Toyota Family Addition – New Wagon

The current Toyota Rukus (under another name in the US) sports the same 2.4-liter engine as the US Toyota Camry. It produces ample horsepower and torque whilst maintaining quite a respectable fuel efficiency. This is a bit less than the previous-generation Rukus, but web believe that's an acceptable trade-off considering its substantial acceleration improvement.

Inside, the Rukus's (Scion xB in the United States) boxy lines translate to a surprisingly roomy interior that allows young socialites to transport three to four friends with no complaints from the backseat. Nor should there be any issues in the driver’s seat as the Rukus performance is impressive. Besides that, the 60/40-split rear seats fold flat, making the Toyota Rukus an ideal cargo hauler for the move back into the dorms with a whopping 70 cubic feet of space. The instrument panel now presents radio and climate controls in a higher, more ergonomic position, but we could definitely live without the small centrally mounted gauges. None of this compromises the fact that Toyota Rukus safety is a high priority at Toyota with plenty of safety features that make this a responsible car to drive. When equipped with the touchscreen navigation system, the Rukus's display screen can be used to interface with an iPod, making it certainly the easiest and safest way to control an MP3 player while driving.

In road tests of the current Rukus cars, we found it to be a significant improvement over the car it replaced. It feels more substantial and stable than the old model -- particularly at higher speeds -- and its more powerful engine is better suited to the chores of a wagon. Regardless of whether you fall into Scion's target demographic of younger urbanites, as long as you can live with its funky shape, we think the Rukus is an excellent choice for those who are looking for a well-equipped, safe and versatile small utility vehicle.