometimes. I live in Germany so I don’t know if my post will be allowed and I pressed a county lising at random as this was the only way my post could be entered, I am sorry about that.

Toyota Yaris 1.33 2009

I will give you an honest word on this little car. Purchased it about three months ago, and I have mixed feelings. I have a problem with a leaky front window, the gears are fine, however, sometimes reverse has difficulty getting in and second gear too. The clutch has to be pressed to the floor to get a smooth gear change in either reverse or second gear and even then it sometimes decides not to go in without several tries. Dealer, as usual, said everything normal except for leaky glass. The car drives nicely, has excellent handling, I always feel in control and slippery roads were a pleasant surprise. Car has excellent power up to 120 kmh, however, power fades badly after that. I don’t know about the hundred plus horsepower, I have driven cars with less rated power that were much stronger at higher speeds. I have been driving Toyota’s for almost twenty years and have loved them all, except for this one. I gave her a three star rating, but it could have just as easily been two stars.

Toyota Picnic GLS Diesel 2.2 turbo 1998

It’s a bit chuggy but you get used to it, the driver’s seat is not that comfy, however, it’s done 125K miles so can’t really complain. No major problems, alarm started coming on unexplained so I just lock it with the key now. Can be difficult to get into 2nd gear on changing down even with Slick50 in gearbox and linkages lubed but I’ve got used to it, this is due to a slightly bent selector arm I am told. Seat belts got tired and don’t wind back automatically as well as they did. Bodywork a bit on the thin side but plastic clad bottom half a good idea. Still running on the original exhaust. Regularly seviced at 9K miles with intermediate oil changes (being a diesel). Remarkably good on rattles, shows trim is a good fit/well secured although a bit dull and plastic dominated inside. Standardised air conditioning abs and adjustable mirrors a big plus.

Toyota Verso Luxury 1.8 Multidrive 2009

I have had this car for 1 month and I am very happy wit it. My former Toyota was the Corolla Verso of 2007 with the MMT gearbox. Lots of trouble with it. But this CVT runs like a dream. I am living in Finland and the winter is cold here with a lot of snow, I have had no problems. It is very roomy for a family of four. The seats are very good and the folding system better than in the former one. The car handles perfectly in heavy trafic and on lonely roads. The quality is of very good Toyota standard. It is a perfect family MPV.

Toyota Aygo platinum 2008

I wanted a cheap reliable little car and that’s what I got. I wasn’t expecting a large boot or lots of room inside, it’s a pretty small car! It fits the shopping in the boot fine and it doesn’t get thrown about, you can get adults in the back if wanted, but hardly anyone I know has a small car so they can carry 4 passengers regularly! The front of car has plenty of room for driver/ passenger. It drives fine, not had a problem with it at all. I’ve found the engine is good enough to over-take easily and not had any probs with going up hills etc., the windscreen mists up easily but not had any other water related issues! MPG is brill, it’s nippy, really easy to drive and park and I like the look of it. Thumbs up!

Toyota Aygo + 2005

I bought my Aygo in 2005 and thought it was the best car I’ve owned, but the depressing problem of interior water leaks has tainted our relationship..grr.

Responses to this review
I have had same problem with an Aygo - Liza Leigh from Cheshire

Toyota Yaris gls 1.3 2000

I got my Yaris Gls from new, I have done 95000 miles and it has never let me down. It’s never had a spanner on the engine apart from services, a fantastic car. If anybody wants to sell me a 2008/2009 drop me a line at dholdham@msn.com

Toyota Aygo aygo+ 2009

I was delighted with the Aygo until today! I’ve discovered loads of water behind the drivers seat, the carpet is absolutely water sodden. I am extremely unhappy and wish I’d looked at i/net before I’d purchased!

Responses to this review
I bought another aygo in May after being so pleased with my first one. However I have discovered a leak in the boot. They have replaced parts but still it leaks and now the rear seats are wet. Taking it back Wednesday as very unhappy - Saroj Painter from Hampshire

Toyota Hiace 2.5 D4D 2004

I bought this van in July 2005, had been on the dealers forecourt for 6 months as a pre-registered vehicle since December 2004. I had never had a van before, so nothing to compare it against. My views are this: In 94,000 miles from new until I part exchanged it in March this year, it was serviced on schedule, and nothing, and I mean nothing, ever went wrong with it, not even a blown light-bulb!! The only modification I made to it was to supplement the horrible tinny speakers with some nice after-market boxed ones I placed under the seats. This was the GS-Extra version, so had aircon, but not heated mirrors etc. Fuel consumption was probably average only 25/27 mpg, but I don’t like to dawdle so could possibly achieve 30+ Possibly being in the market for a new van again, I have been looking at the reveiws/forums etc for other models. Certainly better looking models with higher spec are available, but this ugly duckling was a fantastic workhorse ! No, I have no connection with Toyota whatsoever, but my research has lead me to the conclusion that for reliability, there is no other choice than a Toyota Van, hope this helps some of you to make up your mind.

Responses to this review

I think it has sir, thanks - Steve Wilson from Essex

Toyota Yaris Zinc 2007

Bought a Yaris Zinc in 2007 with mmt. Having trouble with gear changes, like various other people. The main problems are the gear change goes up on hills and roundabouts and when it changes gear in auto mode it clonks at the back like the old cars with a back axle. Due for a change think, I will have to try other manufacturers very, very, dissapointed.

Toyota Aygo 2006

I love my little Aygo but could not believe I need a new clutch after only 35,000 mls. I had a 2 brand new Saxo’s and drove one for 82,000 and the other a whole 120,000 without needing a new clutch. I changed to Toyota because the Aygo was prettier!!! Yes, I know typical woman but after having to pay over £500 for a new clutch I do regret going for looks!! No leaking though, well not yet!!

Toyota Aygo 2009

I have found the same water leak problem in my Aygo. I bought mine 6 months ago, but it is running smooth. I took my car in to the service centre because of a water leak and they gave me back saying it was fixed, unfortunately it rained heavily this week and I have found no change as its still leaking. I am feeling quite annoyed now after reading reviews that it’s a problem that Toyota is not addressing , taking hard earn money from the customers. I would not recommend this car to buy, as it has a reliability issue. My other car is 15 years old and doesn’t leak in any condition. That makes me think how poor designers are working at Toyota.

Responses to this review

The fix for this fault has been around for a few months and your local dealer can find it on their "TOTTS" computer system. The water ingress is from poorly routed/sealed wiring to the door speakers and poorly sealed inner door panels. Hope this helps - Peter from Lancashire

Dealer fix does not work! Had this done TWICE to my 107 and the rear footwells still fill with water after rain - Douglas Salmon from England

Then your dealer is the problem not the car as we’ve not had one Aygo we haven’t sorted yet, between the speaker wiring and inner door foils being resealed and one or two center brake lights - Peter from Lancashire

Toyota Avensis Estate 1.8 v v t i gs 2001

This is a brilliant car! It won’t rust it’s got a cam chain (no belt to break) it’s well built, it’s quiet, everything works (after 130 000 miles), great heater, goes like a bat and comfortable gives 40 mpg (petrol engine). It also handles pretty good so if you’re looking for cheap reliable quality transport the 2001 onwards Avensis is (in my opinion) unbeatable!

Toyota Rav4 2009

My diesel Rav4 is currently averaging 42 mpg . It is a 3 door version with little room for rear seat passengers. The large rear door creates a problem when loading if raining.

Toyota Yaris 2002

My sister has a Yaris. She had some rattling at the front of the car so she took it to two garages. One said it was the gearbox and the other said it was the clutch with the cost to repair between £400-500. This is a lot of money for a budget car that people buy for economy and cheap motoring, she has two children and a house to keep she needs her car for work. Toyota should recall these cars and fix them for free as its obviously a manufacturing fault

Toyota Yaris 2009

As a driving instructor I have used various makes/models. In August I thought I would go for a Yaris, what a mistake. I was already noticing excessive oil use. At 4000 miles. On a lesson the engine partly disintegrated, bits of sheared off engine parts in the road!!! Apparently on all recent Yaris’s there is a problem with the turbo which causes oil to be sucked from the engine into the turbo/inlets. So out of the the last month it has spent 3 weeks on a garage ramp with courtesy cars provided by the Driving Instructor Centre. Compensation; by going to the very top, I contacted Mr Adashi, CEO Toyota Europe, my agreed compensation so far stands at £900!!

Responses to this review

Very strange, I too am an A.D.I. and while on a lesson yesterday the engine revved wildly and disintegrated leaving the con rod and peices of the engine block all over the road. Similair miles too, just short of the first service at 9,000miles Thought it was something to do with the recall on the accellarator pedal that has just been announced but this seems tooo coincidental. What path did you take for compensation? Main dealer or direct to C.E.O.? - Tony Kelsey from Durham

Toyota Aygo Automatice 3 Dr Petrol 2006

This car is absolutely brilliant! Go as fast you can go on the road - in this speed limited world.

Toyota Previa 2.2 d4d gs 2002

It does what it says on the tin. 2.0 d4d diesel offering 45- 50 mpg with comfortable reliability that is second to none, however, timing belt service dear. All new toyota have chains; I hope they bring out a new model previa.

Toyota Yaris 1.33 TR 3DR 2009

I still like the car overall, as I reported below, but having tried to get used to the gearbox I find it’s clunky, not smooth finding the gears and is often very, very reluctant to go into second shifting down. Looking for postings on this I find I’m not alone and I also have the reported "burning smell" occasionally in normal driving. I thought the clutch might be slippng once or twice, but put that down to my being "off" in handling a new car, now I’m not at all so sure it’s me. It’s just not got the transmision my 16 year old Corolla had. Seeing the dealer tomorrow; let’s see how this goes.

Responses to this review

Nothing more to add to this review but that I have exactly the same problem. I drive a Yaris 1.33 dual vvt-i SOL since August 2009. I can not get used to the gearbox at all. I’ve been driving a previous model of Yaris (2003) and it was an excellent car then - Robert Zizman from Croatia (Hrvatska)

Toyota Aygo 2006

I brought my Aygo 2 years ago and it has been nothing but a headache due to shoddy design and a string of problems. It has had the following done: New water pump, new radiator, new boot hinges, new hazard button, new door seals/ weather strips And on top of this it leaks water after heavy rain. Do not touch the Aygo with a bargepole, while it may save you money in road tax and petrol it will cost you many more times than this in repairs. This car is poorly built and full of design faults that Toyota refuse to take responsibility for.

Toyota Aygo Platinum 2009

Mine is a new car that I purchased 2 weeks ago and both back passenger footwells are saturated. Toyota want to "fix" it but from what I’ve read here, it seems like my return ticket for this "repair" job has it’s first of many stamps! I am astonished by how long this problem has been ignored by the manufacturer. Unfortunately I didn’t find any leak review before my purchase or i certainly would have considered a different car. The Aygo platinum is a lovely little car. I love everything else about it. But a wet car, inside and out or frozen car inside and out is not a joy. Probably won’t be long before it starts to get damp smelling too! Avoid the Agyo!

Toyota Prius T4 2004

This vehicle is not a ’one solution fits all’, but some treat it as such, so treat any old review with caution. What this is is a spacious medium/large family petrol car, with the fuel economy of a diesel (but a 1/3 less CO2), as quick as any comparable petrol car (or diesel) and almost completely recyclable (including the NiMh batteries, regardless what some want you to believe (Yes, Top Gear, I’m looking at you)). To put in context, our 4 year old 04 Prius T4 was bought as a replacement for our 10 year old 2.0l Volvo V40 estate. We looked at the newer V50, but found this had less boot space and too little leg-room in the back seats; not good for taking a child seat or the aged in-laws. Yet for the same price, we got a car that was as fast as the V40 (which wasn’t bad for an automatic), nearly as much room in the boot, but much more room in the back. Not only that, but instead of a little over 300 miles on a 55 litre fuel tank in the V40, were getting over 400 miles on a 45 litre tank in the Prius. After driving this car for over a year now, it is regularly returning over 48mpg, and over 55mpg on longer drags, such as my runs from Essex to Manchester (even with the M5/M6 traffic jams). As for the technologies involved; Both my wife and I hold Electronic Engineering degrees, so investigated what could have been just the latest eco-fashion accessory before sinking 10K into a 2nd hand car. What we can report is: yes there is there a geek factor, but this car WORKS. Where the Atkinson Cycle engine lacks power, the battery fills in. When there isn’t a heavy demand, the battery will return the power that is normally lost to breaking (so no plugs, no coal-fired power stations, or any of that messing about!). When in a car park, you can even stalk others! The 1.5l petrol engine assists the battery or takes over without fuss, although it can be a little whiney under load (my only room for improvement, hence the 4 stars, but resolved with the new Mk 3s 1.8l engines). Road handling is not bad considering the type of vehicle, and doesn’t half shift from standing still (surprising the odd boy-racer). So, to summarise: This is a practical, reliable, safe family car which is not only easy to drive and live with, but cuts down your fuel bills, your CO2 output, and fills the gap between now and the future. So don’t listen to those who want something fast, fun, sporty or the latest eco-thing, it’s just not their cuppa...

Toyota Yaris 2008

I have been a driving instructor for the past 25 years and as such my clutch work is very good, therefore my clutches last a long time. However, since purchasing my Yaris I have had the clutch burn out at only 27,000 miles. The new clutch then began to emit a burning smell after 3 days so I took it back to the garage for an inspection, only to be told that the smell was merely the smell of the old burnt out clutch lingering and that it would eventually go away. Now, just 2 weeks since the new clutch was fitted I can once again smell burning and the car has had to go back into the garage again, which is obviously seriously disrupting my work. I had been recommending the Yaris to pupils and anyone else I spoke to who was already considering buying one, however, I am now completely put off the car. Even Nissans have better performance in their clutches! Has anyone else had a problem with their clutch? I have been reading a lot of reviews complaining about the Yaris’ gear-box, which I think could be related to the clutch.

Responses to this review
You only need to read through all the reviews to get the picture regarding gearbox/clutch issues. I have rejected my car and am waiting for Toyota to respond, after a year trying to get used to it and umpteen trips and weeks in the garage. Simply the worst car I have ever owned or driven. I am totally at a loss to see how it was possible for the Yaris to get a good reputation and I don't understand the people on this forum who praise it. The only thing is hasn't actually done is break down but neither did my 9 year old Clio 1.6 16v in the 9 years I owned it and it was a joy to drive and did everything it should have, I can't say the same for the Yaris 1.3 - Peter from Bedfordshire

Almost 20/30% of new manual 6 speed Yaris' have gearbox troubles. Toyota knows this perfectly but doesn't lift a finger to repair this drama-comic situation. If Toyota is still, even if I doubt, a serious car brand factory they should recall & repair for free all gearbox troubled cars; however, I think this will remain a dream. Right now Toyota is one of the less reliable car brands in Europe. I had a test drive with the new Mito (Alfa) & it is another Galaxy - Davide from Northern Ireland

We must be in the lucky 70% as our new 1.33 manual 6-speed Yaris has no gearbox quirks at all. Easy when oil is cold (all this week!) and smooth into every gear. In fact a much smoother gear change than my Audi (but that's another story). I do find the clutch biting point a little difficult to feel compared to a faithful old Mazda, ie it's easy to stall(so is the Audi). Overall we are very pleased indeed with the way it drives, hope the Toyota reliability reputation was translaled into French for the people who built the car. I had a new Renault once and vowed never never again to buy a French car - John Milnes from England

Having worked for Toyota for over 12 years and seeing learner car Yaris’s doing well over 100k on 1 clutch they don’t have a clutch wear problem and the fact your new clutch is smelling of burning (which is overheating) so soon I would suggest you get your dual controls checked for dragging your clutch pedal or slightly holding the brake pedal on? - Peter from Lancashire

Toyota Yaris MMT 2008

Great car! I love the MMT! I have read a lot of bad reports about MMT function but really can not fault it!

Toyota Hiace 280GS 2003

Over 300,000 miles and the most expensive thing I spent over servicing has been a suspension bush £90, wheel bearing £50, and windscreen excess of £80! Even has original clutch. AMAZING VEHICLE that owes me nothing - in fact every morning I go down on my knees in front of it and pay homage. Unfortunately, as a taxi it has to have two doors and new UK Hiace has only one. Even asked my dealer to get one posted from Japan but they won’t/can’t do it. I look at the 3-star rating of the other makes and blanche as I have to change it by local law after 8 years. It 25 years times it will still be going - probably around the jungle in Bolivia, painted a hundred colours with no windows and chickens on the roof - but it will still be going!

Toyota Land Cruiser 2006

My 5th Land Cruiser. I love every minute of owning this car. Absolutely fabulous....

Toyota iQ iQ2 2009

Had this car for a full day test drive. I took it on all types of roads. It performed well on the motorway and felt like a proper car given its size. I even managed to squeeze two passengers into the back, although the passenger behind the driver would not want to travel far. The turning circle is brilliant, and great fun. I averaged 55mpg, not bad given the thrashy nature of a test drive. However, the iQ’s biggest problem is Toyota’s own Aygo. I took one of these out for a test drive too and it did everything the iQ did but at a much cheaper price and with more space. Of the two, I think I would probably save the money and have the Aygo.

Toyota Hiace 2.4 D powervan 1996

I am the 3rd owner, bought it with 78k miles 8yrs ago. It now has 180k. I do basic servicing every year (filters, lubes and belts) when due. The only mechanical parts I’ve had to change are: glow plugs, water pump and starter motor... Wow what can I say? It’s been an absolute dream... however my dilema is that I need a bigger van... Toyota don’t do the size i require... so, can anyone help? Which manufacturer do I switch to? Gutted to leave toyota :(

Responses to this review

Get yourself a Renault Master. They are bullet proof. Comfortable and reliable - Shane Gallagher from Northern Ireland

Keep it, get a tow-bar - Paul Rugman from Gloucestershire

No, you should never buy a Renault or Opel van. I’ve just got rid of my Opel Vivaro. It was great to drive, had the perfect interior but very unreliable with tons of problems: Generator, breaks, turbo, steering, and only after 100,000 miles the whole gear shift needed to be changed costing me 1500 euros by replacing with used parts from ebay, new pars would have cost 4000 the dealer said. That is why I am thinking of buying Toyota. Reviews about Ford Transit are also pretty bad unfortunately. That’s my story - Alpar Benko from England

I would like to buy your old Toyota - Evans Onyeagwara from London

Toyota Yaris 2009

One of the best cars that I have ever driven.

Toyota Yaris 1.3 2009

For me the Toyota Yaris is a great car without problems. My parents bought one after test driving. They are a bit older and love the seats for their backs. They owned a Hyundai Elentra. My friend trashed his Fiat and also bought the Yaris. Previous car (15 years) was the Toyota Corolla: 320,000 km without any problems.

Toyota Picnic Manual G.L.S. 1999

I bought the car at 3 years old after 1 previous owner. I have 5 young children all of whome would get car sick in a very short time in normal low ceiling cars. This is not a problem with the model I have, as the moon roof and the sun roof and the extra head clearance makes for a very relaxed journey for them. All of my friend’s have made good comments about the spacious interior compared to their own cars. The only draw back that I have experienced is having to remove the rear seats, so as not to damage the seat fabric. This is not difficult, but to find a place to store the seats is problamatic! The fuel economy is great and actually rivals a diesel engine at a lower CC on long distances, but be aware that driving around the doors with a 2 litre engine is un-economical! The other problem is that there is no manual that I can find to be able to repair the car myself, and this is costly. It is wise though to change the engine oil and the filter on a regular basis. This is not a difficult job and does not have to be done by an experienced mechanic. The air filter is the same. Remember, tyre presures are extremly important if you are using the car for a long distances,as this greatly improves the mpg of the car.

Toyota Yaris 1.33 Sol 6-gears 2009

One of the worst cars ever, it reminds me a typical chinese car, the build quality is really low, it is not comfortable at all, the steering is too light (very dangerous), the seat (driver side) is too close while the steering is too far so it’s impossible to find a decent (and definitive) driver position. When it rains it seems to have the water inside! The new engine 1.3 (100hp) is underpowered but it drinks like a Scotsman, on highway over 70/80mph seems to drive like a jumbo jet. It starts to squeak after 4/5000km, now seems a concern. Very poor and badly assembled plastics, the gears are a real nightmare, every time you shift it seems that the engaged gear is coming out, very heavy/hard gear and above all very noisy. The clutch is too high (I mean really too much), the brake system is good only at low speeds, at high speed you should cross your fingers hoping to never stress your "eco" (as economic) brakes. This is my first and will be the last Toyota.

Toyota Yaris 1.3 SR 2008

In response to Peter Walsh, I have just got my car back from the dealer after 2 weeks. I had rejected it but was advised by my legal team to give the dealer one more try. They say they have replaced some parts in the gearbox linkage and it does seem slightly better but still not what I call a good car to drive. The brakes are still dreadful, the clutch still judders but they tell me they are all the same even though the courtesy car I just had for 2 weeks was better to drive, though same engine and gearbox. I will be rejecting my car again. I cannot understand how people can like these cars. If I were you I would reject your car, if you have any of the mechanical problems mentioned on this forum, it seems that Toyota just cannot put the problems right.

Toyota Hiace Commuter 2005

Hi, I am actually in Adelaide South Australia and put Ireland because Id like to go there one day... Anyway, I have had 2 Toyota Hiace Commuters, an 89 and a 95 model, total owning time about 8 years, the 89 model had 166,000 km and the only repair was a starter motor and normal services that I had done once each year... the 95 model had done 760,000 km and same story except no repairs just the yearly services, both vans NEVER broke down and I have now changed to a Mercedes Vito and it has broken down 3 times in 18 months, done about 260,000 km and cost me about 5000 dollars in repairs. I must be lucky but I am definitely changing back to a Toyota as soon as I can. Why wasn’t someone there to stop me from making this very expensive mistake buying a non Toyota van? It didn’t help being ripped off by the dealer when we bought the Vito, It was even from an Australian Mercedes van dealer and they were real F#%*@ so and so’s. Go Toyota!

Toyota Yaris T Spirit 1.4 Diesel 6 Speed Manual 2009

Purchased a new Yaris 1.4 Diesel 6 Speed Manual in late August, the car has done less than 800 miles and the gearbox is giving trouble. When you change down from third gear to second, you can’t select second gear leaving you stranded as you are too slow for third gear and too fast for first. It’s been dangerous at times, especially when coming off a motorway or approaching a roundabout as you are left stranded without being able to select a gear. Car went back to the dealer at the start of this week, no courtesy car was offered, after a few hours told by the dealer they can’t find any fault. When asked if they had driven the car the dealer said ’no’. Left the car with the dealer for further investigation and stressed that they need to road test it to find the problem. After 3 days, still not heard back and called the dealer for an update. Dealer said they still can not find any fault so they are going to change the gear selector cables but by their own admission admitted that this will not solve the problem. Has anyone else had problems with the 6 speed manual gearbox in their 2 as trying to put a portfolio of incidents together to take to Toyota and the media to try and get this resolved. If the dealer can’t rectify this, then I’m going to reject the car and buy a Polo instead!

Responses to this review

Hi Peter, I am having exactly the same gearbox problems and am currently in the process of trying to get a new car out of the dealer as I think this is unsafe. - Alan Lord from Lancashire

Yes, only the main problem I’ve had is changing from 4th to 3rd. The dealer originally (at a few hundred miles) admitted there was some resistence in the gearbox and suggested I get back in touch around 4,000/5,000 if problem still persisted, which I did, only to be told that that was just the way the gearbox is and that if they take the car in and strip things down to find the problem - and there isn’t one - I’d be charged. He went on to say that Toyota would claim it’s "driver error" in changing gears. I did stress that I felt the situation to be dangerous (as someone esle has mentioned here) but that didn’t get a response. We agreed I’d call in when I could, to test drive another Yaris with a 6 speed gearbox to compare. I only managed this at 10,000 service and it felt like a completely different gearbox! So the dealership test drove mine and agreed there was a problem and replaced the gear selctor cable but as yet I’m to be convinced it’s helped. I’ve let them know this, and to be fair, we’ve agreed I’ll contact them again in the New Year if it’s clear the problem remains. There’s been no mention of a general problem with this gearbox, so I’m pleased to hear I’m not alone! - Kate from Pembrokeshire

Me too I’d some problems in the transition from 3rd to 2nd, but really it’s my fault. I think Yairs need more accurate sense with the speed when you change the gear box in a simple way, just try to reduce the speed to 20km/h then move to the 2nd gear box. When moving from 4th to 3rd you need to slow to 40km/h or less - Khaled Asem from Egypt

Toyota Yaris TR 2007

I traded my much loved Peugot 106 for the Yaris TR in June and although happy on most issues am seriously concerned about the indicator sytem on this version. On making a minor manoeuvre e.g. onto a slip road or a left from a roundabout, the indicator doesn’t automatically cancel so you have to cancel manually so after after every signal you have to check the indicator light. If you have noisy children in the car or listening to the radio, this is is one more task you could do without. This is potentally very dangerous as if you fail to cancel the indicator a vehicle coming out of a turn will think you are turning but you are not. This does not seem to have been a problem on earlier Yaris editions or on other models in the Toyota range. Toyota say it is the drivers responsibility to cancel indicators and they adhere to the legal requirements. Does anyone else have this problem? And yes the gear change esp for 3rd to 2nd is a nightmare!

Toyota Aygo 107 urban 2007

Interesting to read the various reports about water ingress. I have just booked my car in for the 5th time. It is a 107- exactly the same car as Toyota Ago-built in the same factory with exactly the same problems. I have had mats frozen to the carpet, boot swamped and drivers footwell wet. Every time I trust they have mended this. I have been on to Fair Trading and been informed that they should make long lasting repair or replace like for like. I have quoted my case number to Peugeot and have also got a case number from them. I am not happy with the car-it has certainly not been fit for purpose as it was bought brand new. I am now going to write to higher powers as it seems to me that this car has inherent defects. Good luck to you all.

Responses to this review
Jane, how do you report it? I am about to head in for a return visit to the Peugeot garage for the same issue, a week after brand new door seals were put in! Nightmare! My car stinks of damp - Sarah Larkins from Essex

Same problem... the car has had numerous seals, including 3 door seals, back break seals, ariel seal and now super seals all have which have not worked. The car stinks of dampness and is going back in for the 5th time. I have put in a complaint to which they advise they will fix it. The damage is already done and now I have faulty interior light and hazzard switches - Sharon Adams from England

Toyota Avensis Hatchback D4D T3S 2005

The best car I have ever owned!! I have had Lexus, Audi, Mercedes, Vauxhall, Ford and many a VW but this car for all round economy, comfort, space and mega reliability is AWESOME! I agree they are not the best looking car but the pros really do make up for it. Also they are one of the safest large family cars on the road with NCAP 5 rating! YEY Toyota!

Toyota Yaris Sol 1.33 manual gear (6) 2009

Decent car but with a nightmare gearbox. I just sent a couple of letters to Toyota and they answered back that they don’t know anything about the problem I reported & mine is just an isolated case, as I can read here it isn’t... Toyota has lost its good name for reliability.

Responses to this review
I bought the same model you drive in July 2009 and am very disappointed. I have the same problems with the gearbx. What a nightmare, I don’t know what to do ... Robert from Croatia

Toyota Yaris 1.3 Zinc 2007

I can’t believe some of the negative comments here. I have just completed 50,000 miles in 2 years - hard driving in London and on motorways. Usually full of equipment. It drives beautifully - the seat is the most comfy I have ever sat in, you can get enormous amounts in the rear with seats down, it will cruise all day at 80 (tho of course I don’t do that ) and on mixed driving returns 45mpg. I had 3 people, a drumkit, cello, keyboard and PA and you wouldn’t know it was loaded. Slight gripe with getting into reverse but that’s about it, oh and going up long hills fully laden it runs out of steam, but it is only a 1.3.

Responses to this review
I also cannot believe that you cannot believe all the negative comments you are reading here. I will not go into too many details but I took legal advice about my Yaris 1.3SR. It was bad in just about every respect the day I bought it 11 months ago. Toyota finance and Toyota are very aware of the case and are waiting to see what the dealer can do. The dealer has taken it away today for their last chance to put all the problems right otherwise I am rejecting it. However nothing short of a complete re-design will put some of the problems right. If I am not offered most of my money back, perhaps someone here would like to buy it from me because I am told all Yaris’s are like that, so if some people think they are a good car then the purchaser should be very happy. This is NOT a reliability issue, it is mainly a drivability issue that I have never had in any car in my 23 years of driving. Perhaps there are actually two Toyota makes, one VERY GOOD and one VERY BAD. After my experiences of 2 Toyotas in the past 16 months I would not want another Toyota if you gave me one. If anyone here disagrees with me, please reply to this and I am willing for you to come and test the car (if I still have it) - Pete from Bedfordshire

Toyota Aygo Blue 2009

Purchased my Aygo in June 2009. I have now discoverd a leak in both footwells, I don’t know how it is getting in as mats are dry. Only the carpet underneath is wet, boot seems dry at the moment, not very happy with Toyota. I am returning it to Toyota service for repair but after what I have read on the these forums I won’t be holding my breath. I wish I had bought the Suzuki now.

Responses to this review
Update! Going back for the 6th time still leaking, c**p service - Robert Herket from Worcestershire

Toyota Yaris sol 2009

It ABSOLUTELY SUCKS AND I WANT MY MONEY BACK!!! What did toyota think it was doing with this idiotic mmt thing? Everytime I drive it I come out of it sick from those lurches and sick of its moaning and whining noises!

Responses to this review
I received my first brand new car 1st September. I HATE IT. I have bought the Toyota Yaris 1.3 MMT model. I am unable to drive a manual as I have a bad left leg. I have always driven a manual up to now. I dread every time I drive the car. It makes my passengers feel car sick. It lurches all the time. It hates being in cues and low gear. I think it thinks its a kangaroo. I have been back to the garage. They checked it. Told me nothing wrong with it just the way I drive it. Then they told me its just how the Yaris is. We have asked for our money back but I don't think we will get it. I love driving but I dread driving at the moment - Tracy Brown from England

I feel exactly the same way. I got this car because I wanted something easy to park but that had an automatic gearbox. This is NOT an automatic. The only way to drive it without lurching is using the mmt feature. We bought it thinking it was just us getting used to the car, but 2 weeks on we’re still lurching from one gear to another. Very dangerous at roundabouts and junctions as you don’t know when the car is actually going to move!! I hate this car and have no idea what to do about it. We’re calling the garage tomorrow and hopefully they’ll have some sort of suggestion - Becks from Renfrewshire

Toyota Hilux 3.0 Invincible auto 2007

We’d intended to get a used Amazon, but very strong used values coupled with hefty road tax penalties made us think about a pick up instead. Automatic is a must, Ford were just about to launch their own 3.0 litre automatic ranger, but no one at Ford could tell me where the engine or gearbox came from, and not wishing to be unpaid R&D for a new model we decided to check out others. Navara went into limp mode on the test drive and my wife hated the sound and drive of it, so that left new Mitsubishi L200 which looks odd and we really wanted a 3.0 litre for the extra torque anyway. It only left Toyota which was what we wanted anyway and having owned a Landcruiser 3.0 litre Diesel before which was completely reliable and built like the proverbial brick outhouse I knew the motor would be good... but you still have to check the opposition to confirm. So we test drove the Hilux, both liked it and Toyota did us a fair price... dead lucky here, we ordered 2 weeks before Top Gears North Pole trip was shown, wouldn’t have got any discount after that as no one knew of the new model prior to that. Vehicle turned up sure enough for 1st Sept, all good. Righto, the gearbox is a dream smooth changes and good instant pulling power, small criticism here, the engine has huge low speed power, maximum torque from 1400rpm, so even though the gearbox locks in 4th when up to speed it will change down before needed, shame Toyota couldn’t have put some sort of manual override button, we could semi permanently lock top gear on the open road, but hey ho as I said a minor point in the grand scheme of a good auto box. Nice little touch, there is a release button for the gearstick beside it, so you don’t need to turn the ignition on and put foot on brake to select neutral if you want to roll forward on a slope or example. Engine is very willing, reasonably quiet, and pulls like a train. The vehicle is high geared in top something like 2200 rpm at a genuine 80mph, so high speed cruising is easy though you can pay at the pumps for that. Fuel consumption varies between 27 and 30ish, the former if you boot it and you could get worse than that, the latter for normal running, which I think is reasonable for a 2 ton brick. Didn’t go for leather, 2 reasons didn’t like the one bland grey colour and it’s slippery and cold (no seat heaters) for my wife’s bum ;) that’s 3 reasons... Very good to drive, can be skittish in the wet, tyres need to be carefully chosen, I’m a user of winter tyres anyway during the cold spell and this vehicle is transformed on higher quality tyres, the original fitments weren’t the greatest in my humble opinion. Following that idiotic biased Elk test video on youtube Toyota had the knee jerk reaction of stopping using the 16" wheels on the Invincible and fitted 15" instead, they tried to get us to have new 15" (HL3) wheels under warranty but we’ve not had a problem with the handling save for my above comment over tyre choice, so we are still running the 16" wheels, if I’d wanted an HL3 I’d have bought one and saved myself a couple of grand. The paint seems a bit easy to scratch, and I daresay we’ll be having it repainted much better in a few years time, as this truck is here with us till the end of it’s days (or ours). This seems to be a problem with many new vehicles, this modern paints just don’t wear like the old stuff. Underside prone to rusting, definitely a case for heavy spraying with rustproofing chemicals/paint underneath. Mirrors though they are electric and very good being huge and well placed are not heated even as an option, this was a bad oversight and Toyota should really have offered a retro fit service to their customers with this... whether the 2009 facelift model has heated mirrors I know not. I have a bit of a feeling that they didn’t want Hilux pinching too many sales from Landcruiser, so didn’t make them too luxurious, mind you their pretty good anyway. Well it’s now exactly 2 years old, no problems at all as expected. Toyota’s service dept is it’s usual efficient self and the servicing costs are reasonable say around £180 for intermediate (year 1 and 3) and £270 for full (year 2), I don’t think that’s bad at all, and I do pay extra to have a new fuel filter annually, that for some reason isn’t in the service schedule, but I like my vehicles serviced proper like, and I slip in a half yearly oil change myself. Engine oil change is recommended at 9K miles by the way. The fuel filter has proper primer plunger fitted, unlike much of the competition which is just another old fashioned belt and braces approach to the way they build their working vehicles, a good thing as far as i’m concerned. Hope this is a little help to anyone considering a Hilux, I would recommend without hesitation, relatively simple tough pick up that should turn out to be totally reliable, and seems to be keeping it’s value quite well where the competition is being given away at 3 or so years old.

Toyota Avensis Hatchback 2008

This is the most uncomfortable car to travel in and I agree, road noise is dreadful. There seems to be a total lack of suspension which gives really bad problems after only a short ride. Do not know what we can do about this.

Toyota Avensis Tourer D4D Station Wagon 2002

I’m from Portugal, and have owned mine since 2005. I bought it with 80,000kms on, now has 213,000kms. 105,000kms - flywheel and clutch 140,000kms - steering failed 210,000kms - turbo (IHI - not repairable!) And the flywheel is failing again now... Very cheap to run, reliable (flywheel apart). Shame on you Toyota, you should call every owner to replace Flywheel!

Toyota Yaris 2009

I am having trouble with the gear box. Also, is anyone having problems with the front doors? When it rains, or when washing the car, water gets in to the door and when you open it you can see it pouring out of a drain hole...

Responses to this review
What did your dealer say about the gearbox problem? My dealer said it has not had anyone else with this problem - Mags Allsopp

Many thanks. The gear box is probably a bit stiff being new, sent letter to Toyota and am waiting for a reply. I also sent an email to the dealer and am waiting for a response about the water - Anthony Long from Northumberland

I have had my Yaris tr 1.3 for a couple of months. i took it back after a week as it was not going in to 4th gear properly every time. Toyota said there had been reports of this on some gears and said they had tweeked it. I'm still having probelems with 4th gear and will be taking it back again. My half an hour drive to work on a dual carriageway is only on average 37 mpg. One last thing, I have left my car in first gear then when I've gone to move off I have shot back in reverse and as you will know this can not be done accidently - Claire Atkinson from England

I bought a brand new Yaris earlier this year and had the same problem with one of the back doors. The garage put it right in the end. Anyone else had a problem with cracking side mirrors? I have only had the car since February but already had to replace two drivers side mirrors which have just cracked. Also had both mirrors stolen. So far spent couple of hundred quid on side mirrors over a period of a couple of months - Kathleen Morris from London

Toyota Yaris D4D T3 2009

I am a driving instructor and bought my 3rd Yaris diesel T3 end of April. From the start there was black smoke from the exhaust and it used all the engine oil in 3,000 miles - I had to fill it up every week. Dealer offered me an oil consumption test and said Toyota say 1ltr of oil per 1,000 miles is OK!!!! Not prepared to do a 20 mile round trip every week for this test when it was obvious that it was more serious, but they didn’t seem bothered about the smoke. Took it in again lasty week and insisted on a test drive. It broke down 2 mins later. Took 3 days and the engine out to find that the engine block, cranckshaft, piston and valve all knackered. New short motor being put in-takes another week. Very unhappy and angry with Toyota and dealer. I could insist on a new car but so much hassle I will have to accept the repair. But I will be getting rid of this car asap. Oh and I told them about the problem with 2nd gear too - same as an ADI friend with the same model.

Toyota Camry GXI v6 2.5 auto 1990

I bought one in Slough in may 2009, stood me at £430. Since then new cat 1 alarm, new alloys (£220), 82000 miles, sounds like a sewing m/c, drives great. It is an auto with overdrive, and sports setting. It is now worth £2000 of anybodys money.

Toyota Yaris T3 MMT 2007

This is the second Yaris that I have owned from new, so far it has done 23,000 trouble free miles. No problems with the mmt gearbox, and mpg excellent. A great little car, never had any problems at all with it, will definitely buy another next year. The dealership servicing and customer care is excellent.

Toyota Yaris 2007

I totally agree, the MMT gearbox is "all over the place". Changes gear, hates bad weather, or hills. Just had an upgrade, much better.

Toyota Yaris 2007

I have an 07 Zinc. I hate the multi mode gearbox which causes the car to be a very "jerky" ride. By far the worst car I have ever driven. I found out by chance about an update and have just had this done. Much better. I was informed that Toyota admit that this gearbox was a "mistake". Why was I not informed about this upgrade, and why are other Toyota users not informed?

Toyota Yaris Verso 2001

This car fits smack for the city people like my family. Has lots of space for family of 2 kids. Not too big to park in the tightest spaces and it’s economical to drive. Quality stands out in every aspect : this is my 2nd Yaris Verso and am looking for a 3rd. Never had any problem with these cars. I’ve had one in northern Europe and freezing winters never stopped this car, also in southern Europe where I live now the car I’ve had no problem. Some say it’s ugly but I love it’s looks. It is a great pity the production stopped in 2008.

Toyota Hiace 2009

I have been driving the Toyota Hiace since 1987 and this is my 5th one. I have travelled over 500,000 miles, not one of my vans has ever been in the garage other than for its regular service. The fuel consumption may be a bit higher than others but this is a small price to pay.

Toyota Yaris 1.4 D4D 2007

I have had my Yaris from new and it has provided me with 2 years of trouble-free, cheap motoring. It does 50 mpg plus easily while urban driving, 65 mpg, at the least on a long run.

Toyota Yaris TR 2009

As I have never had the pleasure of purchasing a brand new car, I decided to use the scrappage scheme to get rid of my beloved peugoet 306 and buy a Yaris TR . What a mistake. I am truly disappointed. As already mentioned by quite a few people on this site, the gears are absolutely rubbish I am having a lot of trouble getting into 1st and 2nd gear, and worst is trying to go from 3rd to 2nd, what nightmare. I have been driving for nearly 20 years, and I now feel as if I have just passed my test. So instead of looking forward to driving my brand new car, it fills me with dread, as I have already stalled it on numerous occasions, and I am slowly losing my confidence. Will be taking it back to the dealer ASAP.

Responses to this review
I am having the same lurching every time I go up in gears. The garage said they tested the car on the computer and no problems were found. They are charging me £1400 plus VAT and £200 admin fees before they take the car back. On top of that they took my Vauxhall Omega and gave me a measly £1000 part exchange. The sales manager refused to put anything in writing, she often contradicts anything she says on the telephone. I feel they are trying to fob us off or break us down. Please give us your view - Cherryl Howard from Bedfordshire

I have a 2008 SR 1.3. The gear change was rubbish between 1st and 2nd, especially a rolling change down into first (junctions etc). After a couple of visits to Toyota dealer we discovered there was a known issue and a warranty fix (adding a weighted coupling to the gear linkage apparently). It is now fine. Suggest you ask your dealer to check the known issues - Brian from England

Toyota Auris 1.6 TR 2007

I bought Toyota because of it’s legendary built quality. I have found the Auris as follows. Engine - quiet, pulls well - but would be better with 6 gears. Body work - great build quality. Interior - comfortable BUT has a major rattle problem from the front dashboard. It has suffered from a broken front seat! Dealer very polite but have the feeling that they will only replace a broken part but not really interested or have time to investigate an intermittent fault. It is due for a service so I will point out the rattle/creaking noise again and hope for the best.

Toyota Yaris 1.33 TR 3DR 2009

I traded in a beloved 16-year-old Corolla 1.4 XLI under "scrappage." Important to me, the rear space with the seats down in the new Yaris is possibly greater than the old Corolla: not quite so long but deeper, as the seats fold more efficiently. Better mileage but more powerful, as gradient climbing on the A30 in Cornwall soon showed. Quiet engine, sharp steering. Lots of adjustment in the driving position, and not many cars suit my long back and relatively short limbs. My main whinge is getting used to the extra features including the extra gear, the A/C and the digital dash display. I don’t think I could have picked better for the price.

Toyota Yaris 1.3 SR 2008

I have been a driving instructor for 30 years and go through cars quite quickly. I have had many makes and the last year had a Yaris 1.3 original shape. It was ok though the gearbox was very clonky and car generally noisy. I traded it in the 2008 SR and I have to agree with the points made about the gearbox, clutch and brakes on the new Yaris, yes what a truly awful car in just about every aspect. I have had a few courtesy cars on the various visits to the helpful but incapable Toyota dealer and they were just as bad to varying degrees. Please trust me, I know the difference between a good car and a bad car when it comes to driving. The Corsa, Clio and Mini I have had were far superior to this very disappointing offering from what used to be a competent manufacturer. Will not be buying another Toyota for the foreseeable future. The Clio was the best car to drive and was very reliable contrary to popular myth. However, the dealers seem unhelpful at times. Mix Renault with Toyota and you may have a better result.

Toyota Yaris TR Diesel 2008

I purchased my Toyota Yaris TR Diesel in July 2008. Since then I have noticed that the front wheel tyres are wearing on one side as though the tracking is constantly at fault. However, the tracking has been checked and I was informed by the garage that this is a fault with the Yaris. As with all my previous cars I would expect at least 20000 miles from the tyres but in the light of this problem I doubt whether I will get 8000 miles from the tyres. This of course, needless to say, is totally unacceptable. I would be interested to hear if other Yaris owners have experienced similar problems.

Responses to this review
With regards to the tyres wearing on one side, I have had the same thing happen with my Yaris D4D 2007. It went in for the 2nd year service at 20k miles and the report showed 'inner edge 2.5 mm outer edge 1mm wear.' Not very impressed as the car has only covered 6200 miles, surely this must be wrong? I was told to keep an eye on the problem!? - John Westover from England

As a follow up to my previous comments; I took the car to a local tyre shop, where they checked the tracking (no charge) and informed me it was "well out." I am going to ring the main dealer on monday as I am not happy that, whilst the service was being carried out, they did nothing to check WHY the front tyres were wearing out - John Westover from England

Toyota iQ 2009

Took one for a test drive, good fun, can’t help thinking its a 2+2... but then I’m 6’1... would almost consider it as a run around... But!!!!!!!!!! Price...????? Way way over priced for what it is.... have to agree with previous post, £8000 max. At the end of the day how much engineering do you need in a car this size? Running 2 Toyota’s at the moment, have owned many over the years but the newer one’s tend to have more problems due to the so called engineering... thought that is true of most makes of car...

Toyota Yaris TR 2008

This is my eleventh new Toyota having previously owned 6 Corolla’s, 1 Avensis, 2 Starlets and now 2 Yaris’s. I use these as fleet cars covering up to 35000 miles per year. All cars have been totally trouble free until sold at around 135000 miles. My 05 Yaris 1ltr blue was no exception have covered 57000 in 2.5 years - needed no recalls or repairs. The only annoyance was engaging reverse from a standstill. The 08 Yaris TR is even better faster, roomier and trouble free at the current 38000 miles. 46 to a gallon. 1 minor comment: the rear bumper plastic mounts have proved a bit flimsy as a car park knock has left bits of broken plastic on the tarmac. Buy another? Yes, for the job this is used for, for myself, no I prefer my BMW 330 Sport and Porsche 911.

Responses to this review
Of course a BMW 330 and a Porsche do compare pretty much directly to a Toyota Yaris... Steve from Warwickshire

Toyota iQ Top spec manual 2009

Having put Toyotas perky little urban runabout to the test, I have to say that the only cloud on the horizon is the one threatening a deluge of dreadful puns. Perhaps they were asking for it by calling their car IQ. Starter for ten: why IQ? Well, it shows how clever its designers have been for one thing; for another, it shows how smart its owners must be in choosing the IQ over its rivals in this market niche. Not only that, you might argue that any car with ABS, EBD, TRC, GCSE (and bar) on offer, is well on the way to becoming a little mastermind all on its own. Don't worry if you can't decipher all those acronyms. Taken together, they simply mean that Toyotas bright sparks have been `hard at it` to provide a vehicle that smoothes away its owners worry lines - no need for Botox here. All the serious thinking has been done for you already. `Smart` isn't the word - literally - if you see what I mean. To get down to basics, the boffins at Toyota have asked themselves just what todays `here, there and everywhere` motorist really requires of a contemporary, no-fuss vehicle with economy, ease and space-saving functionalism as priorities. In a climate of concern, both environmentally and economically, it makes sense to downsize - not least because the grossly proportioned gas-guzzlers at the so called top end of the market are, more and more, attracting scorn; not admiration, with their appearances radiating all the stylishness of a shell suit stretched over a barrage balloon. Want to look `the business` today? Then look sensible. Look as though you have a rational brain. Think like a philosopher. Say to yourself: `I drive; therefore I am not an idiot. ` My choice will be - well, why not an IQ? Start with its looks. Yes, it does share a family resemblance to its competitors. But that's car design for you. Try to stand out too far in a crowd and you can end up looking like an Edsel, which as the initiated will know, is just another name for a prat. So, all cars partake of the form applicable to their time, if one may do violence to another clever thinker called Plato. (Your reviewer apologises for all these intellectual references: perhaps IQ is contagious). Of its kind, the Toyota IQ certainly, impresses. It has a cheeky charm. You look at it and smile. Most important, you want to get behind the wheel. Yes, you do. Another test to try: park the IQ anywhere where people are likely to be. Wait for a few moments. You won't have to wait for long. It's rather like being the owner of a particularly appealing pet. People come up, smile, say `Aaah! ` And want to take it home. So, the IQ quite decisively passes its SATS test: that is its STATIONARY ATTRACTIVENESS TARGET, for those unfamiliar with the jargon. Now open the door, climb in and take the IQ for a practical examination. How far does it tickle your fancy? It's really meant to be a two-seater most of the time, but when you do have to take two six-foot passengers (and you really can), they don't have to adopt yoga positions. But there's no room for anymore luggage than four toothbrushes and seven ham sandwiches with four aboard. Rear passengers must ensure that they wear cargo pants if going shopping in one of these. (Put down the seats though and there's room for the two of you and your pet hippopotamus). I tested all this by taking my six foot son and his pal Corpulent Christopher on a twenty mile trip. Settled on luxurious leather seats, not a murmur of discontent was heard as we bowled along the motorway absolutely effortlessly in a quiet cocoon that is truly remarkable for a small car: next to no wind noise, no rumbles, no buzzing from that little 1000cc three cylinders, 68bhp engine that would bring credit to a Swiss watch maker. And to cap it all there is absolutely no halitosis from the exhaust. Fragrantly fresh, the pollution levels are so low that the Ministry of Eternal Interference awards it such high status that no road tax is payable. This, of course, is positively shocking, since IQ owners are not paying their dues to the public purse. (A copy of this test will go straight to The Chancellor who will, no doubt, cleverly devise other ways to make these wicked pollution evaders pay. Hit `em hard, I say. Tax the `fun` element.). ` Oh! But it will obviously suffer from asthma and huff and puff up hills` I hear you say. Well, I'm pleased to report that it's as lively as a cricket: You don't have to thrash it to make it go: it just does; so consequently fuel consumption is good at around 62/63 mpg overall. There's a downside, of course, to all this magical packaging and cutting edge engineering constructed to the very highest standards, with its super safety courtesy of lots of airbags. Quite simply, it costs lots of money. Prices start at £9495 for the base model, rising to a breathtaking £11495 for the Multi Drive (Auto.) model with lots of extra kit. However, since I've mentioned philosophers earlier, I must continue in that vein and rationalise that one doesn't get a single malt whiskey for the same price as a Tesco blend, if you see what I mean. In town where it will spend much time, it out- zips most small cars and will turn on a sixpence - but strangely, it's out and about on the open road where you really appreciate this little gem. It reminded me of the fun I had in the original Mini when Queen Victoria was on the throne. It's a fun podule of the first order that whizzes along quietly, smoothly and briskly - and believe it or not, those Toyota magicians have even managed to make it ride like a bigger car. Perhaps I should have realised that the best has to cost and shouldn't have jibbed at the price after all. I've started, so now I'll finish....

Toyota Yaris D4D MMT 2006

Overall not a bad little car, very good ride for it’s size. The MMT gearbox takes a little getting used to but so far has performed well. Not as economical as Toyota would have you believe but that’s true of most cars. I have suffered a few niggles, failed alternator at 31k, seat handle broken, have just had 3rd windscreen put in... Is that bad luck or are they getting thinner? Air con appears to need regassing after 2 years. So overall, recommended.

Toyota Yaris 5 door 2009

I too purchased one of these abominations. I previously had the Yaris T Spirit which was really a great little car, large car feel and motored well, very easy to park, handling was good, the automatic unit compared to normal automatics of 5 years ago was slightly unpredictable... However no real complaints, so I upgraded to the latest Yaris... Big Mistake, far and away worst move I have made in my motoring life of 40 years, the auto and preselect gearbox for this new Yaris are appalling in every conceivable way. Before you consider buying it... drive it for at least 15 minutes. I am off to exchange it tomorrow on its 7th day with me... to hell with the cost, my nerves are more important.

Responses to this review

I totally agree with everyone who has had a problem with their Toyota Yaris. I bought a Toyota Yaris SR 2009 in May 2009 and by July 2009 I have had nothing but problems. It has constantly broken down, been repaired 4 times by the Toyota dealer and they can’t find the problem. New this and that has been fitted but still the problem is there. I say to anybody - go and purchase a car that can be reliable - Maureen Clarke from London

I am also hating the MMT 2009 Yaris. I bought it on the scrappage scheme, trading it in for my beloved ten year old automatic Corolla, which still drove like a dream. I am rueing the day I did this. Definitely the worst car I have ever bought, and the first time I have bought a new one - I thought it would see me through several years, but I am not sure I can handle it much longer. The constant lurching at low speeds as it changes gear at the most bizarre and inappropriate moments really does make me nauseous. And does anyone else find the braking unpredictable. Sometimes too sharp, sometimes nothing there. How did the exchange for a new car go? Did they make any concessions for your dissatisfaction? I am considering doing the same - Maggy Sasanow from Oxfordshire

Toyota Yaris 2009

What a load of old c**p that guy is talking! I have driven a Yaris for the past ten years and have had no problems at all. I found them excellent, in fact a very reliable little car. I am about to purchase another and I certainly wouldn’t drive anything else. I’ve had French cars previously which were a load of tinny rubbish.

Responses to this review
I didn’t know that the Yaris had been out for for ten years? Peter Kenrick from Yorkshire

Toyota Yaris SR 1.3 2008

Had this car a year, nothing good to say about it at all, OK... you can get out of it! How anyone in their right mind can say it is a good car astonishes me. Over rated by people who do not know what a good car is like to drive. Gearbox, clutch, brakes all dreadful beyond words, and that is just the start. The only thing it has not yet done is break down but it feels like it will do soon. If you have any sense DO NOT BUY! Go for a Ford, Vauxhall, VW, Mazda, Renault, Honda... FORGET TOYOTA if you know what is good for you!

Toyota Yaris 2008

I bought my Yaris in september 2008 and am really pleased with it - or was! An annoying squeak which has driven me mad since purchase and which when I asked about it turns out to be a fault that cannot be remedied! It appears to be something to do with the air con and appears at 3000 revs (about 40 miles an hour). This means that it is there most of the time ! Given that Toyota knew about it why did they not tell me! recall would have been a good idea.The excuse was that only some models have this! anyone else noticed this?

Toyota Corolla Estate 2004

I have owned my Corolla Estate for just over three years now, this is the best car I have ever owned, very reliable and comfortable. The security is fantastic as the doors actually double lock. All door windows are electric and electric mirrors. This car handles very well on the road, loads of luggage space, also has split rear seats very handy, has been very useful over the years. All in all, if you need a decent versatile vehicle that is a stunner to look at this is the one for you. There is not that many good looking estate cars out there but this one is nice!!

Toyota Prius T Spirit 2007

I bought this car less than two years ago. I recently decided to ask how much I could expect for a part exchange to the new model (main Toyota dealer). My loss over 18 months was £10000. My car had 12000 miles from new. If this is Toyota then for me its thank you but no thank you.

Toyota Camry 1998

I bought the Camry last year (2008) for the princely sum of £350 with 124000 on the lock. Cost £150 to get it through MOT. It’s great to drive. The auto box is smooth. The car has a luxury feel with full leather, electric every thing and it all works which must be testament to Toyota engineering. Makes a nice subdued growl when floored and it is fast. Only criticism is that it is quite boring to look at. Could do with a spoiler to jazz it up. For the money, it’s excellent value.

Toyota Yaris 1.3 Petrol 5-speed Manual 2008

I bought a 1.3 petrol Yaris about 1 year ago. 5-speed manual. We have done about 11000 miles in it so far in Christchurch, New Zealand (similar conditions to England). No problems at all with the car, except for a bit of free play on the clutch pedal (not worth fixing). The clutch doesn’t judder and no problems with the gearbox, easy to engage all gears. Toyota dealer in Christchurch has been very good, although I haven’t needed them to actually fix anything. We use the car for round-town family transport for a family of 4, although we live about 3 miles out of town so it gets driven at 65mph each time we go out. For the size of car there is a lot of space, especially in the back with the rear seats back. This is how we leave the car all the time. Boot space is very small but will fit the kids school bags or some groceries. This model is only sold with 1.3 or 1.5 petrol engine in New Zealand (with limited run of the 1.8 sports model). The 1.3 petrol is OK, with powerband between 3000 and 6,000 rpm. It’s actually OK for overtaking on open road as long as you shift down to 3rd and keep the revs up. Below 3000rpm there isn’t much torque but the engine is smooth and OK for driving quietly around town below 3000 rpm. Despite some earlier comments here, handling is relatively good compared to other small cars and ride is quite good, overall a good compromise IMO. A sports car it ain’t, but if you want a shopping trolley or economic small family car that still has some room, I’ve found it to be quite good.

Toyota Aygo Platinum 2008

Bought car May last year. I thought it was a great little car until May this year then found water sloshing around the passengers footwell. It was retuned to dealers who fitted a new door seal, do not know if it is cured as we have very little rain. I am very surprised Toyota have let this problem go on so long when it is quite a well known problem. Will not be buying another!

Toyota Aygo Sport 2005

Not doing so well, bought the car from a leasing company with 9,388 on the clock. I have had to have the light reset for the air-bag and I have just hit 10510 miles and the engine has now locked on me and am now in a battle to get the garage to pay for the repair.

Responses to this review

I have only done 7,000 miles in my Aygo, black, year 2006, now the airbag light has flashed and is costing £260.00 to get fixed - Nina Taylor from Cheshire

Toyota Hiace petrol 2.7litre 2001

The Toyota Hiace is a great van. In 8 years of ownership no repairs other than normal maintenance have been needed. The only thing it falls down on is the front suspension ball joints which seem to wear very quickly. However, some MOT inspectors will fail on this and some will not because the weight of the van takes up the play.

Toyota Auris 1.6 MMT 2008

The Auris is a great car - no problems with my Auris.

Toyota Aygo 2008

The Toyota Aygo with Variable Selection (Auto/Manual) is a neat, nippy number which serves all of my purposes very well. It may look small, but it is surprisingly roomy in the back. I’ve had my son who is six feet plus and his partner in the back and they did not complain at the shortage of leg room. The boot can be quite spacious too, as long as no one is sitting in the back seats. By that I mean that to get any bulky item in the car, the back seats need to be put in the flat position. Then ample space is provided for. The car is a dream to drive, the only negative point I feel, is that when going up a steep hill, the car doesn’t have the power to climb easily. Other than that it is a dream drive. Very economical, about 61 mpg and that can’t be sneezed at in these economic conditions. Easy on the road tax and insurance group too. It also has a good sound system, which is important to me as I do like my music when I drive. I have have had no problems with reliability, always starts first time of asking. The security of the car can’t be faulted. To conclude, it is a neat, nippy number, economical on the pocket and easy on the ears. I’ve had the car over one year and no complaints from me.

Toyota Prius T4 2007

This is not a drivers car, but with today’s traffic that’s not important. It’s a very relaxing car to drive in the rush hour, good sound system, and quiet. Economy depends on length of journeys, the weather, whether it is very hilly, and obviously speed. On my daily commute I get 60mpg in summer, 55 in winter. I’ve never averaged below 50 on a tank, even with motorways.

Toyota Yaris 1.33 SR 2009

A classic example of cynical manipulation of the tax system. Create a car that can return less than 120g on the formal test cycle but which has virtually no usable power in normal use. So it has to be drive incredibly hard and delivers none of the advertised savings in the real world. There is simply no power at all below 3000 rpm. The 1.33 engine is fairly quiet at tickover but raucous in normal use. Also not that economical, returning about 35 mpg, and in that respect no advance over the earlier 1.3 Gearchange now much improved over earlier models and now merely poor. The crazy boot arrangement has been changed by removing the false floor so now the floor area has a large lip in it! Other Yaris traits remain, poor build quality and rattling trim, scattered unlit controls, still no heated mirrors. Spec is now even lower than before. Very easy to get 20% plus discounts and even at that price this is not a good buy.

Toyota Prius T4 2009

I rented one of these cars for a weekend. It is so different from the norm that a 30 minute test drive proves nothing. This is not a driver’s car - if you want feel and dynamic handling then look elsewhere. For fuel economy though it is pretty good. I averaged 53mpg on a mix of driving. Round town averaged about 57 (though very thirsty on a cold engine). Motorway MPG is a very disappointing 40. I think the acceleration is deceptive - because it is so smooth and there is no link between road speed and engine revs you are accelerating much quicker than you realise. I enjoyed our weekend together and the car has a lot of good points but I don’t think I will be buying one.

Toyota Aygo 2006

I bought the Aygo Sport edition March 2006 from brand new for reliability after countless problems with my Peugeot 206. Problems this car has had: - Large puddles of water in the passenger footwell when it rains -- Needed a replacement exhaust after it was hanging off (although the rude sales man laughed it off and just said I needed a silencer at first) - Countless new tyres although my mileage is not excessive - When it’s windy because it’s tall but light it gets blown from lane to lane - Latest problem is I can’t get it into gear without using all my force, really dangerous when it’s motorway driving. Like someone else has said it is easy on petrol and tax (my annual tax is £35) but when you have to pay for regular new tyres it isn’t such an economical choice.

Toyota Corolla Verso 1.8 T3 2005

Have this family car on a 4 year lease. Comes to an end later this year. Have had no problems at all - Solid, reliable car and have used the 3rd row of seats on quite a few occasions. Ideal for kids. One word of warning - the cover over the boot is a right pain to take out when you use the 3rd row. When I went to car showrooms, I did wonder why this was seldom in place. The only other bug bear is the poor turning circle - not great. One extra I would recommend is the Rear Parking Sensors - makes parking very easy. Really going to miss this car when the lease is up. Will I get another - perhaps.

Toyota Aygo Toyota Black 2006

For the amount you pay and for what you get the Toyota Aygo is value for money. Although there’s major cut backs on the inside, at least it’s an honest car, and what you see is what you get, unlike the Yaris which to mean just seems cheap and nasty for a more expensive price. I think the only downside is the engine. The Aygo is not designed for motorways or even steep hills, you’ll be forced into second just to get some power out of it, and hill starts are a nightmare. For what it’s designed for, the school run, weekend shopping, and cheap city transport it’s excellent and you really couldn’t go wrong.

Toyota Yaris 1.3TR 2008

Dreadful in almost every respect. Has a fair degree of space but can’t be regarded as a true four seater as the boot is so poor. Bodywork OK but inconsistent shut lines and paint below average. Ridiculous ride and handling compromise, it has taken real skill to build something that handles so badly and yet rides so poorly too. Extremely poor seats with little adjustment. Noisy and unrefined engine delivers very little in the way of performance and yet is thirsty. Really poor gear change and snatchy clutch. Not particularly reliable and dealers rarely deliver a first time fix or anything notable in the way of service. Would not recommend.

Toyota Aygo 2006

I bought my Aygo in March 06 since then it has caused nothing but problems! It is now in the garage for the 5th time due to a water leak in both passenger front and rear footwells and the boot. It has also been in for a new boot lock, 2 new radiators a new clutch, 2 full sets of tires and brakes!!!! This car is nothing but a nightmare and I would NEVER recommend an Aygo or Toyota ever again. It’s such an inconvenience both to me and the fact I now have a 16 week old daughter who is having to be driven around in a damp, smelly car!!! It’s rubbish.

Toyota Yaris 2008

I’ve replaced my ’54 reg. Yaris diesel manual with an ’09 reg. Yaris diesel MMT (auto with 6 gears). I’m very pleased with the vehicle and gearbox. I read the reports here and so was unsure whether the MMT was a good idea. However, it works well with the diesel engine. The gearbox can still be used as a manual and I find this necessary for overtaking. Otherwise the auto mode makes life very easy.

Toyota Yaris 1.3TR 2008

Shocking little car, a triumph of hype over ability. Badly thought out and badly designed, noisy engine needs to be thrashed to keep up with traffic and then burns enormous amounts of fuel and oil. Badly designed interior and acres of cheap plastic lead to creaks and rattles from new. Poor load space, sliding rear seat means minuscule boot and some rear leg room or no leg room and small boot! Gearbox poor, snatchy clutch now so commonplace it is regarded by Toyota dealers as a feature. And a great urban myth is that Toyota dealers care in any way for customers. They don’t - in any way whatsoever! Avoid - there are many many better small cars and almost all cost less.

Toyota Avensis Hatchback 2003

On my second Avensis now - great car, great looks, plenty of gadgets inside. Albeit road noise at certain speeds... but apart from that very comfortable, safe and a great family car... no regrets.

Toyota Yaris Yaris TR 1.3 2008

Bought car with 2800 miles and wondered why a private owner would sell so quickly. Perhaps the gearbox. This one has all the clutch / gearbox faults already mentioned PLUS it touches another gear when entering fifth gear. If rolling back on a slight incline in first the gear locks & the only way to release it is to drive forwards a little.Toyota dealer in Aberdeen has replaced clutch & gearbox parts & after contacting Toyota they have agreed there is a problem which they are working on. A good car spoiled. I hope they do something soon.

Responses to this review
After umpteen visits to Aberdeen agents, who have been very good, they on my persistance have checked out the clutch settings e.g. grip points etc., and the car is now better but still graunchy on selecting 1st and still jamming in first and reverse if you let the car’s weight roll it still in gear with the clutch fully depressed. I have not heard of anyone else with this problem? - Jack Blease from Aberdeenshire

Toyota Hiace 2.4 diesel 2001

Had this van new from 2001. Very reliable van, no problems at all. Made much better than Fords,Vauxhall etc... Engine inside this van is made to last, same engine as used in the Hilux pick up truck they tried to destroy in Top Gear but couldn’t. Also this van is massive in Africa and Asia as it just keeps on going. Buy a Hiace if you want a super workhorse.

Toyota Auris 1.6 TR 2007

Full of rattles and squeaks. Needed new clutch after 15000 miles. Has had TWO replacement power steering motors. Fuel economy dropped noticeably after 1st service. Replaced gear lever gaitor (old one squeaked). Front passenger seat belt receptacle mounting squeaks - replaced once, now has to be lubricated as replacement also squeaked. I would NOT recommend this car to anyone.

Toyota Yaris 1.3TR 2008

As I said in my earlier post we would try and get another SR when the facelift model came out, however now having seen one, they don’t have the 16" wheels and don’t look as good so we went for the slightly cheaper TR model to replace our older colour collection. Jim Walton in Penrith had a ex demo that had been in his showroom since January that had very low mileage and looked like brand new. We got a very good trade in price so a deal was quickly made, a roof spoiler fitted and we now have the SR and TR in our lane. So far it seems fine, as good as the SR in every respect except for the gear change. It feels like it stirring porridge and nearly always crunches going from first to second. maybe its newness and needs time to settle in. Maybe its the way we both drive it, seems odd when the SR doesn’t do it, however another great little car and if the problem persists then I’m sure Jim Walton will soon sort it out for us. Just for the record we only lost £3000 on the older car that we part-exchanged in - in over three and a half years. They really do hold their value well.

Responses to this review
Just a quick update to our first report on our Yaris TR and its gearbox problems (20/4/2009). I got back in touch with our dealer (Jim Walton in Penrith) shortly after we had taken delivery and told them of the problems we were having - ie, crunching from 1st to 2nd. James in the service department told me he had not heard of any such problems but would look into it and let me know but for now just put up with it until he could sort out a solution. A few months went by and then one morning he rang to say that Toyota had sorted the problem and that it would be fixed. After a three hour visit and new gear selector shafts all is well. I don’t think there is a general recall but just go and see your dealer. No problem at all now - David Chorlton from Cumberland

Toyota Aygo Platinum 2008

I bought my Aygo last August and don’t have many complaints about it. No faults at least, but the cutting cost measures done by Toyota do irritate me at times. Such as only having the courtesy light from the driver’s door, not having lighting on the electric windows (have to fumble around in the dark for the buttons), the courtesy light does not illuminate when you unlock the car, getting the advertised mpg is tricky - or at least my driving style doesn’t allow me 60mpg more like 35-51mpg! It varies so much simply because if you drive under 70mph it is fine the moment you take it over that it gets very thirsty! However it is not designed for speeding; obviously. The air conditioning likes petrol too - at a level that you would expect. I bought this car mainly because I wanted something that wouldn’t cost me much to insure but also I wanted some modern touches (eg mp3 jack), leather (like) seats, would be cheap to run and look okay - albeit a little girly. I didn’t mind paying a little bit more for it in the purchase price, even though I think I got a good deal at just under £8k including all the normal dealership things: tax disc, some petrol, rubber floor mats. Now with this recession I would think it is worth about 5p though! I didn’t get the bluetooth extra as I was told it was the same as the Halfords version, only £200 more expensive and has a Toyota emblem on it! I didn’t bother to get the Halfords one because after using my satnav bluetoothed with my phone I decided it was pointless. The person you are talking with can’t hear you if you are going over 50mph! I have done about 12500 miles in it, in just under 9 months and I have never needed to take it to the garage for any problems. It had its 10000 miles service a little while ago and nothing was flagged up. I think I will have to change the front tires in about 2000 miles time though. Very narrow tires are not so good for going fast round corners even if you feather the accelerator as you still lose rubber. It will only cost around £60 for two new tires so I am not too bothered - yes continental tires, I wouldn’t buy any of the Chinese tires that are on the market - very dangerous in the wet. I like the sound of the exhaust I sometimes get surprised looks when they see it isn’t a better, faster car. You can tell as they turn enthusiastically to look at the car making the decent sounding noise but then when they see the girly car: apathetic disappointment look on their faces. After they see what it was they don’t think that your car was worthy of the look. I wouldn’t buy anything in this price bracket other than a manual gear box.

Toyota Picnic 2.0 petrol 1997

Yep, got to agree. I bought a used one, having previously owned an expensive VW Sharan (Galaxy). The Sharan was great to drive but incredibly unreliable. It cost me nearly £20,000 in servicing/repair bills during its lifetime. And the fuel consumption was dismal. I got the Picnic in the hope that it would provide similar practicality on a budget and it hasn’t disappointed. The 6 seat layout is great and unique in an MPV of its size. It is so much more convenient to let kids climb in and walk to the rear seats through the gap in the centre row, rather than having to tip the centre seats forward all the time. It has been utterly reliable and very economical. Only problem is the engine is worn out at 140,000 miles (lots of small trips). I can’t find any modern MPV to replace it. Even the Avensis Verso doesn’t live up to it. So I’ve bought a low mileage engine which I’ll install when the existing one expires.

Toyota Yaris 2008

Absolutely love the car, except for the gear box. I am having difficulty with 3rd and 4th gears. The problem is intermittent and tends to happen when the car has warmed up. Sometimes I can’t get it in 3rd gear and have to quickly put it into 2nd and 4th gear is very notchy and you think it’s in 4th but there’s one notch to go. I have only done 1000 miles so far. I thought it was my driving that was the problem until I started to research and found all the other complaints. I have taken it back to the dealers twice and each time they have said that they cannot find anything wrong. I am so disappointed and it has totally taken the enjoyment out of having a new car away. I prefer to drive my son’s X reg Clio and now wish that I’d spent £1000 on a car instead of £10,000!

Toyota Aygo Sport 2006

We bought this car as a city run around at the same time as buying a Mazda 6 estate. In terms of meeting and exceeding expectations between the two cars then the Aygo wins hands down. Not that the Mazda is a bad car, just that I expected more from it. The ride can be a bit hard, the boot button release sticks and I’m going to have to change the front brake discs and pads after just 18K miles but apart from that the Aygo is a great car to drive.

Toyota Yaris 2009

Traded down from a Corolla to the Yaris and not disappointed. I expected this to be a "tinnier" car than the Corolla but pleasantly surprised. Still a nice roomy car and adequate for the annual mileage I cover. Excellent mpg even with only 1500 miles on clock. The gears were initially awkward to engage (2nd & 3rd) but even this seems to be easing now - perhaps the warmer weather helps (I took delivery in January). A good little car.

Toyota Picnic gls 2000

I completely agree. I’ve had two, one from 1993 to 1995 (R Reg) when it got carried away in the same floods that did for Carlisle, so I got another! V reg. Its remarkably good to drive, smooth and comfortable, very reliable, and no rattles or clanks even at 90k miles, and virtually no rust at 10 years. The room in the 6 seater is ideal for transporting teenagers and twenty-somethings - no fights over seats. Dad’s taxi...

Toyota Aygo 2006

We had our Aygo for just a year, when we first got it it had 15000 miles on the clock and already it had bald tyres, which incidentally Gordon Lamb who we purchased the car from, failed to notice and sent us away with them when we bought it. Since then it has had to have the passenger side leaking door seal replaced, as it was leaking water into the car, the clutch was replaced at 19000 miles and an ’updated version ’ put in, then two weeks ago the radiator and water pump decided to pack in, leaking pink coolant all over the inside bonnet... the engine on the Aygo is good as its Toyota, the rest I’m afraid is rubbish, we went for Toyota as we had had a Carina E for thirteen years and it only ever needed routine maintenance and a radiator, in all that time. The fact that the three companies have tried to keep down costs is obvious as the car parts are substandard. It may be cheaper to run , with petrol and tax but you end up paying much much more on repairs and tyres. We now have a Mitsubishi, Toyota you just lost a customer.

Toyota Yaris .5 gas 5 door LE

OK...I don’t live in Wales but I have family there... I’m from Winnipeg Canada... it gets colder than hell here (-40c for weeks on end) and my new Yaris has been flawless. My only complaint is the tires it came with are nearly useless in the snow. It is March 29th and we had about 30 cm in the past couple of weeks so I have had to leave the Yaris in the garage. Once the snow is packed (or melted) it’s OK though. I average 38 mpg imperial (city) and 45 imperial mpg (highway). I have the automatic transmission. We use it for running to and from the cottage (250 km east) every weekend when we can get away.

Toyota iQ iQ2 2008

Positives: Excellent build quality, good safety rating, 0 tax bracket. Negatives: The mpg sucks in real driving environments; no where near manufacturers figures.

Toyota Aygo Blue 2008

I bought my car Sept 2008. I had two months before my granddaughter told me that the boot would not lock!!!! I had never checked it as I thought that it would be locked when I pressed the key. I had only checked the doors!! The garage told me that a wire had never been connected to lock!! Then a few weeks ago my passenger floor was wet after it had rained. Back to the garage in Cliftonmoor, York. 12th of March 09 I was asked "Had I been parking it with the two left side wheel on the pavement!!!!!!!!" Of course I had not, but even if I had it should not leak in. The man that fixed it for me said that it was a reported fault!!! While I was there I met a friend who told me that her same car was in as the glove box kept falling open. I wish that I had looked on the internet before I bought it!!!!!! My other car was a Yaris Verso and was OK.

Toyota Picnic glx auto 1997

I agree, I have lots of cars but this one is really good for families. Reliable, fuel consumption is OK but going to be green dreamers car. Lots of space inside, comfortable and easy to drive. OK, it is not a stylish motor but hey, its a good work-horse and will be a faithful servant. Auto box is easy to use on stick/column gear change. I have seen motors with over 200,000 miles and still going strong. I’d buy one of these again before buying another people carrier. Its a no frills reliable motor.

Toyota iQ 2008

£9500 - £11000 for an iQ - are Toyota are having a laugh? For similar money you can buy a Fiat 500 multijet which is quicker, more economical, better spec. etc... and most certainly better looking. Anyone paying those prices must have fallen out of their tree. OK, the 500 is marginally longer - so what? If you don’t want the car of the moment why not try a panda for half the money? I’ve had a 500 for a year and the build quality is bullet proof. Get real Toyota - £8000 list max??????

Toyota Yaris 1.4 SR Petrol 2008

I absolutely despair! Having had to upgrade from my awful brand new Aygo for many reasons and because I was on a finance deal, I can honestly say how completely disappointed I am with my Yaris SR. From new the gears have been difficult, 1st and reverse mainly. I get water running down the inside of the windscreen in cold weather. The engine is not that quiet and doesn’t start very well, though so far it has always started. The handling in the recent snowy weather was terrible and I found it difficult to get grip on even a slight incline. The brakes have been making a roaring noise just like normal car brakes make when rust builds up on the discs but the dealer says this is normal!!! The car was in my main dealers for a week while they tried to diagnose all the problems. They changed the clutch which is no better, the gearbox now crunches every time I go into 2nd gear in the morning despite the dealer changing the oil to a thinner special oil. They did fix the engine squeak by replacing the belts... it has only done 3500 miles! If I could sell the car or get my money back I would. I just cannot understand how Toyota has every got its reputation for good cars. I want my Renault Clio 1.6 back, at least if worked and when parts were replaced, it still worked! And it never broke down or failed to start. There are many other faults with the Yaris but there is simply not enough room here to list them. The dealer has tried hard but Toyota have failed even harder. I will never buy another Toyota and can’t believe the people who love them... doesn’t make sense. Sorry, but having had 2 Toyota’s in less than 4 months, I give up hope. If I could give it NO stars I would but this site doesn’t allow such a low rating.

Toyota Aygo Aygo Blue 2008

Guess I’m luckier than others, the Aygo has been out in the worst of weather this winter, snow, torrential rain etc. for months because garage is full - no leaks, no problems with icing. MMT gearbox is superb in auto (best if throttle slightly relaxed when change expected or not rushed anyway). If in a hurry use manual mode where it’s great fun to drive and the engine is really revvy. It doesn’t change down to 1st in auto mode until about 1mph which is perfect. Getting over 55mpg every fill up. Cheap to run, tax and insure - this is a great little car. Highly recommended.

Toyota Aygo 2008

Purchased my second Aygo in September and have had nothing but problems. Carpets have been replaced with the reassurance that the problem had been solved and guess what... It is back in the garage again tomorrow morning with water in both front wells and carpets soaking wet. I have also had problems with the inside freezing up inside. The car smells like a rotting damp sponge - would not buy or recommend Toyota - I wish I never bought one.

Toyota Prius 2007

Gets much worse fuel economy than other diesel variants available with a quarter of the power. Also, on electric its much easier to hear people yelling out "fag" as you drive through towns. All in all its not green in the least.

Toyota Hiace 102bhp D4D, Twin side loading doors 2002

Always had Mercedes, but went over to Toyota. Brilliant van, comfortable and economical (25 -29mpg fully loaded). I actually like the basic simplicity of the van, as a mobile mechanic it is very easy to keep interior clean with out the worry of damaging electrics. Also the van is robust and it’s rear wheel drive!! If you carry heavy loads, you’ve got to own a rear wheel drive van. Another little feature is the 2 position tail gate struts, allows you to raise the tailgate out of the way, which you can’t do on a Vito. Brilliant, no-nonsense van.

Toyota Hilux 2008

It’s every boys dream, whether they like to admit it or not, to drive a pick-up. Partly inspired by "living the American dream" of throwing a rucksack and a couple of fishing rods in the back of the truck and heading off into the wilderness for a weekend fishing camp; and partly by the notion of being able to chop down trees, dig holes, chuck tools in the back, and generally look like a roughty toughty tree surgeon type. If you live in the UK the chances are that your dream pick up is the doyen of it’s class, the Toyota Hilux. The Hilux has a reputation, and quite rightly so, for being the roughest, toughest, gruffest piece of metal ever formed into a utility vehicle. A few years ago Mitsubishi, realising that they could never out-do Toyota in the working pick up stakes, moved the goal posts and set a trend for a fashionable new style of pickup with the L200. With an advertising campaign aimed at prizing young professionals out of the seats of their sports cars and into something different (their TV ads featured beautiful people riding jet-skis straight onto the back of an L200) yuppies up and down the country were ditching their BMW M3’s in favour of the more rugged, go anywhere, do anything Mitsubishi L200. Whilst all of this was going on Toyota never ventured off of the path - they kept on making the same brutally rugged work truck. They stuck to what they were good at, and they kept their place at the top of the monkey tree. Then it all changed. For some reason, totally beyond my comprehension, Toyota changed tack and the Hilux metamorphosed into one of the new generations of "lifestyle" truck, just like the L200. Why? Why would they do that? It’s a little like overpainting the Mona Lisa with a ridiculous clown smile just to keep her "fresh" and "modern". The same fantastic performance levels are still there, but buried deep underneath a fashionable space age looking façade. The new Hilux doesn’t look like a work truck any more. Scratches, scrapes, and dents suited the old style Hilux, they looked like they were meant to be there - a little like an eye-patch on a pirate, or a red tie on a conservative MP. I can’t imagine being happy with even the slightest scratch on the new Hilux. At the first sign of a blemish I’d be straight down to the guys at the Plastic Surgeon for an invisible repair before I was hit with insomnia and fits of v omitting (please note the very deliberate plug for Sean Taylor and Rob Mouser of The Plastic Surgeon!). Once you’re behind the wheel of the new Hilux Invincible though, everything changes. Sat up in the cab you forget that you’re behind the wheel of one of the worlds best 4x4’s. The sumptuous leather, host of gadgets, minimal engine noise, and ample sound system all lead you to believe that you’re in a rather pleasant saloon; A BMW 3 series maybe, or the Saab 9-3. On the motorway the Invincible was, well, invincible. Acceleration was positive, and it sat quite comfortably at the maximum speed limit on Britain’s roads of 70 mph (which I obviously never exceed, even when test driving a new Porsche!) Around town the Hilux Invincible was easy to manage. Superb visibility combined with a good steering lock and more than a little luck meant that I could reverse into parking spaces without so much as a bead of sweat showing on my ever enlarging forehead. Then I got a little carried away, and in my not too wise wisdom decided to head out onto the farm to have a bash at the deeply rutted and very steep woodland rides cut into the hillside by the Dartmoor National Park Authority. My excitement was rapidly building as the Invincible made the journey through the narrow country lanes an interesting pleasure. I was almost disappointed as I pulled up at the top of the farm driveway. Heart pounding and breathing like a telephone pervert I slipped her into full four wheel drive for the next part of the journey. We crossed the flat field with ease - mind you, even the BMW X3 could have made the trip without a slip so it’s hardly worth writing home about. A little mud splattered the sides of the immaculately shiny Hilux as we (me and "her" - "her" being the car) powered through a small stream and up over the grassy bank beyond. Hmmm - I’m not so sure that even the slightest bit of mud suits this new generation of Hilux; I had to get out and wipe it clean! The M5 was a distant memory as we powered up and around the steep woodland rides which are usually the domain of quad bikes or tracked forestry vehicles. She took the tight, twisting bends in her stride, the one slight fault being user error rather than any failing on my part. Time flew by, and before I knew it, two hours had passed and I was leaning on the closed gate at the bottom of the hill sharing a flask of coffee with the farmer (who very kindly pointed out more than a few bramble scratches - Plastic Surgeon here we come!) The Toyota Hilux Invincible that I tested, along with every other Hilux in the range, is still that superbly performing 4x4 that I love; it just happens to be hidden behind a pretty mask. It’s a fantastic bit of kit, but I still wouldn’t want to use it as an every day work truck.

Toyota Yaris 1.33 TR 2009

Just bought a 2009 Yaris with the new 1.33 petrol engine and 6 speed gearbox. Incredibly quiet engine, has new ECO drive facility that allows for the engine to shut off when idling at traffic lights or in stationary traffic. Increadible that Toyota have made a car that has 100bhp engine and yet still comes in at 120 g/km CO2 so is taxed at £35. In general I am really impressed with the car. Very comfortable, I am just over 6ft and so small cars can be a bit cramped. Really good driving position and front visibility is on a par with that of my Mazda 5 (MPV). Great basic spec, including a/c and handy AUX IN for MP3 player. Steering mounted controls and also the funky heads up central digital dash display that is a feature of the Yaris (and Prius). I am very pleased with the car. The discounts available make it very competitively priced too.

Toyota Yaris 1.8 SR 2008

Good fast small car, no problems yet.

Toyota Avensis Tourer 2.0 D4D T3-S 2003

Bought second-hand about 18 months ago. I can say that the car is extremely practical, cheap to run (50 mpg) cheap to insure (group 8) and is well equipped (SatNav as standard). The bad news is that it has been more problematic than the 1997 Vauxhall Vectra Tourer that I had for the ten years previously. Despite the fact it has a full service history (for now) I have had to replace both front shock absorbers (£250), Front Wheel Bearing (£80), Headlight Assist - known design fault (£65 for non original unit, plus you have to remove the bumper and headlight to change a bulb) and it has a dead spot at between 2000 and 2600 revs when warm. I have owned two cars for almost ten years before changing them but I don’t see myself owning this one for more than three years (regardless of credit crunch). I do like the Avensis , but I must say that Toyota’s reputation for reliability has to be questioned.

Toyota Aygo 2008

Water was sloshing about in the back footwells - back to garage to have speakers resealed and a dry out. Condensation a nightmare on front windscreen and rear side windows. Ice on inside of windscreen. I bought for reliability; think it might have put me off Toyota now. Only the excellent service from the dealership would change my mind.

Toyota Aygo 2008

My Aygo leaks. The nightmare comes true. After reading so many complaints about leaks in the Aygo and three months after I bought it , there’s water inside the car. I feel so sad. And also there’s more condensation inside the car that outside. I chose Toyota but now I’m disappointed. I Thought I had a great car but I was wrong. It’s not well made. They should have made it in Japan. It’s... a nightmare. I ’d like to change it for another car but I’m still paying the car. Could I do it? I’m so disappointed...

Toyota Yaris SR 1.4D 3dr 2008

This is the second Yaris in our household, the other being a 2005 1.3 colour collection. This one has been totally fault free in the four years we have had it. The SR 1.4D had a paint defect on it when we collected it brand new in October 2008 from Jim Walton’s in Penrith that we didn’t notice until the following day but it was quickly put right by having the front wing resprayed. Not the best of starts after a twelve week wait. However, it is a brilliant little car that is a very good all-rounder, fairly nippy and very good on fuel. Don’t believe the computer but check your mileage each time you fill up, ours is doing around 68 mpg on decent A roads. Also use decent diesel, not the supermarket rubbish, its makes the engine far quieter and smoother. The only real complaint we have is the way the boot is set up, throw out the false floor and secret compartments, wrap your wheel brace in a towel and stow it with the spare wheel and you have a boot you can use. With regard to the sat nav problems others have experienced all I can say is ours has been fine, CD player, radio and mobile phone are all good. To finish, we like the car so much that we tried to exchange our older one for another but all the SR’s have now gone or so our dealer tells me. Perhaps when the facelift model comes out next month we will try again, £35 road tax £120 insurance and 68 mpg. GO AND GET ONE!!

Responses to this review
Our SR 1.4D is now just over a year old and has been problem free the whole time. Still gleams like new after a good wash and is a delight to be in. Even the sat-nav system has worked well. The ride is a little on the firm side compared with the TR we have so Liz always grabs that so I’m left with the SR to play with. Still £35 to tax and over 60 to the gallon, carries my bike, dog and two sets of golf clubs when needed. A superb good looking all rounder. Service from Jim Walton of Penrith still exellent as always - David Chorlton from Cumberland

Toyota Avensis Hatchback 2006

This is my first Toyota bought from a local Toyota dealer. The car has done 40,000 miles. It looks in excellent condition with only one previous owner. I have had it for three weeks and I took it on it’s first long run today. The road noise over 45mph is very intrusive and when wet this gets significantly gets louder! Is there any way of dampening the road noise? The car otherwise is a joy to ride, very comfortable with lots of room but I will not be looking forward to long journeys!

Toyota Yaris 1.3 SR 2007

Oh dear, what a truly awful small car. I have returned to at least three Toyota dealers over the last year and a half. The first a nationwide multi-franchise dealer who claimed they could find no fault, bizarrely they then agreed the juddering clutch was a problem and presumably fitted a new clutch which is when the nightmare began. From that moment I had difficulty engaging reverse 2nd to 3rd gear and back down was troublesome. Dealer said he felt car was driving just fine so took it to a dealer in Cheshire who tried a number of things and agreed that there is an underlying clutch and gearbox problem with the Yaris - some customers experience it some don’t but they said that as soon as Toyota come up with a modification they will contact me... WHAT? Sadly I had to award the Yaris at least one star but the truth is it does not deserve any. The Toyota Yaris is not a good car... The whisper is getting louder. Tip - if you are going to buy a Japanese car do yourself a big favour make sure it is made in Japan.

Toyota Aygo Aygo Blue 2007

Just been into the garage for the second time. Water ingress yet again first time was hinges on rear door this time leaking through sockets on back door. Ices up inside when cold - Stone Age. Continental tyres have only done 7500 miles and wearing out very little use left. To get these sorted and checked by Continental I have to pay for two replacements first. Rear back tyre unevenly worn must be a car fault that one. Would never recommend one to anyone. Toyota dealership not what I would expect with Japanese car. Very disappointed. Was thinking of changing for a Yaris but will steer clear of Toyota I think.

Toyota Aygo 2008

Ice on inside of car on front screen problem. Never had this before on any car over the last 30 years. Has anyone else got this problem on their Aygo?

Toyota Yaris 1.3 SR 2008

I am SO disappointed with my Yaris 1.3 SR that I bought brand new in 2008. I am experiencing problems that I have never experienced with any other car in 22 years. The main issue is the gearbox, it is notchy and sometimes from a standstill I just cannot get into 1st gear or reverse and this has happened when I have just driven 50 miles or from cold. I have to pull away in 2nd. Dealer said they cannot find a problem with it. The engine is noisy and sometimes rattles like a diesel, doesn’t even start very quickly and sounds harsh and rattly when it fires up. The electric door mirrors do not heat up, the windows do not even clear of damp when you wind them down! The built in Tom Tom Sat Nav sometimes crashes, the boot is difficult to close, there is a creaking from the dashboard, the clutch clicks when you push it right down and you have to push it right down to change gear! and to start the engine. The rear seat headrests keep falling down, the glove box can be difficult to close and the dashboard plastics are appalling, the handling of the car in the wet is dangerous, the steering wheel controls for the radio are awkward to use and there is no mute apart from on the radio itself, the radio is difficult to tune in and even sometimes forgets the channels programmed in to it. The economy for a 1.3 is not good at about 40mpg, the fuel tank is ridiculously small for the size of car. The heater takes ages to warm up, the steering wheel cannot be adjusted high enough, despite the fact I have the seat lowered. I wish I had never bought the car, I never had ANY of these problems with my 1999 Renault Clio 1.6 in 9 years and it NEVER broke down. All I can think is that either the supposedly good reputation of Toyota Yaris is because the majority of people that buy it don’t use it much or don’t realise how much better other cars are to drive. I wish I could get all my money back and buy another Renault, Ford, Vauxhall, VW. As soon as I can I will be selling the Yaris and never buying another Toyota. What a load of absolute rubbish!

Toyota Yaris 1.0 Manual 2007

Great car, no problems at all. Got a Corolla Verso manual as well, ditto. I’ve just read and contributed to the reviews for that and I notice the same remarks damning the MMT automatics. Looks like Toyota MMT auto gearboxes are the problem not the models themselves. Again I’d definitely get another.

Toyota Hiace 2002

Had to use one occasionally at my old place of work. Very dated looking van inside and out, but it had 180,000 miles on it and performed perfectly, it was very comfortable and had enough power in it (d-4d model), unlike many of the newer diesels it had a good amount of torque at idle like the old transits, if the newer shape/facelift model has a new interior too its well worth a look. Just read about the faults with the equivalent transit, Vivaro, Transporter etc.

Toyota Aygo 2006

I bought this car in March 2008. Loved the look of the car when I bought it.... sounded great as had just sold my 1997 Fiesta so obviously ran smoother and the cheap insurance and car tax was a complete plus. On the down side the car sounds rubbish - when driving it’s like a grunting sound. I thought it was just me and my driving but reading other reviews I can see it’s not - maybe it’s the semi-auto that seems to have more of this problem. Yesterday night I noticed that there is ice in my car and my car is really bad at de-icing as well as de-misting. Wish I had brought a different car - and now with the credit crunch how likely am I to sell this!

Toyota Yaris 2001

I love my Yaris! It has never failed me once, and although it is a 2001 model, still looks good today. What a car!

Toyota Aygo 2008

I have had the Toyota Aygo black since last September and it is the best car I have ever had. It is cheap to run, comfortable, funny to drive, it is like a sports car sometimes and I like it. However, I’m scared about this car’s future because I’ve reading lots of reviews where people complain about water leaks in the car. I haven’t got any yet but tomorrow never knows. At the moment is a great car even it is small in size. Congratulations Toyota. It is the first car I have from Toyota and it goes on this way I’ll keep being a Toyota client.

Toyota Aygo 2008

Initially bought an Aygo Sport for my wife. I loved it so much I got one for myself. I particularly liked the zippy-ness of the car not to mention the grunt the little 3 cylinder has. I got myself the Aygo platinum with leather seats and bluetooth as an option. I honestly cannot express my content with the car. The handling is amazing (but was expected from a short & wide wheel base together with low weight). The only complaints I might have on the car, The courtesy light does not light up when a door other than the driver’s is opened (as such I seem to constantly forget the light on when I turn it on when accessing the car from the passengers door to access the glove compartment) and indeed the clutch does seem a bit weak for the amazing 3 cylinder engine. Seems to me the engine was underestimated when designing the clutch. It is a shame really as other than that i think it is the best car I have ever owned!

Toyota Yaris TR 2008

An appalling gear box - a disgrace to the Toyota marque. Gears are unreasonably stiff and hard to get - especially second and third. I end up going around corners in neutral as I cannot get into second gear. (Illegal?). It is much worse when the engine is cold. The whole box is very notchy. Local garage is trying to be very helpful and have not argued - they have changed the clutch and put in thinner grade oil - if anything second gear is now even worse. The garage says Toyota KNOW they have a problem (? new cables don’t work re the latest gear box) and are "working to solve the fault" - but it could take up to a year!! My car is now tagged for recall. In two months I have now developed what looks like arthritis in my left shoulder from ramming gears in over the last two months! As a pensioner I cannot afford to throw money at this. I am hugely disappointed and Toyota MUST come up with a solution. There must be scores out there in trouble with new Yaris gear boxes. I wish I’d never bought the car. Car magazines are going to pick this up and damn the Yaris - at a time when sales are falling of all new cars. Not very clever if Toyota do not get a move on and SOLVE this gear box problem - they will lose sales nationwide as knowledge of this spreads. They cannot afford this mess up. They must solve it and RECALL all 2008 models of the Yaris.

Toyota Aygo Aygo MMT 2006

Using the automatic (disabled driver) l find the gear change from 1st to 2nd rough, unpredictable and the worst auto box I’ve ever used. Occasionally moves from 3rd to 1st at about 25mph. I returned the car to the dealer but they claim that no fault exists?

Responses to this review
I have had similar problems. I now have to replace the trottle after only three years - May Evans from Dorset

Toyota Avensis Hatchback D4D TSpirit 2004

Good but flawed. Fuel consumption around 50 mpg (ignore trip computer - it’s way out). Great load carrier - front seats fold flat to reveal huge load area - watch out in rain though - drips fall into area when raise hatch. Lot of road noise and relatively hard ride. Front tyre wear high 12k - 15k miles. Good for cruising on motorway - relaxed and comfortable. High quality cabin and lots of kit although rain sensing wipers erratic. Electric leather seats less comfortable than cloth ones... Has been less than reliable though - least reliable Toyota ever owned. Replaced both rear hatch dampers, 2 headlight units - melted (also watch out for headlight bulb replacement may need removal of front bumper!), and ECU (at a cost of £1,200!!!) Read Toyota Owners forum, lots of similar complaints over reliability. Toyota Service Manager strongly advised purchasing extended warranty - and that wasn’t a sales pitch more out of sympathy and experience.

Toyota Auris TR 2008

I have recently been diagnosed as having MS and as I am now registered disabled. I was lucky enough to have the choice to acquire a new vehicle with a choice of thousands of cars on the motorbility scheme. The Toyota Auris was recommended to me and I am very pleased with the economy, comfort and quietness of the car. My requirements for any vehicle are governed by my disability coupled with a desire to be reasonably environmentally conscious. Economy is also a major consideration. The most interesting thing from my point of view was my decision on which vehicle to choose was governed by the efficiency and help from the garage from which we got the car. We were lucky enough to meet very helpful and competent service in every garage we tried. Although Damon at Toyota was very helpful and his kindness and efficiency definitely helped me decide on an Auris. I know nothing of cars but the Auris is comfortable, warm and easy to drive with plenty of storage. Just the job. As far as economy is concerned, we only took delivery last week, so it’s rather to early to give an opinion but if you believe the cars computer all seems set fair. Do buy an Auris for comfort, quietness and safety but try and buy and buy it from Damon at Toyota, St Leonards if you are looking for truthful, painless service.

Toyota Hiace Super Custom Limited 1994

What a motor. Having always been a Volvo driver I was dubious at buying this as a campervan version. I imported it from Japan and, with 19,000 miles on the clock at 14 years old, with no rust it was a steal of a bargain. The 2.8 diesel automatic is as smooth as silk, though quite sluggish. There is a turbo model available and worth the extra expense. Fuel economy is rather poor at 22mpg overall. Then again the campervan version weighs over 2 ton so not bad I suppose. The ride comfort is superb, like riding in an armchair. The position is good, high up, though I would have lied more in front of me. The handling is smooth and positive. Parts are readily available despite it being an import and quite old. Maximum waiting time is 2 days for all major bits. This is a vehicle that you change your driving habits with. You have to notch yourself down a peg and enjoy the ride.

Toyota Yaris 1.0vvti 3dr 2007

Toyota Yaris... Well, I bought a 2007 1.0vvt to replace my Mazda Demio and what a great car this is... I’m always amazed just how large the inside of this car is, the sliding back seat is fantastic and all small cars should have this feature, it always returns 50+mpg and looks great in silver... I have now covered 20000 miles and still looks like new and drives the same... Such a good car, I will replace it next year with a new one of the same... Toyota quality shines through!

Toyota Yaris SR 2008

Another Yaris gearbox fiasco. Having purchased a new SR in June 08, it has been plagued with problems changing into 2nd and 3rd gears when cold; almost as if the synco’s don’t exist. The dealer has changed the oil to a different type - no difference, rebuilt the gearbox and tried another different oil; a little better, but in their terms still buggered! The problem is now with Toyota customer care, who seem indifferent, but have admitted there is a problem. If you’ve got a similar issue call them and log a complaint.

Toyota Yaris 2008

I love the car except for the faulty gear box. The multi-mode gear box is certainly faulty and gets stuck on the transmission. It also jots at gear changes in particular at the lower gears levels. I have reported this to the service department, and they say the jolts are not a fault however the fact that they are gears are not getting stuck, is a fault and I am due to have it checked out. This is a brand new car and I feel very cheated and unhappy that this critical issue has taken away the joy of getting a new car. I am not sure what the outcome of the repairs will be, but I will always be left with ill feelings about this.

Responses to this review
I bought a Toyota Yaris 133 vvt and it lurches foward at every gear change - they said all the gearboxes do that, they advised me to try the deisel run car it was a little less pronounced but they want me to pay £2000+ extra. I insisted on my money back but the said they tested the car on the computer and there is no fault. Trading standards said I have rights of refund but another adviser told me that I have the option of taking them to court. The garage said they will take the car back but I will have to pay £1400 plus VAT and on top of that lose my car that I part exchanged - my Vauxhall Omega for which they gave me a measly £1000. The sales manager refused to put anything in writing, she also changes her offer and tries to talk over us - we feel like we are fobbed off - they are trying to break us down. Please advise - Cherryl Howard from Bedfordshire 18/09/2009

Toyota Yaris T Spirit D4D 2007

This is as much about the garage as the car. I’ve had 4 Yaris models (2 of the old type, petrol) and more recently 2 of the new D4D diesel models; I have changed cars every 18 months or so, for tax reasons more than anything else. The Yaris is comfortable, economical and easy to get in and out of, having a high roof line. Some people have criticised the new diesel models as having a juddering clutch - and this is true at times. But hey - no car is perfect and one can forgive minor problems if there’s a good local garage (WKB Waterlooville) to sort them out. Low tax of £35 per year, combined with 65mpg make this car a winner. I love the push-button keyless start system on my current T-Spirit. In the previous T3 model you had to put a key in, and the noisiest part of driving was the key jangling! I’d have another Yaris tomorrow if I could afford to replace it right now, but - being semi-retired - I might just get the new Toyota iQ. How they manage to get 4 seats in it escapes me...

Toyota Aygo Aygo Black 2007

I purchased my brand new Toyota Aygo Black in December 2007. I needed a small, economical to run car, no frills but reliable. The Aygo fitted the description perfectly. I loved the look of the Aygo Black and the interior was far superior to the VW Fox which was my other option. However 4 weeks after purchase the problems began! The screeching noise from the brakes was deafening, the front passenger door creaked loudly and dropped slightly when opening and I was sure it was leaking in rain. On returning it to the dealership I was told that I had worn out all 4 brake pads (I had done 300 miles!) and that there was nothing wrong with the door but they had oiled it anyway. Months passed and new faults began to emerge! The glove box door falls open every time I go over a bump, both doors leak and recently when I went to a hand car wash we got so wet sat inside the car that the guy with the pressure hose give us a towel to dry off! Returning the car again to the dealer they replaced the glove box door and told me there was nothing wrong with the door seals and not to use a pressure washer on it again! The new glove box door is even worse than the old and I now have a puddle of rainwater in each foot well. The gear box is sloppy and sometimes dangerous and the mpg advertised can only be achieved if you never exceed 30mph! All in all very disappointed. Since purchase I have read many similar reviews. Shocking that Toyota aren’t doing something about this.

Toyota Land Cruiser LC3 2003

Had the car from new... nearly 5 years and I normally change my car after 3!! Build quality unrivalled, and despite its size very easy to drive round town aided by the excellent auto gearbox. Service from Toyota far better than I’ve received from other manufacturers, and only one central locking issue requiring attention since new. It may not be as refined as an X5, Disco or Lexus but for value for money, reliability and presence it cant be beaten. Well done Toyota.

Toyota Camry 3.0 v6 1996

Bought my car with 160000 miles on the clock. Drove it for 10000 miles and it never failed me once. Extremely reliable and a very hushed engine. The engine almost caught me out on a few occasions as I thought the car would be off while it was idling. Very spacious and well equipped. I plan to trade it in for a used Lexus ls400 now with similar mileage.

Toyota Prius 2005

Absolutely the worst handling car I’ve ever driven, it is ugly, the steering has no feel and the economy is no match for many other cars, it is also too big around town and uneconomical out of town. I am looking for something that I can drive around town and out into the country, also for trips around Europe, forget the Prius, the best cars seem to be The VW Polo Bluemotion or Seat equivalent, which is cheaper than the VW and both much cheaper than the Prius, or the Mini Cooper diesel, also the Citroen C3 is very nice, there are also other cars like Renault and Fiat, the only one I wont consider is the awful, expensive and not very economical Prius.

Toyota Corolla Saloon 1992

1500 cc low mileage, 40,000, tidy and service history, should be reliable and economical, but first problem was the auto that would sometimes select neutral in a corner or roundabout and leave one coasting for a bit, not only potentially dangerous but also very annoying as you never knew when it would happen, it was fixed ok by local dealer but was still inconsistent when accelerating and would kick down too late when you needed it and change down unnecessary when accelerating gently. Other problems included unreliable central locking and electric windows, The cam belt cost a small fortune to replace, also economy nowhere near my older 2 litre Montego, which I had bought at slightly higher mileage and sold still going well at 120000 miles, I now have a 318Ti BMW, and like the Montego it is comfortable and I don’t get Toyota back ache on a trip, it handles and performs well and the economy is good, so far, well over a year it has cost very little to run, and no problems at all.

Toyota Aygo plus 2006

Previously I owned a Yaris for 5 years and it was superb. Well built, totally reliable economical, nice to drive and all in all a good car to own. I decided I wanted something a bit smaller and thought the Aygo sounded good. What a mistake! It is noisy, plasticy and not well made. The claims for fuel economy can only be achieved by very careful driving (and can be matched by the Yaris in most situations anyway). My Aygo has done 14000 miles and has already had new brake discs and a new clutch both due to excessive wear. In a previous vehicle (Nissan Sunny) I did 146000 miles without either of these component being changed, so I do not consider myself to drive harshly. I think that Toyota have done their reputation no end of harm by allowing this disappointing car to bear their name badge!!

Toyota Verso 2008

I’m looking for a new car. have vw touran 1.9 tdi se at moment. excellent car. test drove verso 2.2 d-4d sr. very comfy seats, lumbar great, v. supportive. loads of room front and back, two 6 foot plus teenagers. boot a bit smaller than touran or zafira, but still good. controls simple, easy to use, no clutter. the test car had wheel align fault - pulling to left. had to keep pulling on steering wheel to keep it straight, hard work. power supposed to be good, but had to floor accelerator quite a bit to make it shift. cabin noise from engine quieter than touran. does zoom past 100 mph though. also had to floor brake peddle more than touran to make it slow down at normal road speeds. so, excellent car, but seemed hard work to drive.

Toyota Avensis Estate 2003

Had this car now for nearly 5 years. My first estate. My first Toyota but not my last. 70k+ miles and no major problems. Minor problem with lights put right by Toyota (out of warranty) at no cost or argument. Good economy, great carrier, comfortable car. No rust. A real quality machine. I know it’s got good residual value. What more could you ask for? Looking forward to new model in 2009!

Toyota Yaris SR 2008

I purchased a Yaris SR in July 2008 from the local Toyota dealership. Sadly, major gearbox problems; getting into 1st and 2nd gears. The dealer road tested and said it was a faulty gearbox, the technician stripped the gearbox down and repaired the fault. I road tested the car and the problem was still there. Toyota technician road tested the car and said they found no problem. I even got a second opinion from an independent technician and he said the gearbox was faulty - the dealership said they would change the gearbox - they also said they would swapped the gearbox from a another vehicle. I am very disappointed and wish that I had never purchased this car.

Toyota Aygo Blue Multi Mode 2008

Having had a Renault Clio 1.6 16 Valve for 9 years which I loved to bits, great economy and performance 43mpg at the worst, mostly driving with a heavy foot, I decided to buy an Aygo due to the impending tax hikes due in 2009, soaring fuel costs etc and the fact the Clio was getting old. With Toyota’s apparent good reputation, I paid extra to have the whole works apart from leather upholstery. After a few weeks, I had blue smoke coming through the air vents when the aircon was turned on. The dealer changed the compressor and belts but it still does it occasionally and they cannot find the cause, so I don’t us the air con if I can help it. The glove box kept falling open when I went over a bump, this was fixed by the dealer by fitting the metal catch and also rain water came in due to the fact they had not fitted the rubber door seals. But now they are fitted, they are starting to fall off! I got the Multi mode transmission as I am often stuck in traffic and thought it would make it easy but I hate it. Sometimes there is a bad hesitation while it decides whether it is going to go into 1st or 2nd gear which is very frightening at times. The engine sounds very thrashy when pulling away and when going up hill and heaven help you if you have any adults in the car. The body work bends and the doors feel very thin. I am averaging 52 mpg and that is driving it carefully, so even the claim of good mpg is a false one, I could get 52mpg from my 1.6 clio by driving on just the same journeys! Having been driving for 21 years, this is quite simply the worst car I have ever owned, how I miss my RELIABLE Clio! I cannot express how much I HATE THE AYGO!!!!

Toyota Hiace All models since 1996 2008

I’ve worked in the Toyota dealer network for over 10 years now, recently coming away from that to try other things, I’ve run and worked on many of these vans, some with more miles than the enterprise, more hits than the Beatles but still they keep going!! in 10 years I’ve seen one gearbox bearing fail, 2 injection pumps fail, a handful of water pumps, a few vacuum hoses, one coil spring and one exhaust silencer bracket break. most of these failed under warranty. the Hiace can sometimes be a bit sluggish when loaded up, and fuel economy isn’t great. one bad point on these vans is the top arms, the upper ball joint wears, and depending on where the MOT is done it will fail, repair bill is about £600 quid, but only usually needs done once in around 130k miles, a remarkably van, tried and tested and just as tough as a Hilux!

Responses to this review
Hi Marc, what kind of milage would you see such wear and how would you check for this? jack her up? I’m thinking of buying a 2004 with 77k on clock, Regards - Alex Mac from Aberdeenshire

Toyota Aygo Blue 2006

Well the car is a very good car to drive, very cheap to run and road tax £35. What can you expect? At the end of the day it is a cheap car to run and good value to use, I am very happy with this car. OK, it’s not the cheapest car you can buy but at the end of the day, it is cheap on petrol and service and cost is low all round. It is worth buying, this is the best value car I have ever bought - get it!!

Toyota Yaris MMT 2006

We have owned this car for 23 months and bought on a PCP as a town run around for my wife. The stupid semi auto gearbox is a big let down, always in the wrong gear. When you pull away on a slighly wet surface or even dry come to that, it wheel spins, a no no for hilly areas. As you go around a roundabout it changes up so you end up in third or fourth by the time you exit, as for the roll back it’s a good job we both learnt in a manual because you have to still carry out hill starts on the slightest gradiant. When we complained about it to our local dealer he just told us that we were driving it to aggessively and to use the manual mode. I thought I was buying an auto not a manual. The brakes are also very sharp the slightest dab and you’re on the windscreen. A new front tyre had to be bought last week as it was worn out in 6500 miles. We feel lumbered with a car we both hate on Toyota PCP contract that will end up costing money to get out of, hence we still have the heap of rubbish.

Toyota MR2 tte turbo 2001

Have had the car for two years now which was the replacement for my mk 1. All I can say is that the car is fantastic , great handling , reliable , good service from the dealers and with the turbo you get that shove in the back performance. It is capable of keeping up with most performance cars on the road today.

Toyota Aygo Aygo blue special edition. 2008

Car bought for Daughter by Grandad after she had previously driven the fantastically reliable Yaris. Very disapointed , car feels like driving around in a tin can, body work feels so thin that I am suprised it hasn’t blown away in the wind . Poor quality tacky interior and doors need slamming to shut, worry is you expect the rest of the car to fall apart. Same problem with faulty glove box , several creaks and squeeks and engine sounds like the exhaust is falling off its so noisy . All in all a very poor quality car & very disappointed Toyota has its name on the badge. Same issues again with miles per gallon, nowhere near reaching Toyota’s claim. Car that bad I feel conned by Toyota having bought this vehicle . I would be very suprised if it stands the test of time. Only plus point is that the exterior shape does look well and modern.

Toyota Auris Auris VVTi MMT 2008

I purchased the Auris mainly because of the MMT gear-box, I have always preferred a manual gear-box, but my partner can only drive a automatic due to a disability, now we have a car that is the ideal compromise, apart from that the performance is excellent and the MPG is more than I expected, on the downside the services are very expensive compared to other manufactures, but with the price of fuel as it is at the moment and it will get more expensive the better MPG you get from a car the better and if that also comes with better performance well that is a bigger bonus.

Toyota Hilux Invincible 200 Limited Edition 2008

Best pick up currently available on the market. Goes like stick and is as fast as a V6 Range Rover Sport 0-62mph. Only downside is the 15" wheels fitted. Toyota need to resolve this. As for looks apart from the wheels its the biz.

Toyota Auris 1.6 t spirit 2007

I really like the smart entry and the cruise control. I don’t see the point in the automatic wipers and lights as we all know when its raining and getting dark. The Auris is very nice to drive and the 1.6 goes very well. I have had Toyota’s before including the Yaris, Corolla and now the Auris. They have all been good and reliable.

Toyota Yaris 1.3 t3 mmt 2006

We have had car 28months , and done 15,000 miles. Gearbox is only any good if you learn to use the manual mode. I have found when setting of from cold there is a tendency for a little clutch judder but disappears when warm. The smoothest way to drive car is to start off on the automatic mode and use this for the change to 2nd, then push gear lever onto manual mode for all other gears. When changing gear on manual mode always ease off on throttle as you change and changers are then very quick and smooth. In traffic up to 10 miles per hour very tricky to keep it smooth, it would be far better if change into second was at 5 to 6 miles per hour not 10 to 11. Petrol consumption is averaging 53 to gallon, but we do go 5 miles before hitting traffic into Harrogate. Engine is quite powerful, but on motorways speeds over 60 soon hit petrol consumption and this will drop down to 45. Height adjustment on the drivers seat is good but legroom is very restricted for tall drivers, therefore tall driver has to lower the height adjustment so that seat moves away from wheel, which defeats object of height adjustment for taller drivers who like an upright driving position, as even on highest setting the headroom is good. Plenty of room in car and rear seat arrangement is clever. Local Toyota dealer in Knaresborough is good, servicing reasonable particularly if you take out service plan. Extended warranty available after 3 years and this is reasonable cost and probably worth taking out as mmt is suspect. Insurance is group 4 and costs 160 pounds on full ncb with LV. All in all not a bad car, but not a patch on my Mitsubishi 1.8 Spacestar, which has a 100,000 miles on it, and still averages 49 mpg for a petrol engine. It’s just unfortunate that these have gone out of production.

Toyota Rav4 RAV4 XT-R 2.2D-4D 5Dr 2008

On a test drive I was delighted with the car - everything about it is good. I have one minus point - SatNav only on certain Rav4 - should be included when you have the facility already there. Awaiting for car now on 58 Reg.

Toyota MR2 2003

The only reason I can’t give my ’2 5/5 is that I would like the TTE turbo option! I have had my car for 2 years and bought used with 17k on the clock. There is an issue on the earlier cars with the cats in the manifold falling apart but this was solved by Toyota with the facelift (fog light) model in 2003. De-catted manifolds are cheap to buy and fit for peace of mind though. So far I have reached 35k and have had a new water pump new discs and finally replaced the original Bridgestone tyres that came with the car when I bought it. I recommend straying from the standard tyre size as it is an odd size that means you pay for the nose for tyres to match original spec. You can get a set of Toyota’s for a reasonable £250 rather than paying £180 just for the rears in Bridgestone OE format! I have fitted a luggage rack which helped when I took a large suitcase on holiday and I have removed the doors to the luggage compartment for easier access behind the seats. Removing the spare wheel gives lots of extra space but makes the front light so be careful if you decide to use this as your ’boot’ I regularly get 40mpg from my 6 speed ’2 and have never dropped below 36mpg even when I tried! I have once managed to get the 44mpg as listed in the sales brochure! Insurance is cheap and tax is relatively low compared to other sports cars due to Toyota’s ultra low emissions pledge when they revised the car in 2003. Hard tops only come with air con models so if you aren’t lucky enough to have a hard roof with yours you are looking at anything from £300-£800 for a lid on eBay and the fitting kit will set you back £150 from Toyota. Watch for cars that have been modified, thrashed and then put back to standard for sale. Also for track day damage. Servicing is every 10k and is reasonable. The standard stereo is rubbish even with the £1000 CD option - replace it as soon as you can! I researched the MX5, S2000, VX220, Z3, MGF etc before buying my MR2 and I am very happy with my choice. :)

Toyota Aygo 2008

Toyota Aygo - full marks - good value for money.

Toyota Yaris 2006

I love my little Yaris- it has been brilliant. My daughter loves it too and my mother-in-law bought one after she drove mine, but she got the automatic. A brilliant, funky little car. Silver ones are the best!!!!!

Toyota Aygo aygo black 2006

Hate it! door seals had to be fixed 3 times, abs lights on and brakes failing me! Clutch seems really weird when driving! Reverse crunch sound is hideous! So much to hate with this stupid car!

Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon 2007

I like this car, especially the new one. I used to have a Land Cruiser LC4 but sadly I sold it for £12,500. It was on a 53 plate - astral black. Oh, and it was top of the range to!

Toyota Yaris 2005

I have had endless problems with my Toyota Yaris 1.0 gearbox clutch. In and out of the dealership claiming nothing was wrong - it was me and the way I drove it!!! Field Service Engineer told me that no other Yaris was like mine and they were not prepared to do any more for me. DREADFUL - I even got a second opinion from an independent person and the inability of the car to get into first, second and reverse gear happened to him - still TOYOTA would not listen - I have now bought a Ford Fiesta - I cannot believe the difference.

Toyota Corolla Verso 2.0D T2 2005

55 PLATE. I’ve now done 106,000 miles with no problems except in the last 6 months it sticks in 1stvfirst thing in morning, then clears. Great economy, enough room for 2 x 13 year-olds and 2 older teenagers plus the wife, and me. Just don’t expect to fit luggage in as well! A little noisy on motorways, lots of mid range punch and sure footed means I’d happily get another.

Toyota Yaris 1.3 T3 MMT 2007

As a driving instructor I find the Yaris MMT a good automatic car to teach in. It’s comfortable, with plenty of space and visibility is very good. In Easy mode the car is quick through the gears and possibly ’greener’ than the manual version. It has manual mode to give control over gears on hills or poor weather and has kickdown to drop gears in easy mode. There is no creep function but that’s why there’s a gas pedal and handbrake. I like it.

Toyota Auris 1.6 TR 2007

I have had various Corolla’s since 1988 - my last one in ’05 and the Auris is the worst. Poor gear ratios, ridiculous gear shift light , knocking noise and feel through the steering wheel, and now the clutch is also making a knocking sound upon releasing the pedal. My dealer says don’t worry, you have got a 3 year warranty.. it will need it at this rate , cant wait to get rid.

Toyota Auris T Spirit 2007

Great car. Built well and priced fairly. A very comfortable drive and feels quite big inside. Mine has the multi mode transmission which I am still getting used to. However I find that having the versatility of driving it manually or auto is useful. This does not seem to compromise the speed of the vehicle for me. As I haven’t had the car long, only time will tell in terms of the overall performance and reliability but there are and have been a lot of Toyota’s in the family over the years so I expect there will be very few problems for quite some years.

Toyota Avensis Saloon 2.0. v v t i 2001

Excellent car with sat nav - had for 5 years now and no trouble whatsoever - but now the model is becoming dated.

Toyota Yaris 1.3 2005

Terrible car - bought on the recommendation of BBC’s Top Gear. Loads has gone wrong.

Toyota Rav4 4x4 1999

She’s a babe! Driven her all the way to Bulgaria! Very safe car! I love her to bits but can be a bit juicey at times, but what a kick when in O.D.

Toyota Yaris 2000

I bought a two year old Yaris from a dealer, I thought after two month I could hear a noise coming from the passenger side of the car which i thought was a wheel bearing, I went back to the garage but as usual they could hear nothing, This noise started to get worse so I got a second opinion, I was told the noise was either coming from the wheel bearing or it could be the gear box, I went back to the dealer once more, they went for a test drive on there return I was told it was possibly the gear box. Luckily enough I had the most of a year left on the warranty so i got a new gear box fitted, I was told after that this was quite common in the Yaris, lucky for me I still had that warranty.

Toyota Yaris 1.3 SR 2008

I purchased a Yaris SR in January from a local Toyota wholly-owned dealership. Sadly, I had major clutch judder problems, the dealer was basically not interested - response... "we are not aware of any clutch judder problems with the Yaris" - which of course was not quite true why else would Toyota develop a modified clutch? Whilst waiting for my vehicle to be tested I spoke to another customer who owned a Yaris and who insisted not to be fobbed off, he had an older Yaris and also had major issues with clutch judder. Eventually problem worsened and despite the dealer telling me that the car was tested by 4 technicians who could not find a fault I insisted and went out with a technician who agreed a problem did actually exist. Since the clutch has been replaced I now have problems engaging reverse, 1st, 2nd & 3rd gears and also have problems coming down box. Dealer once again assured me that no gearbox problems could be identified and any notchyness or imprecision would ease with use? Sadly, a month on and no improvement. Car has been returned four/five times now and recently the dealership hinted that, yes, the gearbox did not perform as per manufacturer’s specifications, in short, much crunching and grinding was experienced. I received a phone call to inform me that gearbox had been replaced. However, I still continued to have problems with reverse 1st, 2nd & 3rd gear then the bombshell! The gearbox fitted was not brand new from the factory when vehicle was returned they said that they had driven both cars. The "donor car", a used registered forecourt vehicle which the gearbox was swapped from and my vehicle drove better?? and assured me any residual problems would ease with use. Appreciate anyones help/advice.

Toyota Rav4 xt4 auto 2006

Found to be very poor on fuel mpg, only 22 at best, no better. On a run I have been told it will get better when it has done more miles . It is now at 8,000 and I am still waiting. Otherwise a very good car, have had the diesel and now have the petrol as they don’t make a auto in diesel.

Toyota Yaris MMT 2008

I have previously owned two automatic Toyota Yaris’ and adored them. Just bought a new one which has the MMT - it is possibly the worst car I have ever driven. It is like driving with a kangaroo in the engine, jumpy, erratic and just downright awful. Also has the most horrific roll back, even on a slight incline. On calling my dealer to complain (I have had it 3 weeks) I got the distinct impression he wasn’t surprised to hear from me. The battle shall now commence for me to return it. Seriously, do not touch the MMT model if you are looking for an automatic car.

Toyota Yaris 1.3TR 2008

Truly awful, badly built, cheap materials and downright nasty to drive. Noisy at just about any speed, ponderous handling and nausea-inducing ride. Interior seems reasonable in the showroom but in reality is very badly thought out. Garish dashboard out of normal sight lines. Boot poor, even with sliding seats, huge gap in floor with seats slid forward is crazy. Poorly presented on delivery, numerous items missing or inoperative. Total inability and disinterest of uncaring dealers in resolving any issues. They've got your money so why other offering any help? Toyota sent me vouchers worth £100 for each friend or relative I recommended to them. I can't think of anyone I dislike that much.

Toyota Aygo 1.0 Aygo 2007

A spirited car that couldn’t be cheaper to insure. The fuel economy is brilliant (50+) and the car is well constructed and has a good solid feel to it. The doors also close with a nice clunky feel that I love. This is a perfect first car and ideal for town and city driving, it’s OK on the motorway but does feel a little out of its depth.

Toyota Hiace 2007

Fantastic, reliable van with good fuel consumption and great dealer backup.

Toyota Corolla Verso 2004

It looks very good family car, but how do you feel when MMT stops working in the middle of the road and you can not move. It occurs so often that you have to get rid of this vehicle, as even after changing the gear box, problem persists! and there is no solution.

Toyota Aygo Aygo Black 5 Door 2006

If Steve McQueen had been a car then the Aygo he would have been.... cool. Black, I have had my windows tinted, so cheap to run, try and find cheaper, a push bike might be. Really impressed, from Sept 06 I have done 24k no probs, nippy, sporty, well built, in fact a pleasure to own, my back seat is always down, which makes the room internally superb, servicing is very cheap, in fact running costs are for nothing, really can’t fault, if you want a low budget car well made with a touch of style, look no further.

Responses to this review
Hi Andrew, I’m in a bit of a quandry as I’m torn between the Yaris and Aygo. Aygo because its cheapish, Yaris because the reviews I have read give me the impression its a far more solid car. Have seen a 56 plate black Aygo limited edition (used) for a silly price. Only done 15,000 miles and I’m thinking it’s too good to be true. Haven’t seen/test driven it yet - but I have to admit I’m getting more and more twitchy about the reviews I’ve read about the leaks. Thought you might be able to help cheer me up! ( Wendi Mcquillen from Hertfordshire

Toyota Corolla Verso 2.0 D-40 T-Spirit 2005

Great family car, bought this used just over a year ago and it’s been one of the best buys I’ve ever made. A really solid spacious car that is totally reliable and very reasonable to run. I’d recommond this car to anyone, can’t see me needing to change it for some time as it’s so durable.

Toyota Yaris 1.3 WT-i T3 5dr 2008

I’ve just bought a brand spanking new Yaris and I LOVE IT!! This is the first time I’ve bought new and I just fell for the Yaris as soon as I saw it. It’s a funky looking car with a very spacious and comfortable interior and it’s just so much fun to drive. Brilliantly affordable car that’s cheap to run and looks gorgous. 5 out of 5!!

Toyota Avensis Tourer Tourer D-4D 2004

Bought at 85,000 miles and dual mass flywheel/clutch completely shot. Cost of repair £1,500 - fortunately not borne by me. Further research shows that this is a common problem with the D-4D cars that Toyota is nbot prepared to recognise - shame on them. I had a 1988 Toyota Carina II for 10 years from 1991 to 2001. By the time I had got rid of it, at 200,000 miles plus, nothing major whatsoever had gone wrong with it. I had a 1997 Carina E Estate from 2001 to 2008 - again a high mileage at disposal - over 170,000 and nothing major had ever gone wrong with it. It is simply not good enough for a modern car to suffer this type of breakdown at such a relatively low mileage. Toyota's stock has gone way down with me. These cars should be good for 250,000 miles without expensive major components failing like this.

Toyota Aygo Blue 2008

I’ve had my special edition Blue for 4 weeks. I’ve got to the 600 mile mark, ready to open it up a bit now it’s run in. Likes: The Bluetooth, which I wasn’t interested in when I bought it is amazing. As another review stated, it’s like having your own bit of Star Trek, it connects automatically when you get in the car and the voice recognition is superb. You can say "double 5" and it will hear it as 5 - 5. I’ve not had a single mis dial and I’ve a relatively broad Lancashire accent. The ride and manoeuvrability are surprisingly good. Excellent suspension, very nippy and agile through traffic. The size of the car is an amazing advantage you can get it to fit anywhere. The road tax, £35!!! My 600cc Motorcycle is £48. The insurance premium (I’ve saved £200 this year). The extras you get with the limited edition: Bluetooth, Air Con, Remote Central Locking, Colour Coded Bumpers and Mirrors, Special Edition Mats, Electric Windows, Leather Gear Knob. 5 doors is a must as the boot is so small. What I don’t like: (and this is going to sound quite harsh as I genuinely like the car!) No coat hanger hooks anywhere. It makes quite a lot of noise at high speed, you can hear every piece of gravel go round the wheel arches after the gritters have been out. You have to slam the doors to get them to shut, especially the boot. The interior light only comes on with the driver door, there’s no light in the boot The parcel shelf won’t stay up so it’s fiddly getting anything in and out of the tiny boot. The gearbox is a bit flimsy, you have to force the gears in, or have to declutch for it to go in smooth. The colour of the car means that it’s grubby in a couple of days. The bumpers offer no protection from other cars so there are scrapes on the lovely bluey paint already thanks to careless drivers. It is impossible to get anywhere near the claimed mpg. I’ve managed 49.5 mpg (most of the mileage on 40, 50 and 70 mph roads. My 1.6 Clio RSI could get up to 50mpg.

Toyota Auris 2.0 d4d t3 2007

Fantastic car; well built, nippy, economical and supremely comfortable. Engineered to last with legendary dealer support. My first Toyota and certainly not my last.

Toyota Aygo Blue 2007

The best car I have ever bought, just the right amount of room for my shopping and good on the motorway too!

Toyota Aygo 2007

Bought Aygo Blue June 2007. Great on fuel and lovely to drive. Not bad size inside ideal for myself and my two grandchildren. Unfortunately, this car has been in and out for repair on 3 separate occasions. There was more ice and condensation inside the car than outside the car. I have also had to have my window fixed as it would not go back up, also had to have glove compartment fixed as this would not stay closed and also had to have gear knob fixed as this was turning around every time you changed gear. I love my Aygo but unfortunately I seem to have purchased a badly manufactured Aygo. Not sure if anyone else encountered same problems.

Toyota Yaris Verso Auto 2002

This is great little big car very nippy and economical 45 mpg good all round vision plus it€™s very easy to drive. You can get loads gear in when you put rear seats down. I will be looking to upgrade to a later model soon p.s. it has gone through every mot without a fault and its done 72000 miles.

Toyota Aygo 2007

Great little car.....fuel economy is astonishing! The car is nicely styled. I have the black sport version with allows, body kit and spoiler and it looks great. Although it only has a 1.0 litre and only gives 97bhp, its acceleration is surprisingly very good. It is quick and nippy, and great on motorways as well. Great car, cheap, quality and brilliant!

Toyota Auris 2007

I am having real problems with the Driver’s Smart Entry - sometimes the car will unlock and sometimes it won’t. Using the ridiculously small key is a real pain. Toyota shrugs their shoulders and talk about radio waves. They’ve changed the door receiver but it’s still the same. Has anyone else had this problem?

Toyota Prius T2 2005

50MPG UNDER AVERAGE USE FAMILY SIZED SALOON WITH GOOD HATCHBACK LUGGAGE SPACE AND LARGE UNDERFLOOR AREA SEEMLESS AUTO DRIVE-TRAIN MAKES ’ORDINARY’ CARS FEEL ROUGH

Toyota MR2 2000

Without a doubt the MR2 is one of the best cars I’ve ever driven. Almost everything about this car is great. The handling is awesome, the steering razor sharp. Obviously one of the reasons for buying a car like this is the pose factor ; ) Its contemporaries like the MX-5 can’t hold a candle to it as the car just oozes style and is far less of a common site. Ok, it’s not perfect. The load space is appalling, practically non-existent and the suspension can be so firm you can feel every pebble you drive over. However there are good reasons for this: to keep the weight almost 50/50 and to allow for better handling. A true driver’s car. All in all Toyota have created a genuinely excellent two seater sports car that you can buy for under £10,000 second hand and for that they should be applauded.

Toyota Aygo Black 2006

Hi Ho...Hi Ho... Christ this brings back panto memories and the small guys who used to dance alongside that girl dressed in white, black hair, sweeping brush and all that. This has to be the smallest oversized child’s toy ever introduced onto the market, (unless the Fiat 500 makes a liar out of me)...

To be fair, this was one of those test drives when your better half gets all exited, hot under the collar, giggling and eager to please you, (maybe us lads should keep an Aygo tied to the bed) Ha! Small...yes it is. Great colour...yes it was. Four wheels...yep all intact. Gadgets...blue teeth and an mp3 accessory does not count as much of a gadget blitz in my growing list of vehicular gad trads.

But once i managed to prise my rear left buttock into the drivers seat i had to admit to the better half, (who by this time looked like she was ready to slobber all over the car, and me, (quick find a bed post)!...That it really was deceiving from the outside looking in. The finish was really good and the driver view is impressive and at the same time felt quite safe. Turn the key...Aygotwat would not start! Flapping and panicking around the car came a hectic type of salesman, (must have been at least fifteen), pleading with me sir to stay where i was sir, i will get a mechanic sir, (like as if i was gonna leap out and forget it, after taking what felt like 3 x months just to get in it! The kind mechanic arrived and after adjusting the battery terminal we were finally ready to drive away and complete our test drive.

The Aygo was a real charmer of a car and there was nothing i could honestly fault from a driving point of view for a car at the base end of the market, the better half had grown a smile that was twice the size of her face, she loved it. I had the vehicle for a full couple of hours and even managed a local shopping trip where again, with all honesty found the Aygo to be really impressive.

I have to admit that personally i prefer the more mid to top range of vehicles than the bottom, but with all things being equal, Toyota have possibly found something of a girly winner with this little gem. Oh and if it is going to encourage all of those lovely better halves out there to slobber, and sweat, then us gentlemen should go out and make two purchases... 1 x black Toyota Aygo, and 1 x extra strong piece of chain to tie it to the bed!

Toyota Prius T3 2006

This car looks great in black with the leather trim. the T4 and T spirit options aren’t really necessary. Its great to drive, totally reliable and gives you a good feeling to drive. Dont expect to average more than 46mpg.

Toyota Corolla Hatchback Love the make 2007

No review submitted.

Toyota Avensis Tourer 2.0 D-4D T3S 5dr 2004

Excellent estate car. I bought my 54 plate Avensis Tourer 2 months ago and I’m very happy with it indeed. A very solid and safe car with excellent handling and very good fuel usage. As second hand cars go, if you can find one with reasonable mileage they are a very reliable car to go for.

Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon 4.2 TD 5dr 2007

A proper 4x4 with every gadget and luxury trim you could want as standard - I’m in heaven. I love this car and really enjoy driving it. It is best suited to off road, where it really shines but on road is a fine enough drive too. So comfortable you’ll want to eat your tea in it! Wonderful.

Toyota Avensis Hatchback 1.8 VVT-i T2 5dr 2006

Very good value for money. Excellent on fuel and very reliable so far. I’ve had mine 18 months and nothing has gone wrong with it. Nice enough drive but you do get a fair amount of road noise. Good space and excellent level of comfort for it’s class. A good all round car.

Toyota Dyna 300 2.5D-4D 2003

Well built solid van. Driver is well considered with not uncomfortable cabin, but although supposed to be a 3 seater it really only seats 2 comfortably as quite narrow. ABS standard as is power steering but although quite nippy on the straight it is woeful around corners, some quite serious under steering that takes some getting used to. Very noisy too. Not bad value for the money but not great.

Toyota Avensis Estate 2.0 D-4D T2 5dr 2007

I think this is one of the best estates on the market. After looking at several I chose the Avensis because of excellent safety, very good security, huge load space, good standard kit and very generous mpg. It’s a very nice drive and although there is some road noise it’s barely noticable. Very smart looking too. Excellent job Toyota.

Toyota Corolla Hatchback 2003

No review submitted.

Toyota Camry 3.0 V6 Auto 1998

The Camry is a very under-rated car in the UK (but not elsewhere in the world) which means it is often avaialble at a very reasonable price second-hand. I have had mine since 2001 and it hasn’t missed a beat. It is large, comfortable and reliable, and has needed no work other than servicing. It shares many parts with the Lexus range and its build quality is similar. The V6 is packed with leather, foglights, cruise, sunroof, climate control etc. The V6 delivers over 190 bhp and with the auto gearbox you have a great powertrain with smooth gearchanges that seem to be intuitive, whether you’re driving hard or just doing the school run. Put your foot down and this apprently docile, understated car surges forward with a great (if fairly quiet) snarl from the V6, out-accelerating most other cars on the road. On the downside, it lacks "feel" through the steering that you might get with say, a BMW 5 series, and the ride is a little soft for some. Also the 3.0 is thirsty - you only get 22 to 24 mpg on the urban cycle. All in all though, if you’re looking for a great-priced used car in the large saloon sector, then the Camry will take some beating.

Toyota Prius 1.5 T4 Auto (Hybrid) 2007

I can’t speak highly enough about the Prius. I have always been green-minded but the small electric type cars were just not something that I could drive. When the Prius cam along it gave me exactly what I was looking for - good looking, fuel economy to die for. This performs just like a normal car and the use of batteries is really not a hardship. This is the perfect answer to the issues that I had about driving 30 miles to work every day. I save money and help save the planet - a good days work in my opinion!

Toyota Prius 1.5 T4 2007

Wouldn’t drive anything else just right now, nothing yet in the market compares to the space and peformance of the Prius whilst maintaining the same level of fuel economy and low road tax. A top buy.

Toyota Aygo + 2007

This AYGO + is one hell of a little car. Good on fuel and quite a comfortable ride. The service package that you can take out with your local Toyota dealer for around £11 per month for up to 5 years of servicing is quite a bargain as well. Good seat for driving in and I get no back ache after 300 miles of non stop driving. Also thrown in is a nice throaty little sporty roar from the exhaust system. Where ever AYGO it go’s. Could nit pick but with road tax of £35 per year and low insurance. Well say no more. PS. I am 63 and still like a little thrill now and again.

Toyota Avensis Saloon 2.0 D-4D T2 2007

The Avensis is a good family car, reasonably priced. Plenty of space and reliable. I test drove both the petrol and the diesel models and the diesel is far and away the better of the 2. The road noise on the petol was too much but on the diesel it was almost unnoticable. A great family car.

Toyota MR2 1.8 VVT-i 2dr 2005

Have recently just a bought this MR2 in pristine condition with just under 22,000 on the clock and she’s a beaut! Such a great car to drive, so much fun. Completely impractical if you want to do the weekly shop of course, which means the wife doesn’t get to use it! Not too pricey to run and these cars really do hold their value well.

Toyota Verso 1.8 WT-i SR 2007

If you are looking for an MPV that covers all bases then you could do no better than a Verso. The performance and driving are both above average as are the safety and space aspects. All five rear seats fold flat and this is useful for transporting furniture or large objects ( if that’s whay you need to do ). The interior of the Verso is the most attractive of any vehicle I have ever driven and of great quality.

Toyota Yaris Zinc

The Yaris Zinc MMT is fine as long as you can avoid hills, otherwise the car in front is a tractor. It attempts to climb the hill in fifth gear with traffic building up behind you, going slower and slower until at about 23 mph it changes into fourth but then the battle is lost. It`s speed is down to 15 m.p.h and you have to pull over to let to let other vechicles past. So, if you see a Yaris struggling up a bank it is in M.M T. mode so try not to shake your fist and blast your horn.

Toyota Yaris 1.0 litre VVTI

I love my Yaris! A car driven mainly by old people and girls, not really for boy racers!!! Never had a problem with it, except wishing sometimes it had 6 gears! (Takes a while to stop roaring on the Motorway!) Would definitley have another Yaris in the future!

Toyota Picnic 2.0 GLS 5dr

I’ve been driving my Y reg Picnic for just under 2 years now and I can honestly say it’s one of the best cars I’ve driven. I bought it out of necessity when our 4th child came along as we needed more space but I’ve actually really enjoyed driving it. Bags of space (of course) and the fuel consumption isn’t too bad for a car of it’s size. A real gem.

Toyota Auris 1.6 T3

This car is reasonably priced, drives well & not too expensive to run. A good car, but nothing more than that.

Toyota Aygo 1.0 litre 5 door

Bought the new AYGO Blue a couple of months ago. The fuel economy is simply amazing and for the 1 litre engine is more than quick enough for me and it has no difficulty on the motorway. This is a perfect first car as running the car, tax and insurance are all on the reasonable side. I would highly recommend the AYGO.

Toyota Camry 2.4 CDX VVT-i 4dr

Bought my Camry second hand and have had absolutely no problems with it. Solid, capable and very comfy. It’s not the most exciting car to drive or to look at granted but if you’re looking for a reliable family car with bags of space you can’t go far wrong with this one.

Toyota Yaris Zinc MMT

I sadly sold my Yaris Colour Collection MK 1 and bought a Yaris Zinc MMT gearbox model. What a mistake! When driving round the local areas I dread hills as it always tries to get into to high a gear and then drops to 1st and ends up screaming like a boy racer before jumping to second then when its over the hill it refuses to change into 3rd etc, until either I change it manually or the speed is over 45Mph! Don’t touch a MMT geared car they are rubbish. Babbs.

Toyota Aygo 1.0 VVT-i Sport 5dr

I’m so pleased I chose this car. It’s so enjoyable to drive and very comfortable. Plenty of space for my two teenage children in the back and very reasonable on fuel. Couldn’t ask for anything more. Excellent.

Toyota Land Cruiser LC5 Invincible

Two months into my owership of the LC5 Invincible and, overall, I am delighted with it. It is surprisingly easy to drive - predictably, intensely useable and wonderfully comforable. I dislike the way the third row seats work - the Disco3 is much better in that department. Everything else - including fuel economy is great. My wife loves driving it too!

Toyota Rav4 2.2D-4D T180 5 dr

Delighted so far with this car. Very good interior design, everything where you want it to be and very comfortable for the whole family to travel in. Very nice to drive.

Toyota Corolla Verso 1.8 VVT-i T Spirit 5 dr

This could be a great car, however, after countless problems with the MMT gearbox (and I know I’m not the only one!!) I have decided to cut my losses and get rid as I am no longer confident for my wife and children to travel in it. Great shame.

Toyota Yaris 1.4D-4D SR 5 dr

This is a really good solid car. Never had a single hitch and very economical to run. Excellent car.

Toyota Prius

It looks good and is extremely economical. I like to be as green minded as I possibly can and this did factor is my choice of car. It was not the cheapest car to buy but I'd imagine that the prices will come down in the future. A stylish and economical drive.