Cars.com Podcast: 2012 Toyota Camry, 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid, 2012 Toyota Yaris

It’s been a Toyotathon of a week here at Cars.com. First, we got our hands on the all-new, completely redesigned 2012 Toyota Yaris — now available just as a hatchback. Then, we test-drove the even more important 2012 Toyota Camry and Toyota Camry Hybrid. Both have improved ride and handling, interiors and gas mileage. Will it be enough to help turn around Toyota’s sagging sales in the U.S.? Discussing all of this on this week’s podcast are Cars.com editors Joe Wiesenfelder, Kelsey Mays and Bill Jackson.

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Cars.com Reviews the 2012 Toyota Yaris

We’ve had a bit of frenzy around our offices regarding the redesign of Toyota’s entry-level Yaris. Typically, a car of this sort isn’t buzz-worthy, but with its early reveal at Lollapalooza, folks took notice. Editor Bill Jackson was able to test the new Yaris where it counts — on public roads — and he came away a bit mixed about the 2012 model. Check out his review for insight into the different trims and how they hold up against the competition.

2012 Toyota Yaris Review

2012 Toyota Yaris Starts at $14,115

Late last week we showed you some exclusive shots of the U.S spec redesigned 2012 Toyota Yaris hatchback. Still without any official U.S. press shots or info about the powertrain, the automaker announced today that the new model will start at $14,115 for the two-door hatchback, excluding a $760 destination fee. That’s about $1,000 more than the 2011 model; the four-door hatch starts at $15,140 (up $1,685). There’s no next-generation sedan model, at least not at launch.

That entry price makes the Yaris four-door hatchback more expensive than almost all its competitors: the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic ($14,635), 2011 Honda Fit ($15,100) and 2012 Hyundai Accent ($14,595). Only the 2012 Ford Fiesta costs more ($15,500). 

Toyota says that price increase includes $1,000 worth of new standard equipment compared with the outgoing model. Toyota says that extra standard equipment includes many of the features that come with the 2011 Yaris’ Convenience Package, such as a split-folding rear seat, CD player and larger windshield washer fluid tank.

2012 Toyota Yaris: Up Close at Lollapalooza

Generally, we don’t get up close with a new model before it is officially announced. But thanks to marketing miracles, we bring you the first look at the 2012 Toyota Yaris from the rock spectacle known as Lollapalooza 2011.

The three-day festival in Chicago’s Grant Park is a perfect target market for Toyota. That’s probably why the brand wanted to get the redesigned Yaris in front of those eyeballs ahead of the media.

Fortunately, Cars.com editor Joe Bruzek is attending Lollapalooza this weekend, and on his day off he filed a full report, including information from spec sheets being handed out to interested concert-goers.

Toyota Rebounds Past its Recall Woes

A year ago, amidst the backdrop of recalls, stop sales and sensational headlines, the Toyota brand reported a sales decline of 10.3%. That’s worse than the company’s overall performance, which also includes Scion and Lexus sales.

This year, the opposite is true. Toyota has bounced back with a 48.5% sales gain while Lexus dragged down the company’s performance to a 41.8% gain. We detailed some of Lexus’ problems earlier today.

But what fueled Toyota’s sales?

Toyota Yaris Hybrid to Debut in Geneva

Toyota has stated in the past that it wants all its vehicles to have a hybrid option, and with the Yaris Hybrid HSD concept coming to the 2011 Geneva International Motor Show, that idea is one step closer to reality.

Besides the hybrid powertrain, we don’t know much about this next-generation Yaris. It definitely looks sleeker, that’s for sure.

Judging from the teaser shot, the Yaris hybrid doesn’t look much like the Prius C concept that we saw at the 2011 Detroit auto show. Toyota has said that it wants a smaller Prius-branded vehicle for the U.S., so right now we’re unsure if this is coming to the States or if we’ll have to wait for a production Prius C. We’ll have more info closer to the Geneva show next month.

How Good Are Toyotathon's Deals?

After checking out multiple dealership regions, Toyotathon is a good opportunity overall if you’re looking for a 2011 model year vehicle or if you’re trying to lease.

The recently redesigned 2011 Highlander already has a $500 cash-back deal and an attractive lease rate of $319 per month. In fact, all of Toyota’s lease rates – the automaker has traditionally leaned harder on this option – are excellent.

All the lease deals ask for less than $2,000 due at signing, so you’d pay a lot less upfront compared with some competitors, especially for Toyota’s pickup, minivan and crossovers. In some regions, such as Southern California, there’s a “$0 Down Payment, $0 Security Deposit, $0 Due at Signing, $0 1st Month's Payment” regional deal for folks who lease.

If you’re financing, most models offer 0% to 2.9% for 60 months.

With nearly 60% of Toyota’s inventory now 2011 model years, most remaining 2010s have lost their incentives. The outgoing 2010 Corolla gets $1,000 to $1,250 cash back on it; remember that the model was refreshed for the 2011 model year. The redesigned 2011 Avalon and Sienna both have $1,000 cash-back deals, too.

Most of the deals below expire Jan. 3.

40 mpg Ford Fiesta, Other Small Cars Flounder

Automakers quickly turned to small cars when gas hit $4 a gallon in 2008. Folks everywhere downsized, trading in giant SUVs for traditional compacts and the latest subcompacts, like the Toyota Yaris. The trend prompted Ford to bring its best global small car to the U.S., the Ford Fiesta, while it looked to beef up its compact, the Focus, to be a more premium offering. This trend of subcompact and larger compact is being seen across the industry.

The Fiesta has been on sale for a few months with a full inventory on most lots. (There are more than 9,000 in Cars.com’s national inventory.) However, the Fiesta isn’t setting the sales world on fire, and the rest of the segment isn’t, either.

Toyota Announces October Incentives

Throughout the summer Toyota offered fairly generous incentives on its vehicles to compensate for its flagging sales, which were caused by a deluge of safety recalls.

For October Toyota’s incentives are fine-tuned to get rid of its remaining 2010-model-year inventory and other slow-moving vehicles. These incentives are good through Nov. 1, but it’s important to note that some regions and dealer groups have opted out of the incentive programs, changed the terms or shifted incentive money from one model to another that’s weak in their specific region.

For instance, the Los Angeles region has an incentive on some models of no down payment, no security deposit, no money due at signing and no first month’s payment deal. The Chicago area has a $1,000 cash-back offer for recent college grads when they buy or lease select Toyotas as well as special lease rates.

To find detailed incentives, go to buyatoyota.com for the current offers in your area.

Below you’ll find a list of incentives on current Toyota vehicles.

New Chevrolet Aveo Debuts at 2010 Paris Motor Show

• Competes with: Ford Fiesta, Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit 
• Looks like: Pretty much a spitting image of the Aveo RS show car from Detroit 
• Drivetrain: 100-115 horsepower four-cylinder with six-speed automatic or manual transmissions 
• Hits dealerships: Sometime in 2011 

Chevrolet has released more information and two new production shots of the new Aveo, which will go on sale in the U.S. and Canada in 2011.

The two photos of the five-door hatchback show a car that resembles the Aveo RS show car we saw at the 2010 Detroit auto show.