Ask an expert

Planning to buy toyota raum as have 3 young kids. So many package & year to choose from. Thus which year & package eg. C, S etc. is reliable & what's the difference in features? Thnx.

Mechanically they are all the same, with a 1.5 litre engine and 4 speed automatic transmission. This is a well-proven reliable driveline with no real major issues.
The packages (C, S and G) are really only variances in specification, starting with with the C package, then the G package being a slightly more luxurious package with options of Xenon headlights, rear foglights, automatic climate air-conditioning etc, and the S package being a more sporty looking package, with a body/spoiler kit and 15 inch wheels instead of 14 inch.
Some models also have 4WD, which is probably not necessary unless you are frequently driving in snow or icy conditions.
Really, with vehicles such as this, as there are no important technical differences, firstly look for the best kept and lowest mileage vehicle possible, with the spec level (package in this case), taking secondary priority unless you personally really want some particular feature.

Thnx v much for ur advice.
Considering also Ractis as compared to Raum. Looks & specifications seem quite similar, including price range - if around the same year & model.... Noticed that Raum not in many supply in NZ for newer models. Which is better - in terms of reliability (ie breakdown) & roomy? I have 3 kids from 8-10.
Thx,

This is a much smaller vehicle, being based more on the Toyota Vitz, rather than the larger Corolla based Raum. Due to the size, it's probably not as suitable for your purposes.
The other consideration is that most Racsis models have CVT transmissions which are generally not as well regarded from a reliability perspective as the traditional 4 speed auto in the Raum. (At least, not CVTs from this era). Also, many of them only have 1.3 litre engines which may be a little under-powered for your needs.
Personally, I think you'd be better off with a Raum.