More Power for Toyota's New 8-Seat People Mover

Motoring Channel Staff - 21/Mar/2006

With a smooth new style, a more powerful engine and impressive safety systems Toyota's new Tarago has the onerous task of taking the fight to the super-sleek Honda Odyssey in the style stakes, which is has been roundly acclaimed for its ease of use and radical approach to the people mover genre, and also the Kia Carnival, particularly in the sales stakes.

In 2005, Toyota had a 25 per cent share of people mover market with two models (Tarago and Avensis), while Kia's Carnival captured more than 28 per cent.

Toyota is adamant that the new Tarago will help it claw back market share, and will price its new model from $48,990 for the GLi, and $51,990 for the higher-spec GLX.

Toyota's 4-cylinder Tarago is roughly $20,000 more than Kia's $29,990 V6 Carnival, suggesting Toyota is going to have to market the Tarago very cleverly to make any impact on its South Korean rival.

But Toyota is far from a weak foe, and with its fourth generation Tarago hopes to enlighten families as to the virtues of eight seats and multiple storage areas, with a touch of Toyota style.

As with any self-respecting people mover, family comes first, and family often means lots of junk comes on even the shortest of journeys to keep every last occupant happy. 

As such, the new Tarago has a plethora of storage options to cater to these needs, including eight cup holders, four bottle holders, three storage locations for the driver, front door pockets, a passenger's upper storage area as well as lockable glove box, and driver’s and front-passenger’s seatback map pockets.

There's also the 60/40 split-fold second- and third-row seats, both with folding centre armrests and height-adjustable head restraints catering to all shapes and sizes, and an under-floor storage area with lid located in the rear luggage area.

Though it retains the age-old Tarago image, the 2006 model has a new look, featuring upgraded slimline headlights that flow into the equally slimline grille. Slab-sided doors and a long body give the vehicle a traditional minivan look, andnew exterior mirrors have integrated indicators, giving it an upmarket appearance. New LED brake light clusters add a contemporary touch to the rear of the vehicle, and  Toyota reasons that the new styling has improved the Tarago's overbody and underbody aerodynamics, taking the drag coefficient to 0.31.

The vehicle's improved 2.4-litre, similar to the powerplant that features on the RAV4, is matched to an electronically controlled 4-speed automatic transmission with what Toyota calls gated shift and a sequential-shift feature. To you and me it means tiptronic.

Toyota reasons that with intelligent variable valve timing technology, the Tarago has the fuel economy of a 2.4-litre engine coupled with the performance of a larger engine with combined fuel economy figures of 9.5 litres/100 kilometres.

The improved engine delivers 10kW more power than superseded Tarago and the added driveability of an electronic throttle, says Toyota. It delivers 125kW of power @ 6000rpm and 224Nm of torque @ 4000rpm.

As the world's second largest automaker explains, the 2006 Tarago has more power, improved fuel economy, lower emissions, improved handling, higher feature levels, higher levels of active and passive safety, and better interior seating flexibility and cargo space utility than its precursors.

It has improved body rigidity too, up by 20 per cent, and superior aerodynamics to the previous model.

Toyota will offer the Tarago in two model grades (GLi and GLX), both with an improved VVT-i and balance-shaft-equipped engine, ABS anti-skid brakes, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA) as standard equipment. Safety innovations include the availability of up to seven SRS airbags (standard on GLX and part of an Enhanced Safety Pack option on GLi), with a driver’s knee airbag, and the debut in Australia of Toyota’s Pre-Crash Seatbelt System.

The Pre-Crash Seatbelt System uses information from the electronic BA system and/or vehicle stability control system to prepare the front seatbelts in anticipation of a collision, which increases their effectiveness in the event of a collision. Again,the system is standard equipment on GLX and part of the Enhanced Safety Pack option for GLi.

All models in the Tarago range feature dual-zone (driver and front passenger) climate-controlled air conditioning and pollen filter, rear-seat cooler, electric power-assisted steering, tilt and telescopic adjustable steering column, cruise control, MP3 compatible CD-tuner with steering wheel audio controls, remote central locking, power windows and a full-sized spare wheel.

If you opt for the entry-level GLi model, it can be optioned with one pack – the Enhanced Safety Pack, consisting of Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, Toyota Pre-Crash Seatbelt System, front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain-shield airbags and driver’s knee airbag (giving a total seven airbags).

GLX has a range of additional features over GLi, including Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control, Toyota Pre-Crash Seatbelt System, front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain-shield airbags, driver’s knee airbag, roof rails, front and rear parking sonar, 6-disc CD multi-changer and 17-inch alloy wheels, and rear seat climate-controlled air conditioner.

The Tarago name is unique to Australia - overseas markets get the same model badged as Previa or Estima.