Thank you for this great review!

"We brought our car in for its routine oil change/check and discovered the water pump needed to be replaced. The service team took care of us, especially with working out our warranty coverage to include this repair. Great job, Burien Toyota. This is the way to build customer loyalty!" -Eugni P.

2013 Toyota RAV4 is Affordable, Versatile, Convenient According to Cars.com Review

This Expert Review of the 2013 Toyota RAV4 on Cars.com couldn't be more spot on. We love this real world review from a mom (who is also a car critic) with practical perspectives on the new and improved RAV4.

How does she hook us? By admitting she recommended the previous version of the Toyota RAV4 to her friends, but would never own one. The 2013 Toyota RAV4, though, she does own.

"The 2013 RAV4 not only looks great, but it still offers everything a busy family could want: It's affordable, versatile and has many conveniences."

If you are looking for a family car, one thing that seems to be on the checklist of must-haves is: it can't look like a family car. By shedding its boxy shape the 2013 Toyota RAV4 has met this requirement.

"The changes to the 2013 RAV4's exterior are drastic. The new styling has taken years off the RAV4's appearance, and it's now one of the best-looking compact crossovers in the segment. With dramatic angles and a sleeker frame, it looks modern and ready to stand against its competitors"

One of the most important features of a family vehicle is cargo. Many of us at Burien Toyota have families, so we know how important this really is and the difference it can make in your life. For example, the 2013 Toyota RAV4 can easily fit two car seats and there is still room to recline without getting kicked by children with restless leg syndrome (or to get a reaction from mom or dad). The writer of the Cars.com review, with her own family, took special note of the cargo space of the 2013 Toyota RAV4, especially since it no longer includes a third row of seats. As a professional car critic, she noted that the cargo space is more than most crossovers, including the Kia Sportage.

This review even addresses some things that other critics might count against the 2013 Toyota RAV4, including the fact that it will no longer be offered with a V6 engine. Her conclusion? The specs for the 2013 Toyota RAV4 are just fine for the average family who don't need extreme performance, just enough to get around. For those looking for that third row of seats?

"It's no longer an option in the RAV4 for 2013. I say kudos to Toyota for keeping things real in a compact SUV; folks in need of a third row should research the Toyota Highlander. Enough said."

Of course, one of the most important aspects to a family vehicle is safety. The 2013 Toyota RAV4 comes with all the safety features you would expect: anti-lock brakes, brake assist, traction control, and eight airbags, including side curtains for both rows. It also has a back up camera with rear parking sensors and, "A blind spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert is optional. Rear cross-traffic alert has quickly become one of the most valuable features to me in cars these days, and it's also one that is rarely seen in this class. When in Reverse, it will alert the driver if it senses anything behind the car; this is especially great in tight parking lots. All-wheel drive is also optional."

The interior of the car has also been upgraded, and these changes, while subtle, are mostly for the adults.

"I love that the 6.1-inch touch-screen comes standard, which really helps to streamline the center stack considerably. Toyota's Entune multimedia system is optional. The RAV4 also has four cupholders, a center console with USB input, cutouts and bottleholders in each door, and seatback pockets for the backseat...The cabin remains airy feeling, and the legroom is ample."

Stop by Burien Toyota today to test out the 2013 Toyota RAV4. In fact, bring the whole family so you can picture exactly what it would be like to have your family in the all-new RAV4. Click HERE to see the inventory of 2013 Toyota RAV4s at Burien Toyota or just stop by!

Toyota Goes Big Grille for Shanghai Auto Show

Toyota unveiled several concept cars at the Shanghai Auto Show, including a stylish family wagon and Corolla Furia off-take.

Toyota FT-HT Concept

The vehicle that made one of the biggest impressions was the Toyota FT-HT concept. When you first look at the pictures of the profile and front of the vehicle, you don't think three row family car...but it is.

According to an article by Gizmag.com, the Toyota FT-HT can seat six (three rows of two individual seats), has a three-light headlight configuration, has scissor doors (which I doubt will make it to production) and a HUGE, dramatic grille.


Which brings us to another concept revealed at the Shanghai Auto Show, which also has a gigantic grillee: the Toyota Yundong Shuangqing II. This concept looks a lot like the Toyota Corolla Furia revealed at the Detroit Auto Show not too long ago.

And it's a hybrid.

Toyota Yundong Shuangqing II Concept

According to this Motortrend.com article, "The Shanghai concept adds a chrome trim piece between the tweaked taillights and, since it’s a hybrid, does without the Furia’s exhaust outlets that are integrated into the bumper. If Toyota ever decides to offer a Corolla hybrid in the U.S. — despite the fact that the Prius C and regular Prius cover the price range from about $20,000 to beyond $30,000, it might use the Prius C’s hybrid powertrain... A Toyota Corolla hybrid could attract customers who don’t like the Prius family’s hatchback body style, but may simply cannibalize Prius sales."

We don't think the Corolla Furia or Yundong Shuangqing II hybrids (I hope they plan on shortening the name), will cut into the sales of the Prius. People want options and we think the more hybrid options there are, the more people will be willing to jump into the hybrid ownership pool.

But what's really important is that the Yundong Shuangqing II concept also has a massively huge grille. Is it purely style or is there a function to it relating to the hybrid engine? We will have to wait to find out because no specs were provided for either car.

Both the Shanghai concept and the FT-HT will be produced only for China, which is too bad because it'd be great to have even more hybrid options here in the United States, especially in the family vehicle department.

And, really, what do you think of those gigantic grilles? Love them or hate them?

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