Description Of The Car

2006 Toyota Tarago Review

The good:

Fabulous space, plenty of room inside (far better than Chrysler Voyager). Good height for driver above traffic. Rear seats move back a long way. Smooth motor that drives like a sedan. stylish looks.

Excellent sound system. Maintenance is cheap (classic Toyota reliability). We have hauled heavy trailers around without the motor missing a beat (in fact braking with the added weight is the main issue not engine power).

The bad:

Outside mirrors could be larger.Dash warning lights can not easily be seen with the sun on the dash (exspecially the park brake warning light)No rear backing mirror fitted to assist in parking.



SAFETY

Enhanced safety for all occupants is the major focus of the new Tarago range. All eight seats have head restraints and three-point seat belts in a reinforced purpose-built body shell. Any family buyer who does not order the Enhanced Safety Pack for just $1500 in the GLi and standard on the GLX should think again. It brings Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction control (TRC), front side airbags, curtain airbags, drivers knee airbags, a Pre-Crash seat belt system and electronic brake assist (EBA) technology. When rivals can ask up to double the $1500 asking price for all these options (most VSC/ESP systems cost $700 on their own), the base GLis primary purpose seems to be a sticker price starting with a four to get you into the showroom. The entry-level Tarago GLi and its two airbags is a clear example where a lower price does not represent better value given its precious family cargo. All Taragos now have large disc brakes on all wheels (296 x 28mm ventilated fronts, 298 x 10mm solid rears), ABS and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD). The base GLi has a mechanical brake assist (BA) system.

EBD is vital when it can anticipate the big changes in loads, weight distribution and road surface which would normally have an unpredictable effect on braking in a peoplemover. Full marks for this vital feature!

The Electronic Brake Assist and VSC vehicle stability systems in the GLX and GLi Enhanced Safety Pack are linked to the Pre-Crash Seatbelt system. When either system senses that the driver is in trouble, it activates electric motors to pre-tension the front seat belts. It is a case of primary safety systems working to get you out of trouble while a secondary system prepares for the worst case scenario. Toyota claims that the new body offers extra side protection with energy absorbing materials in the pillars and roof rails. The front crumple zone also minimises pedestrian injuries through smooth, soft surfaces and careful placement of wipers and other fittings.

Toyota claims its radical Combimeter instrument panel is a safety feature when in practice, it is potentially one of the most distracting features offered in a passenger vehicle for some time.
The Porsche 911 prior to the most recent models was always criticized for its scattered array of dials. Toyota has adopted this cluttered horizontal Porsche layout then moved it towards the centre of the dash and buried the gauges at the bottom of a black hole that places them so far way they almost warrant a pair of binoculars!

Toyota might get away with it in dim Northern Hemisphere light but not in Australia.
While cruising into the extreme light generated by the Taragos panoramic front view, a simple speed check requires the driver to drop his or her eyes from the road, turn them towards the centre of the dash, wait vital seconds for their eyes to adjust and focus to see within the depths of the Combimeters black hole, then scan a jumbled mess of dials to locate the speedo!
The speedo calibrations are such that it will then take another extended time margin to confirm the actual speed. If you are wearing sunglasses, forget it.

One of these problems in isolation is one too many but in combination they are at best distracting and arguably dangerous. The layout is so bad that the transmission indicator is in front of the passenger and its actually quicker to take your eyes off the road totally and look at the lever itself.

The dinky little compartment ahead of the steering wheel where the gauges should be is simply not worth it especially when it not easily accessed. My passenger, after noticing she had a better view of most dials than I did, concluded she would not want to drive the Tarago before I had said anything.

The improvement at night, while marginal, suggests that the bright Aussie light has highlighted a problem not exposed elsewhere. As so many Taragos head to even brighter northern light conditions, buyers need to work out whether they can live with this.

Exterior

All three grades have body-coloured bumpers and door handles, dual multi-reflector headlights, rear spoiler, dual rear sliding doors and tinted side and rear glass all as standard features. The GLi has steel wheels with stylish wheelcaps, while the GLX and Ultima have alloy wheels. GLX and Ultima both have standard fit roof rails, and Ultima has the additional luxurious touch of an electronically operated sun-roof as standard.

Interior

All three grades feature front bucket seats with inboard arm rests, drivers seat 2-way cushion tilt, front and rear power windows, power exterior mirrors, and air-conditioning as standard. GLi and GLX are upholstered in a functional and attractive dark gray fabric. The second row seats features a 60:40 split fold seat back, to make getting into the third rows seats quick and easy.

The Ultima features bonus luxuries as standard including woodgrain look trim, leather seat trim, leather bound gear knob, and leather bound sports/prestige steering wheel. Heated front seats and climate control air-conditioning mean your driving environment is always perfectly attuned to your liking. .


ON THE ROAD

Quiet, smooth, undemanding (instruments aside) and characterless is how you would describe the Taragos demeanour -- exactly as you would want it if you are constantly ferrying a full load of passengers.

On the highway, there is a real sense of low resistance and effortless movement commensurate with a fuel gauge that doesnt move much over long distances. This has always been the Taragos strength and in this vital area it is better than ever, providing you have engaged the cruise control before the crazy instrument panel can ruin your day. The big seats and sprawling space really make a difference over long distances.

The suspension is firm for little body roll and the constant track advantages of the new rear axle are immediately apparent on smooth surfaces. There is a welcome absence of squirm or self-steering from suspension geometry changes, vital when the Tarago presents so much sheet metal to a crosswind.

While the engine is no powerhouse, it is more than adequate under typical 110km/h limits.
Although roadholding is strong, changing direction does evoke the typical front-drive feel of a lead-tipped arrow when the Tarago has been clearly set up for straight-line stability. It is not enough to cause alarm but will discourage most drivers from any heroics which is probably how it should be.

Away from the bitumen, the suspensions firm settings do not readily absorb larger potholes or corrugations. A little too much road shock gets through and generates a few rattles you would never expect -- basically it doesnt feel comfortable in these conditions and the quality feel starts to dissipate.

Where the Tarago once had a woollier feel on the bitumen and a more absorbent nature on dirt, the latest model is clearly set up for an absence of body roll and effortless long distance highway cruising. This may have been emphasized by the 55-series low-profile tyres and 17-inch rims on the test GLX. The Tarago is not alone in not being set up for local roads on low-profile tyres. For rural drivers where this could be an issue, the higher 65-series tyres and 16- inch rims on the GLi should absorb more of the low-speed road shock at the cost of some precision.

Overall:

Although the overall trim finish looks cheap it is very functional with excellent air con though out the entire vehicle.Great sounding factory sound system .Quiet to travel in unless wanting to overtake when the auto transmission seemed to drop one gear too many causing over reaving with no real speed increase(adjustments may have been needed on this vehicle).It would take a bit getting used to parking this van.The centre seat is a bit hard to return back to the rear seating position once moved forward to allow rear passenger out but over all i would still purchase this vehicle as the front wheel drive version of this vehicle should exceed the previous rear wheel drives reliability in petrol and diesel options.This vehicle tested was on hire for 1 week. 25000 km.