Apparently, the start of 2011 is helping this auto giant move in the predicted way.  Sales in February 2011 were extremely strong, as numbers were up across many models, as compared to February 2010.  With the same amount of selling days in both Feb 2010 and 2011, the comparison is very important to look at in more detail.

As a whole, Toyota sales were up 48.5% in Feb. 2011 versus a year ago.  Let’s look a few specific models to see how they did.

• The Toyota Corolla, Champaign sedan drivers can purchase now at our store, saw a 52% rise in sales, translating into 25,860 models joining other vehicles on the road.
• How about the Prius?  Yep, this did very good in February as well, with 13,539 units going into the hands of drivers anxious to save quite a bit of money on gas.  This amount is just under a 70% jump over sales a year ago in the same time frame.

Some of the more compact SUVs should also be highlighted, as their sales were also very strong.  In much the same way as a person might choose a Prius as a gas efficient model, someone who needs more space, but not the price tag of a large SUV, might choose a compact SUV.  We’ll show you a few that you might want to test drive soon at O’Brien Toyota of Urbana.

1. The Highlander and Highlander Hybrid sold over 8K models in February, which might not sound like a lot compared to other unit amounts, but it’s a 138% jump over Feb 2010 sales.  The Highlander has a lot to offer and can be found in large supply at our dealership.
2. The RAV4 also did very well, with an increase of almost 85% over last year’s same period numbers.  This too is a smart choice for buyers.  If you are a fan of Champaign used car models, the RAV4 can be found here as well.

When you think about the cost of an auto, as we often do when making a purchase decision, you have to consider many factors in addition to the price to fill up and the sticker price.  A list of the best green cars for your buck was recently released by Forbes and a few Toyota models made the cut.

How was this determined?

First off, only vehicles that were given a rating of “excellent” or “good” in their category were chosen for the study.  After this list was compiled, the green autos were chosen based on these other important money-related considerations:

• Depreciation
• Insurance
• Interest
• Taxes and other fees
• Repairs and other routine maintenance
• Opportunity costs

The hybrids, electric vehicles, and diesel based autos that had lowest overall costs were chosen as smartest buys.

Toyota’s that made the list

The Toyota Highlander Hybrid was part of the list and, yes, you can currently test drive one at our store, the leading dealership for new and used cars Urbana residents will certainly agree!  It was chosen based on several big factors:

1. Federal tax rebates available
2. Lower fuel costs compared to others in its class (28 mpg for city and highway driving)
3. Lower than average depreciation rates

Another popular Toyota model you can count on to get the most out of your money while going easier on the environment is the Prius.  This is no surprise to those of you who are tried and true Prius drivers.  It gets incredible gas mileage, has many upscale features, and like the Highlander Hybrid, it has lower than average depreciation rates, especially in the first few years of ownership.  This is a key factor, as it’ll get better resale value down the road should you decide to trade it in for something different, perhaps a Toyota Corolla, Champaign drivers can find both new and preowned at O’Brien Toyota of Urbana.

The IIHS has chosen these models for top safety picks in 2011:  The Toyota Sienna (only minivan chosen as a top pick), Avalon, Highlander, Corolla, and Venza.   What is nice about this list is that it includes vehicles of different sizes and classes, to appeal to all different drivers.  You’ve got the Sienna, Highlander and Avalon that are larger vehicles with more passenger and cargo space.  The Venza represents the wagon class and the Corolla is a sporty sedan that has plenty of features and good gas mileage. 

How vehicles are chosen as top safety picks

Each year, the IIHS conducts various crash tests to evaluate how well an auto would hold up if certain areas are impacted in the event of a collision.  The institute conducts frontal crash tests, side impact tests, rollover ratings, rear crash protection/head restraint effectiveness tests, and electronic stability control evaluation.  These tests take into account the auto’s design, strength of materials, and more.  To be considered a top safety pick, a vehicle must score the highest rating of “good” in each of the categories.  Clearly Toyota models are made very well and include many of the top safety features available in today’s autos.

Toyota’s Star Safety System

In response to loyal customers’ desire for the safest models possible, by the end of 2010, all vehicles across the board will come standard with the Star Safety System, which includes 5 major safety mechanisms.

1. Vehicle Stability Control
2. Traction Control
3. Anti-lock Braking System
4. Electronic Brake-Force Distribution
5. Brake Assist

Each of these 5 systems have a major job in helping a vehicle stay on its intended path of travel, applying brakes as necessary, and much more.  Please visit our store today for the Corolla Champaign area residents and beyond can test drive, along with other quality Toyota models.  You’ll feel at ease driving around in autos that are as safe as possible!

So far, this calendar year, sales for the Toyota Camry have gone up. This is a pretty impressive fact taking into consideration that this model has always sold like hot cakes. Sales this calendar year total 190,000 and are up 2.8 percent for the first seven months of 2010 when compared to the first seven months of 2009.

The Camry continues to remain popular for a number of reasons. First off, it is an attractive ride, but not to the point where it is overly flashy. On the interior, the Camry is very comfortable. The Camry is also effectively priced, which makes it accessible for a wide range of drivers. Included in this low price comes standard features such as air conditioning, power windows and door locks, cruise control, 16-inch wheels, traction control, electronic stability control and steering wheel-mounted audio controls.

Starting at $20,155 the 2010 Camry was given the “smart buy” label. The Camry offers more at a lower price than some of its main competitors. The 2010 Ford Fusion has a starting price of $20,420. The Camry’s main competitor, the Honda Accord starts at $21,805.

For those looking for a vehicle similar to the Camry, but smaller in size, the Corolla would be a perfect fit. There is a large selection of available Corollas for Champaign drivers to view at O’Brien. For drivers preferring to purchase used Corollas, Champaign car dealer O’Brien Toyota can provide those as well. Regardless of what you are looking for, O’Brien Toyota is the perfect place to go.

There are a variety of incentives being offered by Toyota right now. First on the list is 0% APR for 60 months on six popular Toyota models. That seems almost unheard of! Additionally, Toyota has made amazing leases available on eight of their popular models, including the Champaign Corolla, Camry and RAV4. And finally Toyota is offering two years of free maintenance. This was originally reserved for returning customers, but due to its popularity Toyota officials extended this incredible offer to all customers.

All of these incentives are designed to move cars off the lots. Senior Vice president Don Esmond explains that Toyota is taking these actions because they want their dealerships, like the Champaign Toyota dealer, to take advantage of the rising automotive market. So are the incentives working and helping to move cars off the lots? Well since Toyota’s March sales this year were up over 40% from the March sales of last year I would say they are!

Although these incentives come in the wake of recall issues, I am not deterred or worried about my purchase of a Toyota, like the Champaign Corolla. I have been a loyal Toyota customer for years and have been more than pleased with every Toyota I’ve ever driven.

Toyota is committed to and grateful for their loyal customers. This is evidenced by both their efforts to ensure safety and reliability and by their lucrative sales incentives aimed to put money back in the pockets of the people that matter most – customers like you and me! So, if you’ve been thinking about purchasing a new Toyota…what are you waiting for? The time to buy is now, thanks to all the great incentives at your local Champaign Toyota dealer. Head in today and talk to their friendly sales staff to find out what incentive package you can take advantage of!