toyota prius

Lexus Tops Consumer Reports' Brand Report Card

Lexus topped the rankings in Consumer Reports's 2013 automotive brand report card. Detroit automakers didn't fare very well -- Cadillac's 14th place tie was the best for U.S. brand -- while Japanese automakers again dominated, taking eight of the top 10 spots.

How Close Are We to the Age of the Self-Driving Car?

Imagine a world without traffic jams, driver's licenses or car insurance. Sounds like science fiction, but maybe it's not. Last week, California became the second state in the country to pass legislation paving the way for self-driving vehicles.

Is the Electric Car Revolution Running Out of Juice?

Electric car sales are nowhere near what the auto industry -- or Washington -- hoped they'd be by now, though Tesla Motors' hot Model S sedan doing great, and the the Chevy Volt is finally getting some traction. But is the electric revolution stalled, or just accelerating too slowly?

40 Miles Per Gallon Isn't All It's Cracked Up to Be

Fuel efficiency is on the mind of a lot of car shoppers these days, and automakers have responded with more vehicles that get 40 miles per gallon -- or better. But that great mileage may not be a great deal for your wallet.

What Today's Booming Auto Sales Mean for Car Shoppers

U.S. car sales just hit their highest level in four years, and that's good news for economy watchers. Falling unemployment, more cooperative lenders, and rising consumer confidence all contributed to the boom. So if you're looking to buy, what does this all mean for you?

BP's Prediction: Your Old Car Is Almost Obsolete

When a major oil company predicts that the era of gas-powered cars is coming to an end soon, the rest of us might want pay attention. According to BP, you've got maybe 18 years left before your car is obsolete -- and probably a lot less than that.

Why Used Car Bargains Are Getting Harder to Find

Thinking about buying a used car? You might want to do it sooner rather than later. Prices are on track to rise an average of 1.8% in 2012, and used compact cars will go up even more -- nearly 3%. What's going on? And what does it mean for car shoppers?

Will You Buy an Electric Car? Tesla Hopes So

Upstart automaker Tesla Motors confirmed this week that its groundbreaking Model S, an all-electric luxury-sports sedan, was on track to enter production by this summer. It already has pre-orders for more than 8,000. Is the moment coming soon when electric cars go mainstream?

Ford Fusion Revamp Steals the Detroit Auto Show

There was nothing wrong with the old Ford Fusion. In fact, it had its best sales year ever in 2011. It's a good-looking, high-quality sedan and a good value. But when Ford took the wraps off the new Fusion this week, it had been transformed from a good hybrid to a deluxe hottie.

Earthquake, Gas Prices Could Set Back New Car Sales

New car buyers may go on strike -- again. Faced with the rising cost of fuel and parts shortages that could drive up new car prices and make some popular models scarce, consumers in the market for a new car may decide to delay purchases or turn to used cars.

2010: The Year of Automobile Recalls

Automakers recalled more vehicles last year than in any of the last six years. And while Toyota Motors accounted for much of the growth, with problems including unintended acceleration and glitchy brakes, many other car manufacturers also saw their recalls increase.

Toyota Revives Miss. Plant, Will Boost U.S. Production

Toyota plans to rev up its vehicle production in the U.S., despite November's 7.3% drop in U.S. sales. The automaker has hired the first of an expected 2,000 workers for a new Mississippi Corolla plant, and says it expects to boost overall capacity utilization significantly from last year's weak levels.

Toyota Plug-In Hybrid Coming in 2012

Toyota says it will bring a plug-in hybrid to the American, Japanese and European markets in 2012. The company, which seemed to fall behind rivals Mitsubishi, Nissan and GM in coming out with a next-generation hybrid vehicle, says its technology isn't behind at all.

Honda Fit Hybrid Battles Toyota Prius in Japan

Honda unveiled its new hybrid Fit subcompact in Tokyo Friday. At a starting price of around $19,160, it is cheaper than any other hybrid vehicle in Japan -- including Toyota's popular Prius.

Toyota Recalls 17,000 Lexus HS 250h Hybrids

Toyota has recalled the 2010 Lexus HS 250h hybrid model after government tests showed that in a rear-end collision, it could leak fuel, possibly resulting in a fire. This is the latest in a long string of Toyota recalls over safety defects in its cars.

Toyota Tells Dealers It's Readying a Fix for Prius Brakes

Embattled automaker Toyota has told its dealers that it's readying a fix for problems with the brake system of its Prius hybrid sedan. The Japanese carmaker also told dealers it's planning a public-relations campaign to deal with the fallout from the problems with its vehicles.

Toyota Tells Dealers It's Preparing Plan to Fix Prius Brakes

Toyota has told dealers it's preparing a plan to repair the brakes on thousands of hybrid Prius cars in the U.S., with more details to come soon. More than 100 drivers of 2010 Prius cars have complained that their brakes seemed to fail momentarily when they were driving on bumpy roads.