Watch out Ford and Hyundai! Toyota’s highly anticipated 2011 Avalon is now on markets with a makeover that competitors are no match for. A broader grille, stylish panels and an exciting new interior have armed the new Avalon for battle against other large sedans in its class. Jersey City drivers have praised the 2010 Avalon for its spacious cabin and smooth, quiet ride, which are among the features that the 2011 model has retained. Otherwise, at local Toyota car dealers, NJ drivers have seen a completely restyled Avalon.

The new Avalon’s slimmer, high-intensity headlights integrate seamlessly into it’s stretched out grille. The sedan’s bold profile flaunts edgy rocker panels and redesigned 17-inch alloy wheels which are the perfect balance the modest rear end. The Avalon’s wider stance and overall aggressive yet humble appearance make this sedan the highlight of your Toyota NJ dealer’s showrooms.

The most noticeable changes have been made to the Avalon’s interior which has a completely modified dashboard, new materials, different color combination and even more space than its predecessor. Wood grain trim and leather upholstery give the interior a luxurious appeal. The dashboard features an LCD screen that controls the optional voice-activated navigation system and an instrument panel with easy to read luminous gauges.

At local Toyota car dealers, NJ residents can choose from the base or limited edition of the Avalon, both of which have received a good number of new features. Standard features include dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth, a set of easy-to-access controls on the steering wheel, a moonroof, XM radio and a USB port. The limited edition has ventilated front seats, rain-sensing wipers, a smart-key system and a power front passenger seat. Both trims come equipped with a rearview camera, which is viewed in the rearview mirror of the base and on the navigation screen of limited.

Jersey City residents can expect the same power and performance as the 2010 Avalon in the new model, which comes endowed with a 3.5-liter V6 engine with variable valve timing and is mated to a six speed automatic transmission. In addition to sharing the same mechanics, the price tag on the 2010 Avalon is surprisingly similar to that worn by the 2011 Avalon. Even with the added features and upgrades that the current model received, the base edition starts at just $33,205 and the limited edition at $36,445, which are costs rarely seen associated with such quality.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s investigation examined vehicles that had been in an accident because the sudden acceleration and found that throttles were wide open and brakes were not engaged. The Wall Street Journal reported that these preliminary findings suggest that drivers were mistakenly hitting the accelerator when they meant to hit the brakes.

Fully equipped with the ability to differentiate the gas pedal from the brake pedal, New Jersey drivers are confident in the safety of Toyota vehicles. For Toyota car dealers, NJ residents have continued to flock to the dealership, indicating that they have kept their faith in Toyota. New York residents have also maintained their trust in Toyota vehicles which is evident in the increased sales that the automaker is experiencing that were up as much as 50% in March.

Regardless of if these findings develop further and validate driver error, Toyota has already been exonerated by the general public as evidenced by the Toyota dealers NY drivers continue to flock to. All blame aside, the automaker has since erred on the side of caution, initiating vehicle demonstration programs which intend to put only the safest possible vehicles on the market. The Prius Plug-in Hybrid is currently participating in the program which consists of 150 individuals test driving the vehicles and providing feedback to Toyota to give them the opportunity to work out any kinks before releasing the vehicles to dealers.

Whether it’s driver error or Toyota error, an error doesn’t become a mistake unless you refuse to correct it. With reconfigured gas pedals and newly designed floor mats, Toyota has done their part to prevent turning this error into a mistake.

For those who are on the market for a great deal on a reliable used car, NJ dealer Hudson Toyota has the inventory and incentives for you. Among the many reasons why Jersey City drivers choose to buy from Hudson Toyota is the simplicity and ease of the overall used car shopping and purchasing process. Every used vehicle at Hudson Toyota is marked with “One Price” to facilitate the process of purchasing a used or certified used vehicle.

The dealership has a solid track record and for decades has been “The One” that drivers go to in the tri-state area when they’re on the market for a used vehicle. Hudson Toyota’s facility is anything but the stereotypical used car lot and their fast and friendly service couldn’t be further from the image you conjure up of a used car salesmen wearing gold chain necklaces and a comb over trying to persuade you to pay too much for a lemon. Their state-of-the-art facility and certified sales and service consultants defy the commonly held opinion of a used car shopping experience.

Reasons to buy from Hudson Toyota don’t only apply to the purchase of a used car; NJ drivers can choose new cars, used cars and everything in between from the biggest selection of vehicles in the state. The 1,000 vehicles that are always in stock at Hudson Toyota occupy over 8 acres and give drivers endless options to choose from. Whether you’re on the market for a convertible, coupe, hatchback, sedan, wagon, SUV, truck or van, Hudson Toyota has the inventory to cater to every driver.

Customer satisfaction is another reason to buy from Hudson Toyota. Of the ample number of Toyota car dealers, NJ residents choose Hudson Toyota because of reasons like “New Owner Clinics”, which are hosted by the dealership on a regular basis to familiarize new owners with their vehicles. A wide array of inventory isn’t exclusive to vehicles; an expanded parts department which has over 30,000 parts available is located at Hudson Toyota for customer convenience.

The accessibility of the dealership and availability of dealers is another reason why so many have chosen to buy from Hudson Toyota. Located just off of Route 1-9, Hudson Toyota can be easily accessed from Manhattan, Newark Airport, Meadowlands, Staten Island, Jersey Turnpike and I-95. Hudson Toyota’s hours of operation are convenient for all with the service department open six days a week and sales staff available late six days a week.

However, many car buyers find that the catch-22 of such a money saving tactic often means sacrificing reliability and quality for a low price tag. But Toyota NJ dealers car buyers can avoid compromising quality much the same as they can avoid can paying for the cost of a new vehicle’s depreciation by conducting simple research.

With the intent to help those on the market for a used car, U.S. News and Report conducted research on used cars based on various automotive resources and consumers reviews. U.S. News and Report consolidated information from sources such as a J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study and independent auto reviewers to develop a list of the best used cars on the market.

Toyota NJ dealers are not surprised that the Toyota Prius is on the top of the best used cars list. U.S. News and Report’s best used cars list takes into account everything car buyers consider in their purchase including dependability, cost, and convenience, all of which the Prius exemplifies.

Beyond the basic factors that influence a car purchase, the Prius happens to be one of the most fuel efficient cars in its class. Residents of New Jersey and other city dwellers have praised the Prius’s remarkable fuel economy of 41 mpg.

The first Prius hit markets in 2001 and was followed shortly after with the second generation Prius for the 2004 – 2009 model years. The minor changes that were made to the second generation model, which include hybrid system upgrades and a more spacious interior, were enough for U.S. News and Report to put this model at the top of their best used car list.

The Toyota car dealers NJ residents can visit will likely offer the first and second generation model, both of which live up to Toyota’s reputation for dependability and reliability. With the research to prove it, U.S. News and Report agrees, as far as used cars go, you can’t do much better than the Toyota Prius.

Here’s an oxymoron: the casual pickup truck buyer.  Pickup truck buyers aren’t casual.  Pickup truck buyers are a devoted, fanatic breed who can tell you with more certainty how much payload a Dodge Ram 1500 can take than the month their wife’s birthday falls in.  Pickup truck buyers, they want a truck that can haul stuff, a payload capacity of at least half a ton; they want road monsters that make compact and smart cars duck for cover on the shoulder.  Yes, this much is true.

And yet when Toyota debuted the Tundra about ten years ago, they came out with a pickup that, how to put this nicely, didn’t measure up to buyer expectations of what constitutes a pickup truck or, even, a Toyota.  NJ truck buyers and buyers all across the country were content to stick with the old guard (Dodge, Ford, Chevy).  Then slowly, over the last decade, there have been solid improvements made in the Tundra (the arrival of the Double Cab, enhanced powertrains, updated styling) and the latest makeover, as Toyota car dealers in NJ will tell you, is Toyota’s strongest offering yet.

The 2010 Tundra comes available in regular cab, Double Cab, and CrewMax (an extra large crew cab) body styles.  The engine choices should suit almost any hauling or work capacity need.  There is the top flight 381-hp 5.7 liter V-8.  In the middle, Toyota has done away with last year’s 276-hp 4.7 liter V-8 and replaced it with a 310-hp 4.6 liter V-8.  A more muscular engine good for towing stuff, but also it has better fuel efficiency, getting around 15 mpg city and 19 highway.  And then also, standard on the regular cab and shorter-bed Double Cab, is a 236-hp 4.0 liter V-6.  The Tundra V-8 engines still use a six-speed transmission and the V-6 a five-speed automatic.  As for other features, the base and Limited trims both come with revised grills, and four wheel drive or rear wheel is optional on all Tundras.

For Toyota, NJ, Iowa, Texas, these and locales just like them all over the country are where they expect to see the Tundra rumbling prominently along the roads and highways, not playing second fiddle to Dodges and Chevys.  The improvements taking place should help ensure truck buyers, you know, the one and only serious kind, start looking to their Toyota car dealers.  NJ, America, get ready.

Toyota Motor Sales will validate their status as a leader in automotive hybrid technology with the arrival of a plug-in version of the Prius Hybrid. Talk of the Prius Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle (PHV) has been circulating for some time now, leaving eco-conscious drivers drooling with anticipation for the PHV’s arrival.

The desire to get your hands on the vehicle may not be fulfilled in the near future, but Toyota didn’t become the front runner in sustainable mobility by procrastinating. As it turns out, the company is as much a leader in the safety of vehicles as they are in the hybrid technology of vehicles.

As a means to put the safest PHV on the market as possible when in goes on sale in 2012, Toyota has lent a very lucky group of 150 people from various organizations a prototype of the PHV to drive for the next 18 months. This will allow individuals to experience how the PHV performs in accordance to every day tasks as well as the longevity of the vehicle’s performance. These individuals will provide Toyota with feedback on the PHV giving Toyota the opportunity to repair any flaws before the vehicle becomes available to the general public.

Much like the current Prius, the PHV uses both electricity and gasoline to power the engine. A lithium ion battery is what distinguishes the PHV from the Prius and allows the vehicle to drive solely on electricity for 13 miles before reverting back to gasoline reliance. The PHV’s battery endures higher speeds than its derivative and can fully recharge in three hours.

The lithium ion battery not only endows the PHV with more power, it also keeps the PHV’s price tag affordable. Instead of a larger battery that needs to be charged overnight, the PHV’s smaller battery requires quick charges more frequently. Toyota believes the smaller battery that charges quicker conforms to every day tasks better than a larger battery that requires hours upon hours to recharge. The PHV’s quick-charge battery has an ultra low cost, which will put the vehicle on the market for a far less price than other automaker’s hybrids.

Your used car dealership of New Jersey, Hudson Toyota, credits the Prius Hybrid’s renowned acclaim to its city fuel economy of 48 mpg and small, compact body, which NJ residents consider essential features for city navigation. The PHV’s extended electric-only drive range and improved fuel economy of 60 mpg are sure to garner the same success as the Prius Hybrid for any local Toyota car dealers NJ residents will visit.

I recently had a chance to test drive one and let’s just say I had a great time.  A Friday afternoon well spent!  The Forerunner comes in three different models: SR5, Trail and Limited.  I drove the Trail.  I found it to drive very smooth and evenly, even on the off beaten path!  This model has several features that help it do well off road.  One is the Crawl Control.  What this does is help the Toyota car dealers NJ truck brake going up or down a hill and modulates the throttle automatically.

The Forerunner also has special tires that are designed for that perfect off-road experience.  The upholstery is waterproof, which came in handy!  Another feature that helped me keep my eye on the trail were the audio controls on the steering wheel.  I am a frequent channel changer and this has gotten me a few close calls in cars that do not have this feature!

For an SUV that is used off road by many of it’s loyal drivers, it also did well on the traditional highway.  The Trail model has a V6 engine that delivers 270 HP.  Very impressive!  Another attribute is the large cargo space- perfect for transporting your child to college, friends to the movies, and so on!  This Staten Island new Toyota SUV really is great and worth checking out!

A feature that makes the 2010 Forerunner really stand out is the Multi-Terrain Selector.  This feature will most likely be found on the 2011 Toyota NJ model that is scheduled to come out in Fall 2010.   Instead of writing about this nifty gadget, I found a video that I feel does more justice in describing it to you.

Mutil terrain selector video

Toyota car dealers NJ currently carry this awesome vehicle and the friendly staff are waiting for you to come in and check it out!

A Toyota official says this “program is a great opportunity to recognize the efforts of Toyota associates that contribute to our waste reduction and recycling efforts every day” and Toyota car dealers NJ hope that will trickle down to their individual dealerships.

Choosing to be a part of the first voluntary national solid waste reduction program puts Toyota at the forefront of the environmental movement among auto makers in my book. And this is certainly not their first effort to move toward being green. Car buyers of Toyota NJ should take note, as should those who are looking for an environmentally responsible product who haven’t yet driven Toyota.

Already in 2008 Toyota recycled over 86 percent of its waste, which amounts to 24,000,000 pounds. Toyota Motor Sales estimates that the amount of greenhouse gases reduced from this recycling effort is equivalent to all 2^nd generation Prius sold in the U.S. in 2008. Toyota car dealers NJ provide area car buyers with environmentally conscious cars like the Prius.

One of the ways Toyota is participating in the WasteWise program is by putting reusable metal containers in many of its distribution centers in place of wooden pallets or cardboard containers. This step has save approximately 25.9 million pounds of wood and 9.4 million pounds or corrugated cardboard and Toyota dealers in New Jersey hope to contribute to this effort in the coming year.

It’s refreshing to see car companies stepping up and taking measures of their own accord to help protect our environment and Toyota NJ dealers should be commended for getting the word out and joining the movement.

Toyota joins the more than 1,100 retailers, manufacturers and service firms in the WasteWise Program, which began in 1994. This is definitely a positive move in Toyota’s ongoing commitment to work green and gives me one more reason to smile as I drive my Toyota.

Coming soon to a Newark new Toyota dealer near you: The affordable, efficient 2010 Highlander SE. NJ Toyota car dealers announce pricing for the 2010 Highlander Special Edition available in January.  So naturally, I hope to begin the New Year with a test drive of the new Highlander SE at a Toyota NJ near me. And I’m hoping it hits lots before the snow is gone so I can really have some fun in this flagship Toyota SUV.

The Highlander SE will feature a 270-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 with five-speed auto transmission. With efficiency ratings estimated at 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg highway on the 4×2 model and 17 and 23 mpg for the 4×4, this sharp SUV is a great value from your Newark new Toyota dealer. The 4×4 model starts at $32,480, with the 4×4 at $33,930. This excludes an $800 destination and handling fee.

Toyota NJ dealers are proud to offer this luxurious ride, perfect for the commuter or the carpooler. The Highlander SE comes standard with leather seats, Tri-Zone automatic front and rear AC, an incredible audio system with a six-disc CD changer, 17-inch alloy wheels, heated front seat and exterior mirrors, a power tilt/slide moonroof, daytime running lights, Homelink universal transceiver and a tow package.

The countdown is on! Don’t wait to visit Toyota car dealers NJ and check out the 2010 Highlander SE – a fuel efficient SUV (yes, those words can be used together) at a price you can’t pass up. Maybe I’ll see you there. Just don’t get in my way if there is snow on the ground!