Toyota Tarago could return – with electric power
An overseas report says the Toyota Tarago people-mover could be revived in 2025 – five years after it was axed – joining the Japanese car giant’s line-up of new electric vehicles.
The Toyota Tarago people-mover could be coming back to showrooms – but with electric power – according to the latest reports out of Japan.
Reputable Japanese publication Best Car reports the Tarago – sold in its home market as the Estima – will be “re-released as a BEV (battery-electric vehicle) minivan” in 2025, five years after Toyota axed the people mover globally.
In December 2021, Best Car claimed the electric Toyota Tarago would return in 2023 – though the predicted date of its launch has passed without any official confirmation from the Japanese car giant.
The Japanese publication reports the reborn Tarago would likely be based on Toyota’s e-TNGA electric-car platform, which underpins the bZ4X SUV and the China-only bZ3 sedan – offering front- and all-wheel-drive layouts.
Best Car has previously claimed the people mover could be branded as the ‘BZ Estima’, with a driving range of approximately 500km – now up to 600km, according to the latest report.
The unsubstantiated report also suggests pricing for the electric Toyota Tarago could start from up to seven million Yen in its home market – equivalent to approximately $74,000 in Australian currency.
In 2019, the Tarago’s last year on sale in Australia, the people mover was priced from $45,490 to $65,261 plus on-road costs, and powered by a choice of 2.4-litre four-cylinder and 3.5-litre V6 petrol engines.
The least expensive new electric people-mover currently on sale in Australia is the LDV Mifa 9, which is priced from $104,000 plus on-road costs.
While Australian buyers have never been offered an electrified Tarago from Toyota’s local showrooms, the Estima Hybrid was sold across two generations in Japan from 2001 to 2019 – pairing a 2.4-litre petrol engine with electric motors for 'e' all-wheel drive.
The Toyota Estima Hybrid has become a popular import from Japan, with dozens currently listed for sale on Australia’s second-hand car market.