What 'What Car said about the Estima Hybrid.

TAPAJEN.MARK · 16th July 2008, 04:51 PM

What Car? Q&A - Where can I get a green MPV?
Q: I have a large family and I've been looking for a large alternative-fuel MPV for a while.

I came across information on the Toyota Estima hybrid early last year, but Toyota GB said there were no immediate plans to bring the Estima to the UK.

I also asked if garages would be able to service the car if I imported it. My local Toyota dealer said that they would not.

If Toyota can't service the Estima, could you tell me of anywhere that can? Have I overlooked an alternative model already on sale here in the UK - something as large as a Previa?
Phil Gayle

A: The Estima was known as the Previa when Toyota sold it in the UK, but the company decided to stop importing it in 2006 to concentrate on bigger-selling cars.

There's been no change in that strategy, so there's no prospect of any Previa turning up on these shores as an official import, let alone the four-wheel-drive hybrid version.

If you did decide to buy a 'grey import' from Japan, having it serviced would be tricky. Even a franchised dealer with all of its kit and training wouldn't necessarily have the expertise to service such a car.

While Toyota dealers have experience of the Prius hybrid, the system used on the Estima is entirely different, and may well require specific tools that no workshop in the UK will have.

An independent garage is likely to find it even harder to work on the car and keep it running smoothly, so it looks like a lot of unnecessary trouble to us.

As far as models already on sale in the UK go, the biggest you'll find is Lexus' 4x4, the RX450h, from £36,393, but, like the Prius, Lexus GS and Lexus LS hybrid, it only seats up to five, which may not be suitable for you.

If you need more seats and want to be as green as possible, here are the cars we recommend on the basis of their CO2 emissions and fuel economy.

1 Renault Grand Scenic 1.5 dCi (105) Expr'n 144g/km VED Band C 52.3mpg
2 Citroen Grand C4 Picasso 1.6 HDI Exclusive 150g/km VED Band C 49.6mpg
3 VW Touran 1.9 TDI 105 DPF S 160g/km VED Band D 47.1mpg
4 Kia Carens 2.0 CRDI LS 163g/km VED Band D 46.3mpg
5 Vauxhall Zafira 1.9 CDTi 120 Club 165g/km VED Band D 46.3mpg

Andy Capp · 16th July 2008, 09:32 PM

Glad to see they love the Estima too

leevor · 17th July 2008, 11:00 AM

oh praise be to the almighty estima

ClintJ · 21st August 2008, 10:02 AM

Toyota`s petrol engines have a good record and the only problems that the prius has on occassion is a bad cell or bad battery link.
I like the idea of what it offers and I know what its like to chase up support for the lucida in australia.
The cause of most problems is always something simple that if you can read the codes that you can chase it down and fix it.
I know how daunting it can be as well when where ever you turn no one can help.
All I can say is thank god for this website...

All I can say that is somebody did buy one of these hybrid busses then Im sure that there would plenty of fine people from this site who would be willing to help should problems arrise. Not that I think there would.

JJ · 22nd August 2008, 01:25 AM

Why dont the club fund for one to come to the Uk?

then we all can learn how to fix it when it goes wrong .......JJ

Andy Capp · 22nd August 2008, 01:57 AM

We can pull to bits, then give it in boxes to Bob and he can show us how to put it back together

I would find some money from somewhere to donate.

Opps, forgot I don't have any money

16th July 2008, 04:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
TAPAJEN.MARK Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 106	What 'What Car said about the Estima Hybrid. What Car? Q&A - Where can I get a green MPV? Q: I have a large family and I've been looking for a large alternative-fuel MPV for a while. I came across information on the Toyota Estima hybrid early last year, but Toyota GB said there were no immediate plans to bring the Estima to the UK. I also asked if garages would be able to service the car if I imported it. My local Toyota dealer said that they would not. If Toyota can't service the Estima, could you tell me of anywhere that can? Have I overlooked an alternative model already on sale here in the UK - something as large as a Previa? Phil Gayle A: The Estima was known as the Previa when Toyota sold it in the UK, but the company decided to stop importing it in 2006 to concentrate on bigger-selling cars. There's been no change in that strategy, so there's no prospect of any Previa turning up on these shores as an official import, let alone the four-wheel-drive hybrid version. If you did decide to buy a 'grey import' from Japan, having it serviced would be tricky. Even a franchised dealer with all of its kit and training wouldn't necessarily have the expertise to service such a car. While Toyota dealers have experience of the Prius hybrid, the system used on the Estima is entirely different, and may well require specific tools that no workshop in the UK will have. An independent garage is likely to find it even harder to work on the car and keep it running smoothly, so it looks like a lot of unnecessary trouble to us. As far as models already on sale in the UK go, the biggest you'll find is Lexus' 4x4, the RX450h, from £36,393, but, like the Prius, Lexus GS and Lexus LS hybrid, it only seats up to five, which may not be suitable for you. If you need more seats and want to be as green as possible, here are the cars we recommend on the basis of their CO2 emissions and fuel economy. 1 Renault Grand Scenic 1.5 dCi (105) Expr'n 144g/km VED Band C 52.3mpg 2 Citroen Grand C4 Picasso 1.6 HDI Exclusive 150g/km VED Band C 49.6mpg 3 VW Touran 1.9 TDI 105 DPF S 160g/km VED Band D 47.1mpg 4 Kia Carens 2.0 CRDI LS 163g/km VED Band D 46.3mpg 5 Vauxhall Zafira 1.9 CDTi 120 Club 165g/km VED Band D 46.3mpg __________________ www.Tapajencars.co.uk the only truly transparent Estima importer.

16th July 2008, 09:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
Andy Capp Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Herts Posts: 1,061	Glad to see they love the Estima too __________________

22nd August 2008, 01:57 AM	#6 (permalink)
Andy Capp Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Herts Posts: 1,061	We can pull to bits, then give it in boxes to Bob and he can show us how to put it back together I would find some money from somewhere to donate. Opps, forgot I don't have any money __________________

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17th July 2008, 11:00 AM	#3 (permalink)
leevor Join Date: May 2008 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 134	oh praise be to the almighty estima

21st August 2008, 10:02 AM	#4 (permalink)
ClintJ Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 186	Toyota`s petrol engines have a good record and the only problems that the prius has on occassion is a bad cell or bad battery link. I like the idea of what it offers and I know what its like to chase up support for the lucida in australia. The cause of most problems is always something simple that if you can read the codes that you can chase it down and fix it. I know how daunting it can be as well when where ever you turn no one can help. All I can say is thank god for this website... All I can say that is somebody did buy one of these hybrid busses then Im sure that there would plenty of fine people from this site who would be willing to help should problems arrise. Not that I think there would.

22nd August 2008, 01:25 AM	#5 (permalink)
JJ Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Newark, Notts Posts: 1,110	Why dont the club fund for one to come to the Uk? then we all can learn how to fix it when it goes wrong .......JJ