The Toyota Premio is a compact sedan that Toyota built for the Japanese domestic market from 2001 to 2021, as the twin of the Toyota Allion. The 2019 Premio is a real model year: it belongs to the second generation, coded T260, which was introduced in June 2007 and remained in production until March 2021. The Premio was never officially sold in the United States or Europe; it is a Japan-market model that has since become a popular used import in New Zealand, parts of Asia and the Caribbean.
The Premio and the Allion
The Premio and the Allion are mechanical twins, differentiated mainly by styling, and were sold through different Toyota dealer networks in Japan. The first generation, coded T240, ran from December 2001 to June 2007. The second generation, the T260, replaced it in June 2007 and stayed on sale for almost 14 years. On 1 December 2020, Toyota announced that both the Premio and Allion would be discontinued from March 2021, which marked the end of the Corona lineage first introduced in 1957. Over two decades the Premio built a reputation as a quiet, well-equipped family and fleet sedan rather than a sporty one.
Interior and Equipment
The Premio’s cabin reflects its role as a comfortable domestic sedan. Updates across the model’s life focused on the instrument panel, materials and infotainment rather than a full redesign, and later cars offered a 4.2-inch TFT multi-information display in the cluster. Higher grades added features such as automatic climate control and improved audio. Because the Premio and Allion were commonly used as taxis, driving-school cars and fleet vehicles in Japan, many examples were specified for durability.
Exterior and Dimensions
The T260 Premio is a four-door sedan that seats five, classified by Japanese regulations as a compact car. Its exterior dimensions did not change through periodic updates: a length of 4,565 mm, a width of 1,695 mm, a height of 1,475 mm and a wheelbase of 2,750 mm. Curb weight ranged from about 1,200 to 1,330 kg depending on engine and drivetrain. The long wheelbase relative to the compact footprint was one of the car’s selling points in Japan, where it gave generous rear legroom.
Engines and Transmission
1.5-Liter (1NZ-FE)
The base engine was a 1.5-liter four-cylinder coded 1NZ-FE, fitted to the NZT260 model. It was paired with Toyota’s Super CVT-i continuously variable transmission and front-wheel drive.
1.8-Liter (2ZR-FE)
The mid-range engine was a 1.8-liter four-cylinder, coded 2ZR-FE, in the front-wheel-drive ZRT260 or the full-time all-wheel-drive ZRT265. Later versions used the 2ZR-FAE variant.
2.0-Liter (3ZR-FAE)
The top engine was a 2.0-liter Valvematic four-cylinder coded 3ZR-FAE, introduced in January 2008. Toyota said it cut emissions by 75 percent against the 2005 Japanese standard and delivered 20 percent better fuel economy than the 2010 target. This option was discontinued in July 2020, shortly before the model’s retirement.
Every T260 Premio used a CVT rather than a conventional torque-converter automatic, a change from the first generation, whose smaller engines used a four-speed automatic.
Fuel Economy and Safety
Toyota quoted combined fuel consumption of 18 km/L for the 1.5-liter models and 17 km/L for the 1.8-liter models on the Japanese JC08 cycle once both were fitted with the CVT. For active safety, later Premios came with Toyota Safety Sense C, a package that included a Pre-Collision System, Lane Departure Alert, and Automatic High Beam — the entry level of Toyota’s driver-assistance range at the time.
Market and Buying
The Premio was sold only in Japan, so there is no US or European new-car price to quote. Its value today is as a used import: buyers in markets such as New Zealand and Southeast Asia favour it for its low mileage, tidy condition and gentle CVT drivetrain, while acknowledging that parts support depends on the local Toyota network. For readers comparing other Toyota models covered on this site, see the 2019 Toyota 4runner Review, Performance, and Release Date and the 2019 Toyota Aurion Review and Release Date, or browse the Car Review index.
First Generation (T240; 2001–2007)
The Premio and Allion first appeared in December 2001, replacing the Carina. The T240 was related to the Toyota Avensis and shared its approach of offering three engine sizes. A modest restyle in December 2004 introduced LED tail lights. On that first generation, the 2.0-liter model used a CVT while the 1.5- and 1.8-liter engines were fitted with a four-speed torque-converter automatic. Even then, the pair were common in taxi, driving-school and law-enforcement fleets in Japan.
In Japan the Premio was positioned as a comfortable, quietly styled alternative to sportier sedans, and its conservative design was a deliberate part of its appeal to older buyers and fleet operators. Because Toyota kept the exterior dimensions unchanged across updates, the car stayed easy to place in Japanese parking and tax classes even as its equipment improved.
Because the Premio shared its mechanical package with the Allion, the two cars have near-identical performance and fuel economy. Buyers choosing between a 1.5- and a 1.8-liter example are effectively choosing between lower running costs and slightly stronger performance, since both use the same CVT. All-wheel drive was offered on the 1.8-liter model for buyers in snowy regions of Japan.
The End of the Line
Toyota announced the discontinuation of the Premio and Allion on 1 December 2020, with production ending in March 2021. The decision closed a chapter that had begun with the Toyota Corona in 1957, of which the Premio and Allion were the last surviving relatives. No direct successor carrying the Premio name was launched.
Key Specifications
| Item | T260 Premio |
|---|---|
| Engines | 1.5 L 1NZ-FE / 1.8 L 2ZR-FE / 2.0 L 3ZR-FAE |
| Transmission | CVT (Super CVT-i) |
| Drive | Front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive |
| Length / wheelbase | 4,565 mm / 2,750 mm |
| Curb weight | 1,200–1,330 kg |
| Seats | 5 |
