Forbes Says Camry and Yaris Are Among Most Improved Cars for 2012

May 10, 2012 -- Toyota's Camry, Camry hybrid and Yaris made Forbes' list of the most improved cars for 2012, based on their ratings from Total Car Score.  Already a good car, now the Camry is even better, Forbes editors said, with more fuel-efficient engines and more engaging driving characteristics in the 2012 model.

One of the highest-ranked mid-sized sedans, the Camry earned a Total Car Score of 81.64, up 6.84 points.  The hybrid version's Total Car Score was 85.59, up 6.77 points. The redesigned Yaris is one of the most improved cars for 2012 by virtue of a 6.51-point jump in its Total Car Score to 75.42. Overall, reviewers praised the Yaris' reliability and safety features.

Total Car Score, a new online resource that aggregates car reviews from multiple sources, seeks to simplify the task of researching a car purchase.  Total Car Score takes the ratings from nine well-known automotive authorities including Consumer Reports, Edmunds.com, Consumer Guide and J.D. Power & Associates, and converts them into a simple percentage representing what the car could have scored from each source versus what it did score.  Then, it averages the number from all of these sources to get a vehicle's Total Car Score.

To see the full list, go to Forbes' site at http://onforb.es/IIhwT3.

Toyota has most Consumer Reports top models by category

By James R. Healey, USA Today

February 28, 2012 - Toyota models snared "top pick" designations in five of 10 vehicle categories in the Consumer Reports annual auto issue, on sale March 6, and announced today.

Last time one brand so-dominated the category picks was Honda in 2003, CR says, noting that no Hondas won "top pick" status this year. It's the second time in the past three years that Honda has been conspicuous by its absence.

CR named the redesigned Camry hybrid the best "Family Sedan" -- not the whole Camry line, just the hybrid. Toyota updated the gas-electric drivetrain for the 2012 model, making it quicker and smoother, and is offering it on a lower price model, so buyers can get one a bit less than $30,000.

Our Test Drive column about the 2012 Camry re-do took special note of the hybrid model. You can read that Test Drive column here.

The CR bouquet comes shortly after Toyota took significant honors in a recent J.D. Power and Associates quality report card. Toyota still is nearly delirious after that one, having been battered so long by bad news -- safety recalls, earthquake/tsunami devastation in Japan that caused worldwide product shortages, floods in Thailand that dried up supplies of computer chips used in auto computers.

CR's criteria for naming top picks include ranking at or near the top of their category on overall road test scores, average or better predicted-reliability ratings in CR's subscriber survey and high performance in government or crash tests. Here are the magazine's vehicle categories in which Toyota was tops:

1. FAMILY SEDAN: Toyota Camry Hybrid. In addition to its impressive fuel economy, other high points include a comfortable ride; a roomy, quiet, cabin; fairly quick acceleration; and for 2012, a nicer interior and somewhat crisper handling.

2. SMALL SUV: Toyota RAV4. With a four-cylinder engine, the RAV4 delivers some of the best gas mileage in its class. The spirited V6 version accelerates as quickly as many sports sedans and gets only 1 mpg less than the four-cylinder model.

3. FAMILY HAULER: Toyota Sienna V6. The Sienna fits the bill nicely for families looking for a comfortable, roomy interior, plenty of features, and the ability to carry up to eight people. Among its high points are lively performance, decent fuel economy, and a comfortable ride. It's the only minivan that has at least average reliability.

4. GREEN CAR: Toyota Prius. The Prius sets the standard for fuel efficiency, practicality, and affordability. Its roomy interior, comfortable ride, and hatchback versatility make it easy to live with. The fuel efficiency of the new Prius V wagon easily tops its class.

5. FAMILY SUV: Toyota Highlander. The refined, comfortable, and quiet Highlander has consistently ranked near the top of its class in CR's road-test scores and has had above-average reliability. The V6 version delivers a decent fuel efficiency overall, and the hybrid model tops all SUVs.

Details on Consumer Reports' Top Picks for 2012, Automaker Report Cards, Best and Worst list and other key findings are available in the April issue of Consumer Reports on newsstands March 6 or at the magazine's website here.

Consumer Reports says its tests include more than 50 individual tests on every vehicle, including evaluations of braking, handling, comfort, convenience, safety and fuel economy.

Roughly 6,000 miles of general driving and evaluations are racked up on each test car during the testing process. CR buys all its test cars anonymously from dealers.