7 Seater Cars 2012 
Toyota Picnic – Second Hand Seven Seater
It first hit our shores in 1997 and only continued until 2001, but the Toyota Picnic has long been a favourite in the UK as it was one of the first 7-seaters that didn't look like a minibus or a van, as the Espace or SEAT Alhambra did. The compact seven seater was available with a choice of trim levels and either a 2.0-litre petrol engine or a 2.2 turbo diesel.
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Toyota Picnic – History
With a cute name and a good brand behind it, the Toyota Picnic was never one to fail. The Japanese manufacturer was just starting to peak and take over the likes of Ford and Honda in terms of popularity around the world. Although the Picnic was named differently overseas, the Picnic sold in the UK was an explanation of what you use it for; heading to a park or the beach on a summer's day and enjoying a picnic.
Toyota Picnic – Performance
The Toyota Picnic 2.2-litre diesel was unfortunately made before diesels became less thrashy and noisy, but it is fairly refined and with at least 14 years under its belt, many are still going strong today. Amazingly for an old-style oil-burner it manages to return 36mpg, which when fully-loaded with people and bags, it's a welcomed aspect. The good fuel economy is partly due to the low weight, for its size, of the Picnic as it tips the scales at 1410kg, far less than the nigh-on two-tonne behemoths of the Espace or Peugeot 807.
Toyota Picnic – Speed
The diesel will crack 60mph in 13.5 seconds, or 10.8 seconds in the petrol-engined car. The diesel will top-out at 100mph or 109mph for the petrol motor. Despite the 86bhp diesel sounding a little weak compared to what is available these days, it is a torquey motor that defies its horse power statistics as it boasts an impressive 151lb-ft to twist those wheels up hills and over dales.
Toyota Picnic – Excellent Motorway Cruiser
With a 60-litre fuel tank and the ability to tow up to 1,500kgs, it makes for an excellent motorway cruiser when you're heading to a campsite with the kids. There is a good amount of room but as it's a compact 7 seater, once it is fully-loaded it can seem a little cramped. If you're lucky and the first owner stipulated a few options, then you could see air-conditioning, electric seats, mirrors and windows as well as a CD player. If you're not so lucky, you could end up with ugly cloth seats, a cassette-player and manual winders. But, for the used prices of Picnics, which are as low as £1,000, it's a small price to pay to have a multi-seat vehicle.
Toyota Picnic – C02 Emissions
Although the Picnic pumps out 206g/km CO2 (or 233g/km CO2 for the petrol), it doesn't qualify for the new road tax laws and therefore, it's the standard rate of £183 per year. The Picnic might be looking a little dated on the interior nowadays but on the outside, it still looks fresh. If it hasn't had stone-chips or minor bumps, Toyotas generally have excellent paintwork as the years go on, so if you're looking for a bargain, try a Picnic!
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New Toyota's with Seven Seats include the Verso, Toyota LC V8 and soon to be released Prius+. The Prius Plus (Alpha) will be one of the first Hybrid MPV's in the UK market.
