The Toyota Probox is a compact commercial van that Toyota has sold in Japan since 2002, with 1.3-litre and 1.5-litre petrol engines and, since December 2018, a 1.5-litre hybrid. The version you can import depends on your country. For Kenya in 2026, the car must be first registered in 2019 or later.
Key takeaways
- Most Probox cars in Japanese stock are vans built for business use, so check the condition of the cargo area as well as the engine.
- The September 2014 update brought a CVT automatic, a new 1.3-litre engine and stability control as standard. Cars from this update onward have a different front and rear.
- The Probox hybrid arrived in December 2018 and is front-wheel drive (2WD) only. If you need 4WD, choose a petrol model.
- Kenya counts the age rule from the year of first registration, so look at the car’s R Year, not its P Year.
What the Toyota Probox is
The Probox is a small, tall-bodied van made for carrying people and goods for work. Toyota launched it in July 2002 to replace the Corolla Van and Sprinter Van. Its twin, the Toyota Succeed, was the larger, medium-class model at launch, replacing the Caldina Van.
The body is boxy on purpose: the side and back windows are almost vertical, and the cargo floor is flat. Toyota’s launch information gives a maximum payload of 400 kg with two people on board. Toyota lists Daihatsu’s Kyoto plant as the production plant.
In Japan the Probox is sold mainly as a commercial van. Early on there was also a passenger-oriented wagon version. In our stock you will mostly see vans.
How the Probox changed over the years
The Probox has kept the same basic body since 2002, but Toyota has updated it several times. These are the changes that matter most when you compare cars.
| Date (Japan) | What changed |
|---|---|
| July 2002 | Launch. Petrol 1.3 (2NZ-FE) and 1.5 (1NZ-FE), plus a 1.4 turbo-diesel (1ND-TV) that was dropped in September 2007. 4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual. Full-time 4WD was offered with the 1.5 petrol. |
| September 2014 | Minor change, on sale from 1 September 2014. New front and rear styling, a new 1.3 engine (1NR-FE) and the 1.5 (1NZ-FE), both with a CVT automatic (Super CVT-i). Stability and traction control (VSC and TRC) and hill-start assist became standard, the front disc brakes got bigger, and electric power steering was added. |
| August 2016 | Toyota Safety Sense C became standard: pre-crash safety, lane departure alert and automatic high beam. The 1.5 2WD got idling stop. |
| December 2018 | Hybrid added: 1.5 (1NZ-FXE) with Toyota Hybrid System II, a nickel-metal hydride battery and front-wheel drive only. At the same time, all models got Toyota Safety Sense with daytime pedestrian detection, an immobiliser and a USB port as standard. |
| November 2025 | Updated Toyota Safety Sense (wider pre-crash detection, Proactive Driving Assist, emergency steering assist) and a parking support brake. |
| September 2026 | Connected services (T-Connect and HELPNET emergency call). |
For Kenya in 2026, most eligible cars have the December 2018 update or later. But a car built before then and first registered in 2019 can have the older specification, so check the equipment.
Petrol, hybrid, 2WD or 4WD?
Pick by how and where you will drive. The right choice depends mostly on how and where you will drive.
- 1.3 petrol (2WD): a basic city and delivery car. Toyota sold this engine only in the Probox, not in the Succeed.
- 1.5 petrol (2WD or 4WD): more power for loads and hills. It is the one to choose if you need 4WD for rough or wet roads upcountry.
- 1.5 hybrid (2WD only): built for fuel economy in stop-and-go traffic. It has a hybrid battery, so ask for any checks available on the battery and the hybrid system before you pay.
To see what is available now, browse Toyota Probox in our stock. For Kenya, use the 2019 and newer Probox filter, then ask our office to confirm the exact dates before you pay.
Which Probox can you import to your country?
Age and inspection rules decide which cars you can bring in. Check them before you choose a car. These rules were checked in November 2026.
- Kenya: in 2026, only right-hand-drive cars first registered in 2019 or later are accepted. The cut-off moves every 1 January, and KEBS had not announced the 2027 cut-off at the time of writing. QISJ inspects the car in Japan and issues a Certificate of Roadworthiness. Read our guide to Kenya’s car import age limit.
- Tanzania: we found no age ban, but the vehicle’s age affects the excise duty you pay. EAA inspects cars in Japan for TBS. See the Tanzania import rules hub.
- Uganda: vehicles 15 years or older, counted from the year of manufacture, cannot be imported. A UNBS-appointed inspection company (in Japan, EAA) checks the car. See the Uganda import rules hub.
One more point: in Japan the Probox is registered as a commercial van. How your customs authority classifies it can change the duty, so ask your clearing agent before you order. For a car you already have in mind, test its dates in our import age checker.
What to check on a used Probox
Many Probox vans have worked hard, so check for wear from work use as well as the usual condition points.
- The evaluation sheet: look at the auction or inspection sheet for the grade, body marks and any repair notes. Our auction sheet guide explains the codes.
- The cargo area: scratches, dents and worn trim in the back show how the van was used. Ask for photos of the load floor and the inside of the rear door.
- Underneath: ask for photos of the underbody for rust, especially on cars from snowy parts of Japan.
- Mileage and history: compare the mileage with the car’s age and the sheet. Our guide on checking a vehicle’s history shows how.
- Dates: the listing shows the R Year (first registration in Japan) and the P Year (production). The P Year comes from a Japanese vehicle database and may show only the year, so ask our office to confirm the manufacture date before you pay. Kenya uses first registration. Uganda uses the year of manufacture.
Before you pay, check the invoice. Our bank accounts are all in Japan and the beneficiary is always Autocom Japan Inc. Read how to avoid scams when buying cars from Japan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Toyota Probox hybrid available with 4WD?
No. When Toyota launched the Probox hybrid in December 2018, it was front-wheel drive only. 4WD is offered on the petrol models.
Can I import a 2018 Probox to Kenya?
Not in 2026. Kenya accepts only cars first registered in 2019 or later, so a car first registered in 2018 does not qualify, even if it was built late in the year. A car built in 2018 but first registered in Japan in 2019 or later can qualify, so check the R Year.
What is the difference between the Probox and the Succeed?
They were sister models. At launch in 2002 Toyota made the Succeed the larger, medium-class van with more space and payload, and the 1.3 engine was only in the Probox.
Is the Probox a van or a car for import purposes?
In Japan it is registered as a commercial van. Your customs authority decides how it is classified in your country, so ask your clearing agent before you buy.
Which Probox should I choose for upcountry roads?
If you need 4WD, choose a 1.5 petrol 4WD model, because the hybrid is 2WD only. For city and delivery work, a 2WD petrol or hybrid is usually enough.
Sources
- Toyota: ProBox and Succeed commercial vans released (2 Jul 2002)
- Toyota 75 Years: Probox vehicle lineage
- Toyota: Probox and Succeed minor change (6 Aug 2014)
- Toyota: Probox and Succeed improved, Toyota Safety Sense C standard (30 Aug 2016, Japanese)
- Toyota: Probox and Succeed hybrid added (19 Nov 2018, Japanese)
- Toyota: Probox partial update (25 Nov 2025, Japanese)
- Toyota: Probox partial update (4 Sep 2026, Japanese)
- People Daily: KEBS notice on the 2019+ rule (17 Nov 2025)
- KEBS: renewal of the QISJ contract (May 2026)
- EAA Co., Ltd.: inspection services
- Parliament of Uganda: importation of old cars banned
- Clyde & Co: Tanzania Finance Act 2026 highlights (3 Jul 2026)
