Toyota Raum

Toyota Raum
Overview
Manufacturer	Toyota
Production	May 1997 – March 2011
Assembly	Japan: Sagamihara, Kanagawa (Central Motors)
Body and chassis
Class	Mini MPV
Body style	5-door minivan
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive Front-engine, four-wheel-drive
Related	Toyota Tercel Toyota Vitz Toyota Platz Toyota ist Toyota Belta
Chronology
Successor	Toyota Spade

The Toyota Raum is 5-seater mini MPV that first appeared in May 1997. The second generation was released in May 2003. It was sold only in Japan at Toyota Netz retail sales channels.

The vehicle's name is German for chamber, berth, room, space, expanse, scope, area, or sphere and attempts to emphasize the vast amount of space it contains relative to its size. This is because the front doors on both the driver and passenger sides open conventionally, but the rear doors slide open rearward and attach to the top and bottom of the door openings and interlock to the front doors. The Raum uses a similar door approach also used on the first-generation Mitsubishi RVR/Space Runner.

There is no doorjamb between the front and rear doors that the doors attach to on the passenger side, and the passenger front seat folds flat upon itself and then can be folded forward while still being attached to the floor at the front bottom of the seat. The rear seats can be folded flat with a 60:40 split or can also be folded forward individually for a rear flat cargo floor.

The automatic transmission gear selector is dashboard mounted, thereby freeing up the flat floor space between the front seats, allowing movement to the back seat from inside the vehicle.

First Generation (XZ10; 1997–2003)

First generation (XZ10)
Pre-facelift Toyota Raum
Overview
Production	May 1997 – May 2003
Powertrain
Engine	1.5 L 5E-FE
Transmission	4-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,520 mm (99 in)
Length	4,025 mm (158.5 in)
Width	1,685 mm (66.3 in)
Height	1,590 mm (63 in)
Curb weight	1,090 kg (2,400 lb)

The development for the first generation Raum was led by Toyota chief engineer Tetsuya Tada. The Raum was equipped with EBD brakes on top level G and E packages, with a later addition to the C package. A minor facelift was released in August 1999.

It had a distinctive tall and boxy design, providing ample interior space while maintaining a small footprint suitable for city driving. Its unique styling included large windows, a high roofline, and a rear-mounted spare tire, giving it a practical and modern appearance. In addition, it was equipped with fuel-efficient inline-four cylinder engines, offering decent performance for urban driving conditions. While not very powerful, these engines are well suited to the purpose of the car for city travel and occasional highway driving.

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  Pre-facelift Toyota Raum
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  Facelift Toyota Raum
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  Facelift Toyota Raum

Second Generation (XZ20; 2003–2011)

Second generation (XZ20)
Pre-facelift Toyota Raum
Overview
Production	May 2003 – March 2011
Assembly	Central Motors Headquarters Plant
Body and chassis
Platform	Toyota NBC platform
Powertrain
Engine	1.5 L 1NZ-FE VVT-i
Transmission	4-speed automatic (Super-ECT)
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,500 mm (98 in)
Length	4,045 mm (159.3 in)
Width	1,690 mm (67 in)
Height	1,545 mm (60.8 in)
Curb weight	1,150–1,220 kg (2,540–2,690 lb)

A complete body change was released on May 12, 2003, and shared the platform with the Toyota Vitz. Side impact protection was further enhanced. The passenger side rear door can be opened electronically and by remote control key fob. The engine used in the second-generation model is shared with the Toyota Prius.

On October 20, 2003, the vehicle won the Japan Good Design Award with a special mention for people with physical disabilities. A new trim level was added in 2004, called the C Package NEO Edition, (NEW ERA OPENING). The DVD navigational system was upgraded to HDD on December 5, 2006. On January 7, 2009, a in-car cabin air filter was added and HID headlamps.

For model year 2007 on Japanese models only, G-BOOK, a subscription telematics service, is offered as an option.

Prices for the 2009 model start at ¥1,596,000 with the top level starting at ¥1,984,500.

The front passenger seats on a Toyota Raum can be folded forward to allow passengers easier access to back seats, or can be used for rear passengers foot rest. To fold front passenger seat forward, the seat must slide back as far as possible to allow maximum leg room. Then simply lifting up the latch on the side of the seat should allow for the seat to be folded all the way forward.

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  Toyota Raum with doors open
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  Pre-facelift Toyota Raum
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  Facelift Toyota Raum
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  Facelift Toyota Raum