Toyota Probox

Toyota Probox: Which Version Should You Buy?

The Toyota Probox choice comes down to four priorities. For the lowest kerb weight, consider a first-generation version at 1,030 kg. For the strongest output, choose the restyled 1.5 CVT with 109 hp and FWD. For the highest listed torque, the first-generation 1.4 AT and 1.4 MT diesels both produce 170 Nm.

The Toyota Probox choice comes down to four priorities. For the lowest kerb weight, consider a first-generation version at 1,030 kg. For the strongest output, choose the restyled 1.5 CVT with 109 hp and FWD. For the highest listed torque, the first-generation 1.4 AT and 1.4 MT diesels both produce 170 Nm. For AWD, the database offers first-generation 1.5 MT and 1.5 AT versions with 105 hp, plus a restyled 1.5 CVT with 103 hp. Every Probox listed here is an Estate 5-door, but the engines, transmissions, drive systems, performance figures and ground clearance differ substantially.

Toyota Probox generations: what changed?

The first generation ran from July 2002 through August 2014 as an Estate 5-door and contains nine versions. Its range is the broadest: 1,299 cc Gasoline, 1,496–1,497 cc Gasoline and 1,364 cc Diesel engines; Manual and Automatic gearboxes; and FWD or AWD. Outputs extend from 75 hp to 109 hp, while listed kerb weights run from 1,030 kg to 1,120 kg.

The first-generation restyling started in September 2014 and remains without a listed end date. It stays within the same generation rather than constituting another generation. This Estate 5-door phase contains three versions: a 1.3 CVT with 95 hp and FWD, a 1.5 CVT with 103 hp and AWD, and a 1.5 CVT with 109 hp and FWD. All use Gasoline engines, Variable gearboxes and the Euro 5 emissions class. Compared with the earlier range, the available transmission changes to Variable, and the listed rear suspension changes from Independent, spring to Semi-independent, spring.

Toyota Probox engine specs and version comparison

Power per litre helps separate versions with similar engine capacities. The first-generation 1.3 AT and 1.3 MT each produce approximately 67.7 hp per litre. The restyled 1.3 CVT raises that figure to approximately 71.5 hp per litre, an increase of about 3.8 hp per litre.

Among the 1,496 cc Gasoline choices, the 105 hp versions deliver approximately 70.2 hp per litre, the restyled 103 hp AWD version approximately 68.9 hp per litre, and the 109 hp versions approximately 72.9 hp per litre. The first-generation 1.5 AT with 105 hp and 1,497 cc produces approximately 70.1 hp per litre. The 1,364 cc Diesel versions make approximately 55.0 hp per litre but compensate with the range’s highest torque: 170 Nm at 2,000 rpm.

Toyota Probox performance, fuel economy and mpg data

Only some first-generation 1.5 versions have measured acceleration or maximum-speed data. All unlisted results are stated as not measured.

Within the directly comparable 105 hp AWD pair, the first-generation 1.5 MT reaches 100 km/h 1.5 seconds sooner than the 1.5 AT and has a top speed 5 km/h higher. Among versions with measured acceleration, the first-generation 1.5 MT with 109 hp is quickest at 11 seconds. The first-generation 1.5 AT with 109 hp has the highest measured top speed at 190 km/h. The consumption figures should not be used to rank the entire range because only that 109 hp Automatic version has measured city, highway and combined values.

Toyota Probox weight, ground clearance and tank capacity

The first-generation 1.5 MT with 109 hp has the best calculated weight-to-power figure at about 9.4 kg/hp. It is 60 kg lighter than the restyled 109 hp 1.5 CVT despite equal power, and its 155 mm ground clearance is 15 mm greater. The restyled 103 hp AWD 1.5 CVT is the heaviest listed Probox at 1,170 kg and has the lowest clearance at 130 mm.

Gross weight is measured only for the first-generation 109 hp 1.5 MT and 1.5 AT, both at 1,480 kg. Subtracting kerb weight gives differences of 450 kg for the Manual and 440 kg for the Automatic; these are arithmetic comparisons, not separately supplied weight-capacity ratings. Exterior dimensions, dimensions in feet, interior dimensions and boot dimensions are not measured in the data.

Which Toyota Probox version should you choose?

Choose the first-generation 1.5 MT with 109 hp if measured acceleration, low weight per horsepower and ground clearance matter most. It combines 109 hp, 141 Nm, a 1,030 kg kerb weight, 11-second acceleration and 155 mm clearance. It is also 10 kg lighter than the corresponding 109 hp 1.5 AT.

Choose the first-generation 1.5 AT with 109 hp if an Automatic gearbox and the strongest documented performance package are the priorities. It provides 141 Nm, reaches 100 km/h in 12.5 seconds and has a measured 190 km/h top speed. It is also the only version with measured consumption data, although its listed combined figure of 6 l/100 km should not be used to infer results for other versions.

Choose the first-generation 1.5 MT with 105 hp if AWD and measured performance are both required. Against the 105 hp AWD 1.5 AT, it has the same 138 Nm but is 10 kg lighter, accelerates 1.5 seconds faster and reaches a top speed 5 km/h higher. Choose the 1.5 AT with 105 hp instead when the 4-speed Automatic is more important than those differences.

Choose the restyled 1.5 CVT with 109 hp for the strongest post-September-2014 FWD specification. Compared with the restyled 1.3 CVT, it adds 14 hp and 15 Nm while sharing a 1,090 kg kerb weight, 140 mm clearance and 50 l tank. Choose the restyled 1.5 CVT with 103 hp only when AWD is essential: relative to the restyled 109 hp FWD version, it has 6 hp and 4 Nm less, weighs 80 kg more and has 10 mm less clearance.

Choose the 1.4 AT or 1.4 MT Diesel when low-rpm torque is the central requirement. Both deliver 170 Nm at 2,000 rpm, which is 29 Nm more than the highest-torque Gasoline versions. Their 75 hp output and approximately 13.7 kg/hp weight-to-power figure, however, make them less power-focused choices.

Finally, choose between the first-generation 1.3 AT and 1.3 MT by transmission preference. Their engine specifications, 88 hp output, 123 Nm torque, 1,030 kg kerb weight and 150 mm clearance are identical in the data; the defining difference is a 4-speed Automatic versus a 5-speed Manual. Price, reliability, problems, engine oil capacity, maintenance history and vehicles for sale are not measured here, so this specification comparison cannot determine condition or value for an individual car.