Toyota has tweaked the interior of the Toyota Tarago added more features and cut the price of models by up to $1700.

TOYOTA AUSTRALIA has announced key updates to its Tarago range with the entry level, and volume-selling GLi and GLX, both four-cylinder and V6 models, now getting sat-nav as standard. Indeed, satellite navigation is now standard across the Tarago range.

All Tarago engines are now certified to Euro 5 emissions standard. Tarago’s 202kW 3.5-litre V6 is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The 125kW 2.4-litre four-cylinder runs a CVT.

The four-cylinder Tarago range now starts from $45,490+ORC “a price that has not been seen since the 1990s”. Prices for V6 grades now start from $50,490+ORC. “The latest reductions follow price cuts early last year flowing from the free-trade agreement with Japan,” Toyota said.

2016 Toyota Tarago pricing:

• 4-cyl GLi   $45,490+ORC (-$1,500);
• 4-cyl GLX  $47,990+ORC (-$1,500);
• V6 GLi     $50,490+ORC (-$1,500);
• V6 GLX    $55,990+ORC (-$1,500); and
• V6 Ultima $65,600+ORC (-$1,716).

All Tarago interiors have been refreshed with a “black soft-touch dashboard, piano-black treatments for the centre cluster and air vents, and improved heater/air-conditioning controls with easier-to-use electrostatic switches”. The instrument cluster has been tweaked to allow for a new, colour 4.2-inch multi-information display to site between the analogue tachometer and speedometer. New three-spoke steering wheels include controls for infotainment and communications.

“Reversing camera and 3-D satellite navigation images are displayed on a 6.1-inch touch-screen display that is also used to operate the audio system. Bluetooth hands-free and audio-streaming functions, voice recognition, SUNA live-traffic updates, USB input, single CD player and AM/FM bands with FM radio text are all standard,” Toyota announced.

The top-spec Tarago Ultima V6 has seen a price drop of $1716 and, like the rest of the range, gets a a reversing camera and an emergency brake signal that flashes the hazard lights during heavy stopping. According to Toyota, V6 GLX and Ultima grades get “premium seats” that feature “luxurious quilted suede-like black fabric flanked by synthetic leather”. Two-step front seat heaters are new to V6 GLX. All other grades are equipped with grey cloth seats. Ultima, and now V6 GLX, have auto-levelling high-intensity discharge headlamps with an adaptive front lighting system that enables them to swivel on low beam when turning corners.

Toyota Australia’s executive director sales and marketing Tony Cramb said the latest updates would expand upon the compelling reasons for Tarago to be purchased by people whose needs have outgrown other vehicles.

“Families and business owners will appreciate that Tarago’s renowned space, comfort and quality have been enhanced by a more upscale interior and even better value due to expanded levels of equipment and sharper pricing,” Cramb said. 

Standard safety equipment includes seven airbags, vehicle stability and traction control, anti-skid brakes, electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist. All models have cruise control, hill-start assist, tilt-and-telescopic steering column adjustment, front and rear heater/air-conditioning, rear spoiler and remote central locking. Two front corner and four rear parking sensors are standard on GLX and Ultima.

Toyota said, in its release, that it had popularised the people mover segment and that’s probably quite true, but did it make it exciting. And, when I say exciting, I mean that if you had to buy one you didn’t feel like you’d given up on motoring pleasure. No. I’d say Honda’s Odyssey was the people mover that made owners feel like they could still enjoy driving a people mover and its looks off the dealer floor made it seem as if it’d been slammed… I’ll go out on a limb here and say that I reckon that car made owning a people mover cool. Anyone agree, disagree? See you in the comments…