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Toyota Sprinter Trueno 1.5 (85 Hp) Automatic
Overall Rating
Toyota Sprinter:
The Toyota Sprinter is a compact car manufactured by Toyota as a variant of the Corolla. Exclusively sold in the Japanese domestic market, the Sprinter was aimed to be sportier than its Corolla sibling and also using different sheet metal mostly on the C-pillar. The Sprinter was exclusive to Toyota Auto Store, while the Corolla is similarly unique to Toyota Corolla Store. In 1998 Toyota Auto Store was replaced by Netz Store.
The Sprinter is notable for being used as the base vehicle for two joint projects between Toyota and General Motors in the United States, known under GM as the S-car. From 1984 to 1997, variants of the Sprinter were manufactured by NUMMI in Fremont, California, known as the Chevrolet Nova and Geo Prizm....(Read more on Wikipedia)
Trueno Overview:
Toyota Sprinter (Trueno). With 118 Nm of torque, it offers ample pulling power. Weighing only 915 kg, it’s quite light. Front‑wheel drive delivers efficiency and easy handling. A two-door car with a fixed roof, known for its sporty design and dynamic performance. Seating for 5 makes it ideal for daily use.
The Toyota Sprinter Trueno (AE111) was primarily a Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) model and was not officially tested by Euro NCAP. Safety features were standard for its era but would not meet modern crash safety standards.
1.5 (85 Hp) Automatic Verdict:
Performance Verdict
The 1.5-liter engine paired with an automatic transmission delivers relaxed, unhurried performance, best suited for urban driving and avoiding frequent acceleration demands.
Fuel Economy
Fuel economy is decent for an automatic of its era, though slightly less efficient than its manual counterpart, still good for city driving.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- • Legendary 4A-GE 'Blacktop' engine performance (165 Hp trim)
- • Excellent Toyota reliability across the lineup
- • Sporty handling and engaging driving dynamics
- • Classic JDM coupe styling with pop-up headlights (earlier models) or sleek fixed lights (later models)
- • Good fuel economy on lower-powered trims
Cons:
- • Base engines lack excitement and can feel underpowered
- • Interior can feel dated by modern standards, with basic materials
- • Limited rear passenger and cargo space typical of a compact coupe
- • Not officially crash-tested by Euro NCAP, safety features are basic for its era
- • Finding parts for specific JDM models can be challenging outside Japan
Specifications:
| General: | |
|---|---|
| Brand: | Toyota |
| Model: | Sprinter |
| Generation: | Trueno |
| Modification (Engine): | 1.5 (85 Hp) Automatic |
| Start of production: | 1983 |
| End of production: | 1987 |
| Powertrain Architecture: | Internal Combustion engine |
| Body type: | Coupe |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 2 |
| Engine: | |
|---|---|
| Power: | 85 Hp @ 5600 rpm. |
| Power per litre: | 58.5 Hp/l |
| Torque: | 118 Nm @ 3600 rpm. |
| Engine Model/Code: | 3A-U |
| Engine displacement: | 1452 |
| Engine aspiration: | Naturally aspirated engine |
| Performance: | |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type: | Petrol (Gasoline) |
| Weight-to-power ratio: | 10.8 kg/Hp, 92.9 Hp/tonne |
| Weight-to-torque ratio: | 7.8 kg/Nm, 129 Nm/tonne |
| Space: | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight: | 915 |
| Fuel tank capacity: | 50 l |
| Size: | |
|---|---|
| Length: | 4205 mm mm |
| Width: | 1625 mm mm |
| Height: | 1335 mm mm |
| Wheelbase: | 2400 mm mm |
| Powertrain: | |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain Architecture | The Internal combustion engine (ICE) drives the front wheels of the vehicle. |
| Drive wheel | Front wheel drive |
| Number of gears | 4 |
| Transmission type | Automatic |
Fuel, speed, and comfort: How does the Toyota Sprinter rank in your book?