Toyota Estima- A Japanese-designed Minivan

The Toyota Estima is also known as the Previa or Tarago, depending on what country you are in. This sleek minivan was introduced in 1990 and has undergone a few changes since then. Produced in Japan, it was first sold in the United States in 1991. It has been a popular minivan in Australia as well as in Europe, where there is a large market for the used vans exported from Japan.

Performance

The 2007 Toyota Estima offers the option of a 2.4 L or 3.5 L engine. The Hybrid version (currently only available in Japan) has three electric motors, two for front-wheel drive and one for rear-wheel drive.

Despite the fact that it is a minivan, the Estima gets about 24 miles per gallon and includes an overdrive button which allows for better mileage on highways by converting the transmission into a four-speed one. It reaches speeds of up to 112 mph, depending on the engine used.

As a minivan, the Toyota Estima is not exactly built for high-performance drivers, but it does stand up well to the daily grind of shuttling kids to and from soccer games.

Design

This minivan is one of the more stylish family vehicles on the market with a streamlined exterior and spacious interior. The large windows, combined with narrow door posts allow for nearly 360º visibility, a fact that is appreciated by safety-conscious drivers.

The third row of seats folds down automatically with the push of a button for extra cargo space. The second row of seats, mounted on tracks, actually recline for greater comfort and even have their own footrest. In the eight-seat model, the second bench seat can be split into a double seater and a single. Both of these can be swivelled around to face backwards. The seats may also be folded down to form a bed, a very useful feature.

Two different stereo options make music a truly impressive experience in the Toyota Estima. With up to 11 speakers built into the headliner, the listener gets full surround sound whether listening to a concert or watching a DVD. The stereo is streamlined into the interior design, as are all other interior features such as air conditioning,

Originally designed with just one sliding passenger door to allow back seat access, the Toyota Estima is now available with dual back doors, allowing far easier entrance to the rear of the vehicle.

Safety Features

Safety was not left out of the vehicle's design. The frame is specially designed to distribute the force of any impact out over the entire van, causing less interior damage and thus protecting its occupants. Side impact bars and seat belt pre-tensioners are all standard as well. On top of these features, dual airbags, ultrasound parking sensors and anti-lock brakes add to the overall safety of the Toyota Estima.

The Estima was also first to pass all U.S. safety standards in the van category. These standards include driver side airbag, central rear brake light, and ABS, among others. It is an impressive feat for a foreign-produced vehicle.

Other Models

Two smaller versions, the Toyota Estima Lucida and the Toyota Estima Emina, were developed in Japan to counteract special vehicle taxes. In Japan, car owners are taxed according to the length and width of their vehicle. The slightly smaller Estimas were designed to fall into a lower tax category, but they are also popular imports in Europe because of their more economic fuel usage and the fact that they can be fuelled with diesel.

In 2006, Toyota brought out a new version of the Estima, a hybrid that has one of the highest fuel efficiencies in the world. It also boasts extremely low emissions and is considered to be a "green" vehicle. Currently, this model is only sold in Japan, but we can always hope for world-wide circulation in the near future.

Consumer Opinions

Known as the "egg van" in the U.S. for its ovoid shape, the Toyota Estima is a very popular vehicle. Its main target countries are Japan, Australia and the U.S.

The Toyota Estima is considered to be an excellent family vehicle. Users say it drives well both in town and on long road trips. Nearly everyone is impressed with the amount of space available inside and the versatility of the seating arrangements. In short, Toyota's Estima model is a big hit on the consumer front.