Toyota Raum (NCZ20) Test Drive Report

ReportDecember 14, 2021

The world's first embodiment of "people-friendly ubersal design" in a car

Ubiquitous design, which we hear a lot about these days, refers to the design of products, places, and services that can be used comfortably by many people, regardless of gender, age, disability, or other physical abilities, and that provide a rich and fulfilling experience. It is already commonplace in the world of buildings and stationery, but the second-generation Raum is the first attempt to incorporate it into a car. The key points in the development process were the establishment of 180 ergonomic points of view and 30 evaluation criteria for how the car is used. The key to the development of the Raum was the establishment of 180 criteria for ergonomics and 30 criteria for how the car should be used, as well as feedback from close interaction with the user. The "people-friendly universal design" realized in the Raum is condensed into four keywords: getting in and out, space, driving, and comfort.

Panorama open door with built-in center pillar on the passenger side

The panoramic open door on the passenger side is a symbol of universal design. The opening width of 1500mm makes it easy to get in and out of the car, which is truly astonishing. Because the center pillar is built in, opening and closing the door is a bit heavy, but unlike the Element, which was released earlier, you are not forced to open and close the front and rear doors in the same order, which makes it easy to use. In addition, power sliding doors that can be opened and closed with a switch and smart door locks that do not require a key are standard equipment.

The body of the new Raum is 5mm wider than the previous model, but the overall length and height are the same. However, the interior space is much larger. The 343-liter luggage capacity has also been improved by lowering the floor height by 120mm. The back door opens and closes horizontally according to the wishes of more than 80% of the customers. The standard front passenger seat is a new concept tumble seat that can be folded forward with a single touch. For 65,000 yen, you can choose a swivel friendly seat, which is also attractive.

The elliptical steering wheel and easy-to-follow warnings

Another feature of the universal design is the separate warning indicator. Conventional warning systems were difficult to use and it was difficult to know what to do if a problem occurred. The Raum has a warning light in the meter that sounds and flashes to alert the driver of an abnormality. At the same time, a symbol with an explanation of the problem and how to solve it is displayed in front of the driver's seat. This is a feature that shows the Raum's kindness in case something goes wrong.

The elliptical steering wheel is an idea that improves the visibility of the center meter and contributes to the side walkthrough and ease of entry and exit. The elliptical steering wheel may give the impression that it is difficult to operate, but you will not notice that it is a little longer on both sides when you look at it or touch it. I didn't feel any discomfort at all when I actually drove.

Other features include IR (infrared rays) and UV (ultraviolet rays) cut glass, and seat upholstery with Furesseal treatment, which is gentle on sensitive skin, in the G package.

The power unit is a 1.5-liter DOHC engine with a four-speed automatic transmission, and emissions are environmentally friendly with a three-star rating.

I was not expecting much from the Raum in terms of driving performance. This is because the development of universal design seemed to focus more on usability than on driving performance. I drove the car around town and on the highway with the expectation that the feeling would be "neither good nor bad. Certainly, the acceleration and driving feel were not exciting or pleasing.

However, the engine, with its emphasis on low to mid-range torque, was extremely easy to handle and showed more than enough power from the very low speed when parking to when accelerating to overtake with a hard push on the gas pedal. Smooth shifting, quiet cruising, and a well-balanced ride ....... The finish of the Raum can be described as Toyota's typical honor student with an excellent total balance. However, the G package had a tendency to pick up some gaps in the road at low speeds. The S package, which comes with different tires, provided a comfortable ride in all situations.

Buy now!