Toyota Probox
| Toyota Probox (XP50/160) | |
|---|---|
 Toyota Probox Van DX (NCP51V) | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Daihatsu[1] |
| Also called |
|
| Production |
|
| Assembly | Japan: Ōyamazaki, Kyoto (Daihatsu Kyoto plant)[1] |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Light commercial vehicle |
| Body style | 5-door station wagon/van |
| Layout | |
| Platform | Toyota NBC platform (2002–2014) Toyota B platform (2014–present) |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | |
| Transmission | |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,550 mm (100.4 in) (XP50/160) |
| Length | 4,195 mm (165.2 in) (XP50) 4,245 mm (167.1 in) (XP160) |
| Width | 1,690–1,695 mm (66.5–66.7 in) (XP50/160) |
| Height | 1,525–1,530 mm (60.0–60.2 in) (XP50/160) |
| Curb weight | 1,030–1,120 kg (2,270.8–2,469.2 lb) (XP50) 1,090–1,170 kg (2,403.0–2,579.4 lb) (XP160) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Toyota Corolla/Sprinter Van (E100) Toyota Succeed |
| Successor | Toyota Corolla Fielder (Probox Wagon) |
The Toyota Probox is a 5-door, 2- or 4-seater passenger car (Probox Wagon) and light commercial van (Probox Van) produced by the Japanese automaker Toyota since July 2002. It replaced the Corolla/Sprinter van[1] and served as a slightly shorter version of the now-discontinued Toyota Succeed.
The Probox has been a commercial success with stable sales for 20 years, despite its design being largely unchanged since 2002.[2]
First generation (XP50/XP160; 2002)
[edit]The Toyota Probox was created as a new type of commercial van in July 2002.[2]
Until 2008, the Probox and its "brother model" Succeed sold a total of 70,000 to 90,000 units a year. Since 2008, the model has maintained the sales of about 50,000 units per year.[2]
2014 facelift
[edit]The Probox received a redesign, which was published on August 6, 2014, and the sales began on September 1 of the same year. The redesign was announced alongside the redesign of the Succeed. The new version is powered by a 1NR-FE engine.[3]
Starting in 2018, a rebadged version of the Probox has been offered in Japan as the Mazda Familia Van.
Although the Succeed was discontinued in 2020, the Probox continued stable sales, selling 48,000 units in 2021.[2]
Popularity
[edit]The Probox is extensively used as a taxi in Peru and Bolivia.[4] It is one of the most popular cars in East Africa owing to its perceived durability and versatility, popular with business owners transporting goods and as taxis.[5][6]
In Kenya the Probox is associated with reckless drivers, and the vehicle is also preferred by corrupt police and a kidnapping gang.[5][7] In 2019, the country banned the use of the Probox and Toyota Sienta for minibus use, citing frequent overloading of up to 14 passengers, instead of the 5 passengers it is designed for.[8]
Left-hand-drive Proboxes imported from Japan are used in Myanmar despite the country's traffic being right-hand-drive.[9]
The Probox is popular among taxi drivers in Jamaica. In 2020, a single was released by RDX called 'Probox' to show their appreciation for local taxi drivers.[10]
Gallery
[edit]- Toyota Probox
-
Toyota Probox Van DX (NCP51V) -
Toyota Probox Van GL (NCP160V) -
Toyota Probox Van GL (NCP160V) -
Interior (NCP160V)
- Mazda Familia Van
-
Mazda Familia Van DX (NCP160M) -
Mazda Familia Van DX (NCP160M)
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References
[edit]- ^ a b c "75 Years of Toyota - Toyota Probox (XP50)". www.toyota-global.com.
- ^ a b c d "ザ・商用車「プロボックス」誕生20年 なぜモデルチェンジしない？ "無敵"だからさ！（乗りものニュース）". Yahoo! News (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-09-09.
- ^ "TOYOTA、プロボックスならびにサクシードをマイナーチェンジ | トヨタ自動車株式会社 公式企業サイト". Toyota. Retrieved 2022-09-09.
- ^ Autoevolution.com
- ^ a b "Toyota Proboxes: Boon to drivers or social menace?". The Star. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
- ^ "Toyota Probox: The ideal delivery van". Monitor. 2021-02-04. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
- ^ Tongola, Mate. "Toyota Probox: What this workhorse offers, but also a look at its problems". Evewoman Magazine. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
- ^ "Mixed reactions to ban on Probox PSV licensing. – Kenya News Agency". 2019-01-12. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
- ^ Manandhar, Ashok (2016-03-07). "Picturing the Probox". Myanmar Times. Archived from the original on 2019-02-19. Retrieved 2019-02-19.
- ^ "RDX salutes taxi drivers with 'Probox' single". Jamaica Star. 10 March 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
External links
[edit]
- Official website (in Japanese)
- Official website (Mazda Familia Van) (in Japanese)
- Modifications Toyota Probox
