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Yeah, this is an unfortunate transition considering Toyota has generally been the most technologically sophisticated mainstream car manufacturer. When I recentl

Yeah, this is an unfortunate transition considering Toyota has generally been the most technologically sophisticated mainstream car manufacturer. When I recently did some test driving, Toyotas were by far the most advanced vehicles I test drove, I'd expect them to have no difficulty competing in a post-combustion environment. I didn't end up purchasing a Toyota this time around, but only because the primary criteria to meet wasn't technological superiority.

browningstreet 5y ago
Huh? They’re very much not advanced. They’re simpler cars than their rivals, which allows for higher dependability. That’s the whole crux of their offering. (on my second Toyota, after years of driving Audi’s)
- ocdtrekkie 5y ago
  For your base model Camry, sure. But on the higher trim levels, you'll see a lot of features and options other manufacturers don't even have. And a lot of companies have "a hybrid model" or "an electric model", but that's it. Bear in mind, the most common class of car today is the crossover or SUV. Toyota can sell you any model of its cars as a hybrid. Meanwhile, when I shop around other SUVs, and then ask if they sell it as a hybrid, they give me a dumbfounded look, like the idea of selling a car with a third row seat that has a hybrid engine is absolutely ludicrous.
  - t0mbstone 5y ago
    Oohh I see what you mean. I thought you were talking about their technology like automatic cruise control (with full stop-and-go) and lane keep assist. Subaru and Hyundai, for example, have both had those technologies in their cars since around 2013 or so, while Toyota literally only just recently released those features a year or so ago. And Toyota's lane keep assist is TERRIBLE.
    - ocdtrekkie 5y ago
      I ended up buying a Kia (which shares it's DNA with a similar Hyundai model), and I can confirm that their automatic cruise control is stellar, FWIW.
  - browningstreet 5y ago
    ...instead of working on EVs, so now they find themselves behind in the changing market, so they lobby for higher emission standards. They may offer more hybrids across their product line-up, but their in-car/dash tech is far behind, and Lexus has been a laggard for many years.
- jrsj 5y ago
  In a way being able to engineer and produce something simpler at a large scale very consistently with few defects is more advanced than having more advanced but unreliable technology you sell at a lower volume
vsskanth 5y ago
Toyota aren't technologically sophisticated by design. They only use tried and tested technology which have been out for years. This is how they have stellar reliability. However I think they really innovated on hybrids. German OEMs have the most new mechanical tech followed by the Americans.

browningstreet 5y ago

Huh? They’re very much not advanced. They’re simpler cars than their rivals, which allows for higher dependability. That’s the whole crux of their offering. (on my second Toyota, after years of driving Audi’s)

ocdtrekkie 5y ago
For your base model Camry, sure. But on the higher trim levels, you'll see a lot of features and options other manufacturers don't even have. And a lot of companies have "a hybrid model" or "an electric model", but that's it. Bear in mind, the most common class of car today is the crossover or SUV. Toyota can sell you any model of its cars as a hybrid. Meanwhile, when I shop around other SUVs, and then ask if they sell it as a hybrid, they give me a dumbfounded look, like the idea of selling a car with a third row seat that has a hybrid engine is absolutely ludicrous.
- t0mbstone 5y ago
  Oohh I see what you mean. I thought you were talking about their technology like automatic cruise control (with full stop-and-go) and lane keep assist. Subaru and Hyundai, for example, have both had those technologies in their cars since around 2013 or so, while Toyota literally only just recently released those features a year or so ago. And Toyota's lane keep assist is TERRIBLE.
  - ocdtrekkie 5y ago
    I ended up buying a Kia (which shares it's DNA with a similar Hyundai model), and I can confirm that their automatic cruise control is stellar, FWIW.
- browningstreet 5y ago
  ...instead of working on EVs, so now they find themselves behind in the changing market, so they lobby for higher emission standards. They may offer more hybrids across their product line-up, but their in-car/dash tech is far behind, and Lexus has been a laggard for many years.
jrsj 5y ago
In a way being able to engineer and produce something simpler at a large scale very consistently with few defects is more advanced than having more advanced but unreliable technology you sell at a lower volume

vsskanth 5y ago

Toyota aren't technologically sophisticated by design. They only use tried and tested technology which have been out for years. This is how they have stellar reliability. However I think they really innovated on hybrids. German OEMs have the most new mechanical tech followed by the Americans.