Toyota New Zealand was crowned NZ’s automotive market leader for 2018.

Toyota has restyled the 14 wide-bodied variants of its 21-model Hilux ute range, as the maker celebrates the iconic workhorse’s 50th anniversary globally.

The nebula blue ute parked on the drive looks the part, but is it up to the undertaking the rigours of a week in cow-country Waikato?

Toyota’s Hilux-based Fortuner SUV line-up has had an aggressive upgrade in New Zealand with the addition of a TRD (Toyota Racing Development) enhanced version. 

Toyota is changing the way it sells new vehicles, notably by moving away from commission-paid sales staff and haggling over purchase price.

While the Toyota Hilux is the ‘go to’ for anyone looking for a no-nonsense ute, it’s probably been losing some ground to Ford and Holden.

With the compact SUV sector making up 20% of the total SUV market, it’s not surprising to see Toyota launching a new model to claim its share.

The latest Land Cruiser 70 series from Toyota is a truck, so it won’t be the choice of Remuera Roamers, Mission Bay Mums or anyone looking for wheels to do the supermarket or daily school run.

Champion shot putter Dame Valerie Adams will chance her arm at some very different sports next month at the Hilux New Zealand Rural Games in Palmerston North.

This new year might just be the time to buy a new vehicle.