Some people may confuse the nameplate of this Toyota with the jihadist militant group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, but the Isis isn’t a blood-thirsty warmonger. In fact, it’s a seven-seat minivan named after a goddess from Ancient Egypt, a goddess worshipped as the ideal mother and wife.
For the calendar year 2016, the Japanese automaker made some updates to the Isis. First, there are the subtle changes brought to the front fascia and the headlights, giving the car a modern appearance. Then there are some subtle design modifications brought to the inside, including a new type of cloth upholstery.
It goes without saying that all the seats except for the driver’s seat can be reclined, folded, flipped to give full advantage to the height of the Isis from the floor to the roofline. Another thing that makes the Toyota Isis stand out in the multi-purpose vehicle crowd is the lack of a B-pillar on the left-hand side. The manufacturer is so proud of this feature (or lack of it) that it christened the system the Panoramic Door. On the driver’s side, the doors attach with a jamb.
Another change brought to the Toyota Isis for this calendar year is a boost in fuel efficiency for the 1.8-liter, front-wheel-drive model with the Super CVT-i transmission. In this configuration, the Isis can drive up to 15.4 kilometers per liter according to the JC08 test cycle. That would be 36.1 US mpg or 6.5 l/100 km, making the Isis a lot more efficient than the US-spec Toyota Sienna.
For the base trim level (known as the X-Selection) of the 1.8-liter engined Isis, Toyota wants ¥1,990,145 (approx. $30,710). Step up to the 2.0-liter four-banger with a CVT that can mimic seven gear ratios and you’re looking at ¥2,395,637 (approx. $36,960). Toyota can enhance the Isis with an all-wheel-drive system, but the option is exclusive to the 1.8-liter model specced with the more expensive trim levels.
Editor's note: British manufacturer Morris offered a car called Isis before Toyota did.
It goes without saying that all the seats except for the driver’s seat can be reclined, folded, flipped to give full advantage to the height of the Isis from the floor to the roofline. Another thing that makes the Toyota Isis stand out in the multi-purpose vehicle crowd is the lack of a B-pillar on the left-hand side. The manufacturer is so proud of this feature (or lack of it) that it christened the system the Panoramic Door. On the driver’s side, the doors attach with a jamb.
Another change brought to the Toyota Isis for this calendar year is a boost in fuel efficiency for the 1.8-liter, front-wheel-drive model with the Super CVT-i transmission. In this configuration, the Isis can drive up to 15.4 kilometers per liter according to the JC08 test cycle. That would be 36.1 US mpg or 6.5 l/100 km, making the Isis a lot more efficient than the US-spec Toyota Sienna.
For the base trim level (known as the X-Selection) of the 1.8-liter engined Isis, Toyota wants ¥1,990,145 (approx. $30,710). Step up to the 2.0-liter four-banger with a CVT that can mimic seven gear ratios and you’re looking at ¥2,395,637 (approx. $36,960). Toyota can enhance the Isis with an all-wheel-drive system, but the option is exclusive to the 1.8-liter model specced with the more expensive trim levels.
Editor's note: British manufacturer Morris offered a car called Isis before Toyota did.