Toyota Tarago 2007 Review

Launched: Toyota Tarago V6

Power to the people! The peoplemover, that is. With Toyota's spirited and silky 3.5-litre V6 shoe-horned under its brief bonnet, the Tarago is noticeably more powerful than any other V6 'mover on our market.

Tarago's V6 engine is essentially the same found in the Toyota Aurion and Lexus RX350, albeit with minor differences in power and torque. As a result, the 2GR-FE unit breathes new life into the Tarago, with always-responsive performance gilded by perceptibly smoother and quieter delivery throughout the rev range. Moreover, the V6's lusty energy doesn't bite at the pumps. With lab-test  figures of 10.2L/100km (GLi) or 10.3L/100km (GLX and Ultima), it has far and away the best-in-class fuel economy.

Besides three-figure cruising with a licence-threatening lack of fuss, the extra performance really shines for quick overtaking and on steep climbs. Credit to the syrupy transmission, also, for its selections are invariably slick and almost never misjudged.

No critical disappointments await in the driving dynamics, either. Although there's enough nose-heavy understeer to notice when forcefully changing direction, the firmer-for-Australia suspension provides good handling and body-roll control without discomforting the absorbent ride quality.

Drivetrain and equipment levels apart, the V6's big change over its continuing four-cylinder sibling is in rear seat packaging. Here the offset, split rear bench folds deep into a trench in the floor, giving a long, flat load space. Spare wheel? Aha, a spacesaver, beneath the offside second row passenger's floor. Not hugely convenient perhaps, but at least it's there for roadside assistance to discover. Manipulating the rear seat is easy in the GLi and GLX, and the touch of a finger in the electrically-operated Ultima, which also has auto-slide side doors.

The GLi's eight-seat capacity is realised with a second row bench, 40 percent of which allows access to the third row. This unit also has 667mm of fore/aft travel to adjust second and third space allocations. The GLX and Ultima are seven-seaters, with the middle row consisting of two captain's seats offering over 800mm fore/aft adjustment, and 85mm of lateral travel for walk-through access to the rear. Additionally, the backrests recline through 72 degrees and a leg-supporting ottoman can be extended from below the cushion.

So, want to travel in style? The Tarago V6 certainly has the goodies - and go.