Legendary reliability, electronic watches from the 1980s, and intervals of 10,000 km – we recall the most characteristic features of Toyota cars
A watch from the 1980s
In fact, Toyota interior design is the topic of a separate article or even a series of materials. From generation to generation, designers and ergonomists continued to use constructive solutions on Toyota models, which at first were a kind of feature of these machines, but over the years began to cause confusion. So, one of such features of Toyota interiors was a digital clock with a font that echoes electronic calculators from the mid-1980s, which for several decades were found in almost all models of the brand. More recently, the manufacturer began to abandon the strange clock in the most prominent place on the front panel, since the time in the car can be viewed both on the onboard computer screen and on the display of the media system. However, on many modern Toyota models, the legendary “watch” is still present and continues to annoy the owners.
Plastic under the “tree”
Plastic, stylized as veneered wood, is another kind of “feature” of Toyota interiors, which appears year after year on a variety of models of the Japanese brand. Moreover, these details differ not only in the not very skillful design of the texture, which immediately gives them cheap material, but also not very high wear resistance. As a rule, such pads are very quickly covered with small scratches from contact with hard objects like coins, keys, and even phones and lose their “expensive” presentation.
Weak “noise”
Of course, this statement is not true for all Toyota models, but most cars of the Japanese brand, alas, do not shine with noise insulation against the background of competitors-classmates.
The owners of the most affordable and mass-produced Toyota models mainly complain about the mediocre sound insulation of the interior, but sometimes the owners of expensive Toyota cars also produce additional noise insulation in their cars.
Thin varnish
From about the middle of the “noughties”, the Japanese manufacturer began to use less toxic water-based paintwork on all its models. From the point of view of ecology, the new paintwork turned out to be much less harmful to the environment, but this also affected the quality and durability of the paint itself. The varnish on the bodies of Toyota cars has become thin and reacts very sensitively even to minimal mechanical impact, which is why it quickly loses its factory shine. Even from small stones and sand flying from the road, a large number of chips and scratches are formed on the body. The most vulnerable places are the edge of the hood, the body of the rearview mirrors, the upper part of the wings, unprotected by mudguards and fenders.
Frequent THAT
Today, most automakers have switched to a maintenance interval of once a year or 15,000 km of mileage on almost all of their models. Moreover, some premium brands when using motor oils and “long life” even advise stopping by at THAT time in 25,000 km. And other models independently recommend the owner to go for service only when the onboard electronics determine the wear of consumables and changes in the characteristics of the oil in the engine. But with “Toyotas” everything is different. The Japanese manufacturer still requires servicing of all its models once every 10,000 km of mileage.
Reliability
Myths and legends have been composed about the endurance and durability of these machines for years, which are now very difficult to destroy. Yes, over time, Toyotas, like any other cars, tend to break down, but they still do it less often than others. And this is not an unfounded statement: from year to year, Toyota models occupy the leading positions in the reliability ratings of various independent agencies.
The Japanese manufacturer is quite conservative and is rarely the first to decide on innovations and the introduction of breakthrough technologies in the industry. As a rule, advanced solutions for Toyota cars appear much later than from other manufacturers. And the Japanese, as a rule, prefer time-tested solutions. So Toyota fans continue to rejoice at the fact that they own some of the most reliable cars in the world.
Unpretentiousness
This trait is inherent in all Toyota cars and is also closely related to the time-tested design solutions of Japanese cars. For example, the industry has long been using low-volume turbocharged engines, preselective robotic gearboxes, and complex electronic control systems. And the Japanese continue to put their cars with atmospheric engines and classic “automatic machines” for years.
And even stepless transmissions, which in recent years have begun to be used on Toyota, the Japanese began to use one of the last, until they were “run-in” by other manufacturers.
But it is these solutions that provide Toyota cars with unpretentiousness in operation. These cars are not terrible to fill up with 92 gasoline or diesel from a little-known gas station. And even small garage services can perform maintenance of such machines.
Comfort
Of course, Toyota has built completely different cars in its long history. In the line of the brand, there were even legendary sports cars like the 2000 GT. And one of the recent examples is the tough uncompromising GT86 coupe, which was built in cooperation with Subaru. In addition, Toyota’s glorious sporting traditions have always been expressed by Supra, which was recently revived by the Japanese brand. However, for many years, most Toyotas have always been built with a focus on safety and comfort.
Soft suspensions, smooth running, and sedate character are the features that are inherent in the absolute majority of Toyota models and what their owners really appreciate.