Used Toyota Roomy for Sale

Toyota Roomy Purchase Guide

The Roomy is a tall compact wagon launched by Toyota in November 2016. Daihatsu handled everything from development to production, making it a sibling model of the Daihatsu Thor. Combining a compact car body with sliding doors on both sides and a Roomy interior, it has been widely used in Japan as an everyday vehicle for families raising children. With the minor change in September 2020, its sibling model, the Tank, was merged into the Roomy, so when shopping used, the mechanically identical Tank is also worth considering.

First-Generation Roomy (2016–): A Tall Two-Box Car That Packs Minivan Practicality into a Small Body

Strengths of the First-Generation Roomy

With power sliding doors and a tight turning circle, it became an everyday runabout for families with children

The Roomy was launched in November 2016 as a compact tall wagon in Toyota's lineup of registered vehicles (regular passenger cars that fall outside Japan's kei car standards). Its concept was "1LD-CAR," combining a spacious interior (Living) with relaxed, capable driving (Driving). It was aimed at a wide range of people as an everyday car, starting with families raising children. Development and production were handled by Daihatsu, and it is mechanically identical to the Daihatsu Thor. Its biggest appeal is the way it packs minivan-like practicality into a short body. The rear doors are power sliding doors that open at the touch of a button, so you can get children in and out even in tight parking spaces. With a minimum turning radius of just 4.6 m, it is easy to handle on the narrow streets of Japanese residential areas and in supermarket car parks. The tall cabin and versatile seat arrangements also make it easy to load strollers and bulk shopping. In addition to the naturally aspirated engine, there was a version with a newly developed 1.0L turbo. Toyota stated that this turbo delivers torque equivalent to a 1.5L-class engine across a wide rev range. It is said to have power in reserve when carrying the whole family or merging onto expressways. For safety, it was equipped from launch with the "Smart Assist II" collision avoidance support system, featuring five functions. There are two exterior styles: the standard model and the "Custom," which adds chrome trim and a dedicated bumper. At launch, its sibling model the Tank, sold through a different dealer network, also came in standard and Custom versions, giving the two models four different faces in total. In September 2020, the Tank was discontinued and merged into the Roomy, and the Roomy's front-end styling also changed with an update around the same time. The Tank sold up to 2020 is mechanically the same car as the Roomy. If you also search for Japanese used cars under the Tank name, you will find considerably more options. In Japan, it has been a regular near the top of the sales rankings for registered vehicles, and plenty of used examples are available. Besides family shopping and school runs, it is said to have been widely used as a rental car.

Weaknesses of the First-Generation Roomy

Handling typical of a tall body, and variation between cars depending on how they were used

Because the body is tall and short, some reviews note that it is easily affected by crosswinds on expressways and leans quite a bit in corners. Some also say the ride is on the firm side and picks up road bumps easily. This was a general tendency of tall compact cars of the time, but if you often drive long distances, it is worth checking on a test drive. Some owners say the naturally aspirated version feels underpowered with several adults aboard or on uphill roads. If you will drive on expressways often, it is safer to prioritize the turbo model. Also, as it is not a three-row minivan, it is not suited to carrying large groups. Equipment varies by model year. The collision avoidance support system at launch was Smart Assist II, and it was upgraded in later updates. The exterior also changed with the September 2020 update, so when ordering exterior parts, you should first confirm whether the car is a pre- or post-update model. The power sliding doors are especially important to check on a used car. On both sides, check that they do not catch or make abnormal noises while opening and closing, that they open and close with one touch, and that they lock properly once closed. Because they are opened and closed many times every day, heavily used cars show more variation. The sliding and reclining action of the rear seats, as well as seat stains and interior scratches in cars that carried children, are also areas where differences in usage tend to show. Cars used as rentals or company vehicles tend to have high mileage for their age. For turbo models, it is reassuring to check whether oil change records have been kept. Cars used in snowy regions may have underbody rust caused by the de-icing salt spread on roads in winter. We recommend inspecting the suspension component mounts, the muffler, and the seams of the floor panels with the car up on a lift. Asking for photos during the pre-export inspection is another option. In December 2023, misconduct in Daihatsu's certification testing came to light. Shipments of the Daihatsu-built Roomy were also halted, disrupting the supply of new cars. During that period, used car prices are believed to have firmed up.

Rivals of the First-Generation Roomy

Suzuki Solio

The easiest rival to compare is the Suzuki Solio. Both are small tall wagons combining a short body with a tall interior and sliding doors on both sides for the rear seats. The Solio had built a track record in this class before the Roomy. The Roomy is often described as the car Toyota and Daihatsu introduced into a market the Solio had cultivated. The Solio has a sibling model, the Mitsubishi Delica D:2, which can also be considered as the same car when searching for used vehicles. The biggest difference is the powertrain. The Roomy comes with naturally aspirated and turbo gasoline engines, with no hybrid option. The Solio has offered hybrid versions, so buyers who prioritize fuel economy tend to choose the Solio. On the other hand, the Roomy's turbo delivers power from low revs, so it is said to have more in reserve when carrying many people or a lot of luggage. The two cars also differ in character. The Solio is lighter and is regarded as nimble to drive. The Roomy is praised for its bold front styling and Roomy interior, and it is believed to have outsold the Solio in Japan. As a result, more Roomys are available on the used market, and including the Tank sold up to 2020, it has the advantage of offering a wider choice of model year, color, and equipment combinations. Here is a rough guide to choosing. If fuel economy is your top priority, the Solio hybrid is the better fit; if you will carry many people or a lot of luggage and also drive on expressways, the Roomy turbo suits you better. The Roomy is also a good choice if you want to pick a well-kept example from a large pool of cars. Since the collision avoidance support systems of both differ by model year, we recommend comparing cars of similar years with matching equipment.

First-Generation Roomy Specifications

Naturally aspirated and newly developed 1.0L turbo, with power sliding doors

Engine: Newly developed 1.0L turbo / naturally aspirated Features: A car built around the "1LD-CAR" concept, packing minivan practicality into a small body. It has a minimum turning radius of 4.6 m and power sliding doors with one-touch opening. The collision avoidance support system at launch was the five-function "Smart Assist II." Available in standard and Custom versions, it absorbed the Tank in September 2020. Developed and built by Daihatsu, it is mechanically identical to the Daihatsu Thor.