Toyota’s Commercial Van Probox
Sees Surprising Sales Surge
Industry Experts Stunned by the Reason
Toyota enjoys a significant share across various automotive market segments, with its vehicles well-regarded in the passenger and commercial sectors. In the commercial vehicle category, business owners particularly value Toyota’s offerings for their purpose-driven design, reliability, and affordable pricing—key factors for companies and individual proprietors alike.
However, one commercial vehicle, the Toyota Probox, has recently gained popularity for an unexpected reason. Initially launched in 2002 and redesigned for its second generation in 2014, the Probox is known for its simple, no-frills design, focused on practicality and cost-efficiency. Surprisingly, recent reports indicate a notable rise in general consumer interest, with increasing numbers of non-commercial buyers choosing the Probox for personal use.
Just the Right Size with a Hybrid Option
Impressive Performance and Reasonable Price
Toyota Probox is said to be popular among outdoor enthusiasts these days. For Probox, it has a length of 4,245 mm(167.1 inches), a width of 1,690 mm(66.5 inches), and a height of 1,530 mm(60.2 inches) (4-wheel drive 1,535 mm(60.4 inches)). The minimum turning radius is only 4.9 m(16.1 feet), making it easy to drive in narrow environments. The curb weight is 1,090 to 1,170 kg(2,403~2,579 pounds), which is relatively light for its size.
There are three powertrain options: 1.3L gasoline, 1.5L gasoline, and 1.5L gasoline-based hybrid. Stabilizers are equipped as standard on all specifications and are generally evaluated as having excellent high-speed stability despite their light weight. As a commercial vehicle, it has the minimum specifications required for driving, such as headrest-integrated fabric seats, and thanks to this, the starting price is low at 1,529,000 yen (US$10,041).
Outdoor Demand on the Rise
The Secret Lies in Diverse Tuning Options
The Probox is lightweight, fuel-efficient, affordable, and reliable—qualities that appeal to commercial buyers. However, what truly sets it apart and draws general consumers lies in its unexpected versatility, making it especially popular among outdoor enthusiasts. Designed for the commercial market, the Probox’s spacious interior and ample cargo space lend themselves well to activities like camping. Its straightforward design and widely available parts also make it easy to maintain.
The most important thing is that customization options are endless. In the tuning market, you can find various custom parts that can be applied to the Probox. Tuning shops sell multiple parts that can be applied to the bumpers, roofs, wheel arch cladding, etc., of the Probox, and some places sell complete vehicles with off-road tires.
Toyota Unveils GR Show Car
Unique Concept Receives High Praise
Another attractive feature is that you can create your own car by adding the equipment you want individually, as it only has the minimum basic specifications. If you purchase a car at a low price and add only the necessary specifications, it can be more economical than buying a passenger model of a similar segment. As this is a model with a lot of custom demand, including from outdoor enthusiasts, the manufacturer has also introduced a tuned vehicle.
In January of this year, Toyota exhibited a special Probox model designed by the high-performance brand GR at the 2024 Tokyo Auto Salon. This vehicle featured a black trapezoidal grille, a suspension with increased ground clearance, and off-road pattern Toyo Open Country tires. Although only one unit was produced for this event model, it is said to have gained much attention, with numerous requests for its launch since then.
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