Toyota Esquire Xi Expert Review

A Luxury MPV With a Proper Japanese Personality

The Esquire was never designed to be pretty in the way a sports sedan is pretty. It was designed to make a family MPV look considerably more expensive than it actually was, and it succeeded rather well.

The large front grille gives the nose a surprisingly imposing appearance, while the tall body and strong shoulder line make the vehicle look substantial without becoming absurdly large. Toyota deliberately gave the Esquire more visual drama than the closely related Noah, and that difference matters in Bangladesh, where buyers often want their family car to look respectable rather than merely practical.

The proportions are excellent for an MPV. At 4,695mm long and 1,695mm wide, it remains within a relatively manageable footprint while offering enormous interior volume. The tall roof is particularly useful when elderly passengers or children are climbing aboard.

Sliding Doors Are the Real Luxury

The power sliding doors available on better-equipped versions are one of those features that initially seem like a gimmick and then become impossible to live without. In a crowded Dhaka parking lot, they are brilliant.

The main weakness is age. Early Esquires now look distinctly like products of the mid-2010s, particularly beside newer Toyota MPVs. The relatively low ground clearance also demands care around Bangladesh's speed breakers and damaged roads.

Seven Seats and an Enormous Sense of Space

The Esquire's interior is where the entire concept suddenly makes sense.

Forget the exterior chrome and the badge. Slide open the rear door and the real luxury appears: space. The cabin is tall, the floor is practical and passengers are not forced to climb through some ridiculous contortionist obstacle course to reach the third row.

The second row is particularly comfortable, and the seven-seat configuration makes the Esquire useful for families rather than merely large couples with enormous luggage requirements. Rear air-conditioning is a major advantage in Bangladesh, where cooling a large cabin during summer traffic is a serious engineering exercise.

The driving position is commanding without being truck-like. Visibility is good, the steering is light and the controls are generally straightforward.

Where It Shows Its Age

The interior design is functional rather than futuristic. Older Japanese navigation systems, screens and interfaces can look positively prehistoric next to a modern smartphone.

The Xi grade also lacks some of the premium equipment found on Gi and Gi Premium models. Fabric upholstery and simpler trim are perfectly functional, but buyers seeking a genuinely luxurious cabin may prefer Gi.

Luggage flexibility is good, although carrying seven passengers naturally reduces cargo space. Fold or rearrange the rear seating and the Esquire becomes remarkably practical.

Practical Technology Beats Showroom Tricks

The Esquire's equipment depends heavily on year and specification, but its most useful features are remarkably consistent.

Power sliding doors are the star attraction. They make passenger access effortless and are especially useful when children or elderly passengers are involved. Dual air-conditioning is another excellent feature for Bangladesh, while cruise control, push-button start, power windows, smart-key access and rear-camera equipment make daily use considerably easier.

The Hybrid Xi also combines Toyota's 1.8L hybrid system with an e-CVT. That isn't a flashy feature you show your neighbours; it is something you appreciate every time you crawl through traffic.

Higher-specification examples can bring navigation, better audio systems, additional cameras, Toyota Safety Sense-related functions, upgraded lighting and other convenience equipment. But this is where used-car buyers need to be careful. A Japanese-market Esquire can have a bewildering combination of factory options, dealer-installed equipment and aftermarket electronics.

The biggest weakness today is smartphone integration. Modern buyers expect Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as naturally as they expect air-conditioning. The Esquire's original Japanese infotainment systems were not designed around that expectation.

Fortunately, aftermarket head units can solve much of the problem.

The result is a vehicle whose best features are still genuinely useful, even if its technology is no longer cutting-edge.

Solid Fundamentals, But Do Not Confuse Age With Modernity

The Esquire has a respectable safety foundation, particularly considering when it was developed.

ABS, Brake Assist, EBD, traction control, stability control, multiple airbags depending on specification, three-point rear belts and Toyota's reinforced body structure provide a sensible level of passive and active protection.

The Hybrid Xi's official specification confirms ABS, traction control, Brake Assist, EBD, S-VSC, driver and passenger airbags and rear three-point belts as standard, while side airbags were optional.

Higher-specification or later examples can add Toyota's more advanced safety technology, including pre-crash warning/braking and lane-departure-related assistance. But this cannot simply be assumed from the word “Esquire” or “Xi”. Toyota itself notes that archived vehicle equipment can differ between individual vehicles.

Bangladesh Reality Matters

A modern safety system is useless if the car has been badly repaired after an accident.

For a used Esquire in Bangladesh, chassis condition, airbag integrity, tyres, brakes and suspension deserve enormous attention. Flood damage is another concern when buying imported Japanese vehicles.

The tall driving position gives the driver good visibility, and the MPV's predictable handling makes it easy to place on the road. Parking sensors and cameras, when equipped, are particularly valuable because the Esquire is a large vehicle.

Its weakness is obvious: this is not a 2026 vehicle. Modern cars offer much more sophisticated blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic protection, automatic emergency braking and driver monitoring.

Smooth, Quiet and Entirely Uninterested in Racing

The Esquire Hybrid Xi drives exactly as a family MPV should.

The 1.8L Atkinson-cycle engine is not interested in impressing anyone at a traffic light. It is interested in consuming less fuel while quietly moving seven people from A to B. The electric motor fills in the gaps, making low-speed acceleration smoother and reducing the need for the petrol engine to work constantly.

In Dhaka traffic, this is an excellent personality.

The e-CVT is seamless, and there are no conventional gear changes interrupting progress. Pull away, slow down, accelerate again—the whole process is remarkably smooth. The hybrid system also makes the vehicle feel quieter during low-speed urban driving.

On highways, the Esquire settles into a relaxed rhythm. The long 2,850mm wheelbase helps ride comfort, while the tall body gives passengers excellent outward visibility. With a full family aboard, it remains much more comfortable than many conventional sedans.

But physics remains undefeated.

The body is tall and heavy, so cornering is not remotely sporty. Overtaking fully loaded requires planning, particularly with the 1.8L hybrid. Steering is light rather than communicative, and rough Bangladeshi roads can expose the suspension and ground-clearance limitations.

The petrol Xi is more conventional and provides stronger engine performance, especially under sustained acceleration.

For city driving, however, the Hybrid Xi is the version I would take. It is quiet, smooth, economical and wonderfully relaxed.

It is not exciting.

It is better than that.