The gp was comparing to luxury performance cars, which typically eat through brakes, tires and suspension equipment 2 - 4x as quickly as a non-lux/performance c

The gp was comparing to luxury performance cars, which typically eat through brakes, tires and suspension equipment 2 - 4x as quickly as a non-lux/performance car like your Toyota. They also typically require premium fuel and have unimpressive gas mileage. I'm skeptical of Electrek claims that they're a better value than an Accord or Civic, but for a performance car/status symbol, they really do look to be a solid value.