Toyota seems to want to show the world that it has a fun side. Apart from the 86, the Japanese carmaker is putting a bit of cool styling into otherwise mainstream models. And in its latest little offering, the Toyota Roomy and Tank, it even allows owners to have a bit of fun themselves.
While the Roomy and Tank may look like boxes on wheels (literally), the shape does have its benefits. The smallish footprint outside belies the large interior that can accommodate a 1,500mm cargo area. This is enough to carry bikes and large objects when the seats are folded and the cargo tray removed. Front occupants even have walk-through access to the rear, making it easy for parents, for instance, to attend to their kids.
When ferrying people, five adults can climb on board and ride in comfort with lots of comfort and convenience features to boot. A pair of power sliding side doors makes entry and exit a breeze. Step-in lighting, meanwhile, ensures safety for passengers at night or when in dark locations. And a 4.2-inch information display shows all the pertinent vehicle data at a glance.
Built for families and the active set, the Toyota Roomy and Toyota Tank are both powered by a potent yet fuel efficient 1.0-liter in-line three-cylinder motor. There is even a turbocharged version that develops as much torque as that of a normally-aspirated 1.5-liter mill. And Toyota quotes fuel consumption figures that average 24.6km/L for the two-wheel drive model, 22km/L for the four-wheel drive version, and 21.8km/L for turbocharged variants.
Yes, you read that right: an all-wheel drive model is available to provide that extra ounce of traction on slippery surfaces. Speaking of safety, the Smart Assist II system helps driver avoid accidents by eliminating accidental forward and backward acceleration, lane deviation, provide brake assistance, and offers a function that alerts the driver if the vehicle in front has started to move forward—such as when stuck in traffic and the driver is distracted while texting.
The Toyota Roomy and Toyota Tank are available in different variants and can be had in as many as 14 different colors. Three new shades of Laser Blue Crystal Shine, Imperial Gold Crystal Metallic, and Brilliant Copper Crystal Mica have also been added to the choices.
Jointly developed with Daihatsu Motor Company, the new Toyota Roomy and Toyota Tank are available at all Toyota and Netz dealers throughout Japan.
