Toyota: Taking Steps to Ensure Quality and Safety in 2010

Safety First -- At Milton Ruben, our family looks after your family. The IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) is an influential auto safety group headquartered in Washington, D.C. that prods automakers to build safer cars. IIHS reports that after testing twelve 2011 midsize SUVs (Sport Utility Vehicles) for safety, five have been awarded the group's top safety rating for their performance in crash tests and in a new rollover test that measures roof strength. Milton Ruben Superstore is proud to report that four of the five top rated 2011 midsize SUVs (Sport Utility Vehicles) are available for sale at Milton Ruben Superstore on Washington Road and for sale or review at drivebaby.com. The Winners: Toyota Highlander (Available at Milton Ruben and at www.miltonrubentoyota.com) Toyota Venza (Available at Milton Ruben and at www.miltonrubentoyota.com) Jeep Grand Cherokee (Available at Milton Ruben and at drivebaby.com) Chevrolet Equinox (Available at Milton Ruben and at drivebaby.com) Kia Sorento (Occasionally available at Milton Ruben Pre-Owned Superstore and at drivebaby.com)  Automakers tout the insurance institute's rankings, which are based on dozens of crash tests annually, and many smart, educated, informed consumers consult them before buying a new vehicle.  Included among the SUVs that failed to receive IIHS's Top Safety Ratings are:  Ford Edge's (Acceptable roof strength but not a Top IIHS Pick for Safety)  Mazda CX-7 (Marginal roof strength)  Nissan Murano (Marginal roof strength)  Honda Pilot (Marginal roof strength)  Mitsubishi Endeavor (Marginal roof strength)  Honda Accord Crosstour (Marginal roof strength) In February 2009, IIHS told automakers it would require stronger roof standards to get top safety pick status. Some of the vehicles that didn't get top honors haven't been redesigned since the new requirement was announced.  The insurance institute insists automakers build roofs that are twice as strong as what the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  "Automakers are making progress in rollover protection," said Adrian Lund, president of the safety group.  In addition to the roof tests, vehicles must earn good ratings in front, side and rear crashes to be named a top safety pick.  Jeep brand President Mike Manley touted the designation for the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The vehicle provides consumers with "enhanced safety and security," Manley said, plus traditional Jeep capability and a "premium driving experience."  Milton Ruben Superstore is proud to offer the safest vehicles on the road.  Help keep your family safe.  Please visit us on Washington Road or shop us online at drivebaby.com.  Milton Ruben Superstore.  Your Whatever it Takes dealer.  We do deals the other guys just won't.  And we never compromise on safety.

Toyota made a big showing in this year's automotive awards. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's "Top Safety Picks for 2011" have been released, with more vehicles included  than any previous year - and under tighter standards. IHHS writes, "To determine crashworthiness — how well a vehicle protects its occupants in a crash — the Institute rates vehicles good, acceptable, marginal, or poor based on performance in high-speed front and side crash tests, a rollover test, plus evaluations of seat/head restraints for protection against neck injuries in rear impacts. To earn TOP SAFETY PICK for 2011 a vehicle must have good ratings in all four Institute tests. In addition, the winning vehicles must offer electronic stability control." Cars, minivans and SUV's in Toyota's 2011 line up that received IIHS's "Top Safety Picks for 2011" award include: Toyota Avalon Scion tC Scion xB Toyota Corolla Toyota Sienna Toyota Highlander Toyota Venza It's important to note that the Toyota Sienna is the only "Top Safety Pick for 2011"  in the minivan category. This Toyota minivan also received an award from Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com as "Best Resale Value."  It gets kudos for having the most cargo space in its class, for being the only all-wheel-drive minivan, and for having the best combined MPG ratings of any 7-8 passenger van (according to toyota.com). Toyota also makes a big showing in U.S. News and World Reports "2010 Best Cars for the Money" awards. Noteworthy vehicles on the list include: Toyota FJ Cruiser Toyota Camry Toyota Tacoma Toyota Prius Toyota Venza Toyota Sequoia Toyota Land Cruiser The Toyota Sequoia was also awarded the "Most Dependable Large Multi-Use Vehicle" by J.D. Power and Associates - for the fourth year in a row. IntelliChoice.com gave it the "Best Overall Value of the Year for a Full-Size SUV." Popular Mechanics gets in on the award giving with their "Top 10 Cars of 2011: Auto Excellence Awards." PM editor's "record the functionality, technology, value and feel of new cars in test drives."  The 2011 Toyota Sienna was a pick. Milton Ruben Toyota of Augusta has a large online inventory at www.MiltonRubenToyota.com.

I was reading blogs and came across two women/mothers who thought that is was ridiculous that Toyota was trying to make their Toyota Sienna Minivan “cool” looking. Quotes below: “It's tough to put swagger in a minivan. Toyota Motor Corp. has tried to claim its all-new 2011 Toyota Sienna is cool, fun and the kind of vehicle young, hip parents want in their lives. But that's simply not true. There's nothing particularly cool about a minivan. Cool is Corvette, cool is cruising to a Tigers' game on a summer night with the top down and 89X cranking on the stereo. There are no juice boxes in cool. Coolness is instantly removed when a person becomes a parent. This is a fact of life even Edna Garrett can agree with. But don't let dumb marketing get in the way of a great minivan…..The Sienna has been redesigned for 2011, and it's precisely some of those redesigned features that don't rock my world. The Sienna's wider, shorter body sits low to the ground, and when coupled with the rear spoiler the new look made me feel like I should be cruising the strip rather than going to the grocery store. Superficial? Perhaps, but it matters.” “Something about the 2011 Sienna's exterior makes me think it's trying too hard to be cool. It doesn't quite work for me. While this Sienna has purportedly borrowed some style tips from Toyota's Venza and Camry models, it made me think that this is what a minivan would look like if Toyota ever decided to have its Scion brand manufacture one. Let's be honest, this is a car that people buy to be pragmatic, not to flaunt their cool factor. I'm just not buying into the Swagger Wagon idea. “  Well I happen to completely disagree with these women. After these above quotes, they both go on to talk about how wonderful, safe, and functional they are.  Why can’t a minivan look good? I don’t get it.  I am 24 years old without any children of my own and I have seen Siennas here that I would love to drive. They do look cool. They really do not resemble minivans at all compared to all other brands. SAFETY The 2011 Toyota Sienna has been named an IIHS Top Safety Pick. To earn this safety award, a car must get the highest score of Good in front, side-impact, rear and rollover crash tests. It also must have standard stability control, which the Sienna does. The Sienna also has standard four-wheel-disc antilock brakes with brake assist, traction control, active head restraints in the front row and seven airbags, including side curtains for all three rows and a driver's knee airbag. All-wheel drive is optional. The Sienna has three sets of lower Latch anchors, with two sets in the outboard second-row seats and a third in the middle position of the third row. The Latch anchors are deeply embedded in the seats. While the seat cushions were pliable enough to get to the Latch anchors without chipping your diamond ring (as I did in another test car), I'd love to see them a little easier to access in future models.     The second row slides back and forth, which is a godsend when installing child-safety seats. Because of it, there's plenty of room for a rear-facing infant-safety seat and convertible seat in the second row. While I ran into visibility issues with my son's forward-facing convertible seat installed in the third row, my son had plenty of room. A high-back booster seat fit well in both the second and third rows.