Toyota Tamaraw

The Toyota Tamaraw is an entry-level bare-bones AUV/SUV sold, designed and conceptualized in the Philippines, made by Toyota. "Tamaraw" means water buffalo in Filipino-Tagalog. The Tamaraw was first introduced in 1977 and it has since gone on to become regarded as the country's "People's Car". This car is also sold in other countries, and is known as Kijang in the Indonesia and Brunei, Toyota Unser in Malaysia, Toyota Zace in Taiwan,Toyota Qualis and Innova in India and Nepal, and Toyota Condor in South Africa.

It is relatively affordable in the markets where sold when compared to four-wheel drive vehicles (the Tamaraw is a two-wheel drive)while the Condor is a four-wheel drive) and features high seating capacity, large clearance and rugged suspension, popular features in an area with generally poor road quality and large extended families.

In the Philippines, Tamaraws typically also find use by small private middle-class family taxi operators as public transportation with a station-to-station bus-like system along specific routes. It's become popular with the working-class commute and are typically overpacked with passengers in uncomforable positions. Depending on a person's size, the vehicle can carry as many as 9-11 passengers, since many of the countries the Tamaraw is sold in do not require safety belt usage.The Tamaraw REVO moves upmarket catching the taste of upperclass crowd,so it shades a part of its image as a workhorse into an executive transport/family hauler

1st Generation (1977-1980)
The Toyota Tamaraw was started in 1970's and the concept of having, designing upto manufacturing of an AUV all started in the Philippines along with its rival class Ford Fierra

2nd Generation (1981-1986)
The 20-series Tamaraw retained its boxy style although the body panels are different. Under its slimmer hood is 1.3 liter 4K engine, and for 1986 was replaced by 1.5 liter.

3rd Generation (1987-1996)
Introduced in late 1986, the Tamaraw FX was offered as short wheelbase (40-series) and, in Indonesia and other markets, long wheelbase (50-series). The standard model has a 4-speed manual transmission, and the LWB model (elswhere known as the "Super Kijang") has 5-speed and a better equipped interior. New for this generation was Full Pressed Body Minibus built by body makers appointed by Toyota. It was derived from the 1984 Toyota Hilux.

Minor change was given in 1992. The Minibus now has right side rear door and adopted new name Toyota Original Body instead of Full Pressed Body. Trim levels for Minibus are Standard, Deluxe, and Grand Extra. The new grille and 1.8 liter 7K engine were new in 1994.

This car was sold in India under the name of Toyota Qualis. The Qualis is based on the third generation model, but comes with the newer fourth generation nose.

4th Generation "REVO" (1998-2004)
The new Tamaraw Revo, name taken from the word "revolutionary", was more powerful and way more refined than its predecessors. The pick-up is coded 60-series. The AUV/Indonesian-market Minibus (often known as Kijang Capsule) is 70-series (short wheelbase), or 80-series (long wheelbase). Engine is either 1.8 liter gasoline, or 2.4 liter diesel throughout the entire market. The Pick-up is offered with Standard Deck and Flat Deck. The AUV's were offered in either DLX, GL, GLX, SR, SR-J, GSX, VX200, VX200-J and VX240D trim while the Minibus were offered as SX, SSX, SGX (short), LX, LSX, LGX, and Krista (long). The short wheelbase sporty Rangga was also offered for a short time.

In the year 2000, the Revo/Kijang got new front end. The 2.0 liter engine was offered in the LGX and Krista models. Another facelift was given in 2003 with new grille, rear garnish, and some changes with its features.

The Tamaraw FX/Revo was dropped in the 2006 with no reasons or whatsoever at all. Given the fact that upto the last minute of Toyota Revo's availability, the sales of this A-SUV were still very high. Toyota Avanza is a small MPV, the body was similar to Innova, "baby Innova" as they call it, is not a predecessor of Revo, because it is smaller than Tamaraw FX/Revo. Neither the Innova is not a predecessor of the Tamaraw FX REVO, mainly because REVO is a vehicle that can be as versatile as how one can imagine it should be; with a suspension of leaf springs at the rear, the REVO can be a people hauler, baggage hauler and so many things; unlike the Innova, with coil springs at the rear, Even its upmarket indirect replacement, the Fortuner cannot match the versatility of the REVO.One cannot attain the versatility of the REVO

5th Generation (2006-Present)

 * see also Toyota Avanza for more details