1 Oct 1985
The 1986 facelift (new bumpers, twin headlights, new colours and trim inside and out and a specification upgrade) also saw a change in model nomenclature.
In the YR21 2.0 engine models, the GL was replaced by the GX.
A range of 75kW/180Nm 2.2-litre 4Y-E fuel-injected four-cylinder models known as the YR22 series also appeared. The bigger motor added more power and improved driveability, and was fitted to the manual-only GLi and revised auto-only GLS.
The GLS also gained a high-roof skylight and individual second row chairs, which reduced its carrying capacity to seven people.
The 75kW 2.2-litre GLi XTRA TRAK 4x4 wagon (YR31) introduced a part-time 4WD system.
By early ’87 skyrocketing sales forced Toyota to introduce a budget Tarago called the RV 2.2 manual.
A year later a four-speed auto gearbox became optional on the DX YR21 2.0 petrol, GLi and GLi XTRA TRAK.
In late ’88 the GX gained the 75kW 2.2-litre engine to become the GXi. At the same time a series of refinements were implemented across the range.
In total just over 100,000 van-based Taragos were sold in Australia from 1983 to 1990.
But this didn’t mean the end of the series, as the 1994 YR22 Spacia attests.
