Toyota is extending warranty cover to 10 years, including for Hilux and Land Cruiser Commercial models, with its new Relax service-activated package, and will include vehicles where the previous cover has expired.
The new warranty cover, called Toyota Relax, will see every model in the manufacturer’s range covered for up to 10 years or 100,000 miles. That includes the entire commercial vehicle range, such as the Toyota Hilux or Land Cruiser Commercial, as well as the Proace van range.
Launching today, 1 June, the warranty will be applied to any Toyota vehicle visiting a main dealer for a routine service, extending warranty cover from that point by 12 months or 10,000 miles. For the Proace van, with its extended service intervals, that stretches to two years or 20,000 miles. At each service, the warranty will be extended once again, until the time or mileage limits are reached.
All new vehicles will be covered by a comprehensive three-year warranty, running for 60,000 miles. For those new owners, the Relax programme kicks in once that standard cover has expired.
“This is a game-changing proposition that redefines the manufacturer warranty, giving our customers the reassurance and value of cover for up to a decade of motoring,” explained Rob Giles, Toyota customer services director. “Relax offers great benefits to the customer, at no extra cost beyond the price they pay for a scheduled service. Their vehicle improves in value and they have peace of mind that our comprehensive cover provides.”
This confidence is supported by successive awards Toyota has received for reliability and customer service. Recent achievements include being named Car Brand of the Year 2020 and top-ranked mainstream car manufacturer for reliability by the consumer organisation Which?, winning the Auto Trader Most Reliable Brand 2021 award, ending just 0.76% behind Best Brand title-winner Lexus (Toyota’s sister luxury brand) in the most recent Auto Express Driver Power survey, and placing third, behind just Lexus and Mitsubishi, in the 2020 What Car? Reliability survey.
The launch of Toyota Relax should be a major boost to the brand’s already strong reputation and will be supported by a marketing spend of £3.2 million to ensure both buyers and existing owners are aware of the new programme.
Toyota Relax Warranty: Is Every Toyota Really Covered?
Every Toyota (and Lexus) vehicle is covered, as long as it is under 10 years old and has covered fewer than 100,000 miles. It does not apply only to new vehicles, so second, third or fourth hand vehicles still qualify, subject to the age and mileage limits.
Older vehicles, where any existing warranty cover has expired, will also be included in the Relax programme once they’ve visited a dealer for servicing.
Every powertrain is covered too, ensuring that any petrol, diesel, hybrid, electric or even hydrogen-powered vehicles are covered by the same warranty.
There are no restrictions on commercial use, ensuring cover is available for pickup trucks and vans alike.
Got questions about Toyota Relax? We answer all your Toyota warranty queries right here.
Toyota Relax Warranty: How Comprehensive Is the Cover?
There are, Toyota tells us, no complex clauses, exclusions or caveats. The Relax warranty covers the same parts and labour as the three-year manufacturer’s warranty provided on new Toyota and Lexus vehicles and the one-year manufacturer warranty that’s standard with approved used vehicles.
A vehicle health check is part of the service package, which includes all mechanical and electronic parts, which helps potential problems to be detected at an early stage. Any existing defects present at the time of service are excluded from the warranty.
It does not include wear and tear items, bodywork, paint, interior trims and maintenance parts.
Got questions about Toyota Relax? We answer all your Toyota warranty queries right here.
Toyota Relax Warranty: What’s the Catch?
Apart from the age and mileage limits, everything is eligible, from a hard-working Hilux to a track day toy GR Yaris – once you’ve taken it to a Toyota centre for a scheduled full or interim service.
For those that are more laid back regarding their vehicles’ servicing, or those that carry out the majority of work themselves, that means having any faults rectified (or accepting any faults already in place won’t be covered) and paying main-dealer prices for a service.
For users who already stick to the regular service schedule and use a Toyota centre for their servicing needs, nothing will change beyond receiving extended warranty cover after each visit.
Got questions about Toyota Relax? We answer all your Toyota warranty queries right here.
Toyota Relax Warranty: Why Is Toyota Doing This?
While the Relax programme will extend Toyota’s already strong reputation for reliability, reassuring existing owners with improved warranty cover, it’s fair to say that Toyota isn’t doing this for entirely altruistic reasons.
Toyota is banking on Relax bringing more customers into its retailer network – there are currently more than one million Toyota and Lexus vehicles under 10 years old on the UK’s roads – and that those visits will generate new business opportunities and build customer loyalty.
“There are compelling business benefits to be gained, with Relax connecting us with more owners, building loyalty and giving our network partners the opportunity to maximise value chain opportunities in both sales and after-sales activities,” commented Toyota’s customer services director, Rob Giles. “The designed-in simplicity of the programme will help draw more business into our centre network, with warranty costs contained by the well-proven quality, reliability and durability of our vehicles. We are confident that the introduction of Relax will result in a net gain for the business.”
Full details of the Toyota Relax programme can be found by following this link to Toyota.co.uk.
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