The Toyota Wish was a compact, three-row MPV that Toyota produced from 2003 to 2017, with the name standing for the three-row people mover sold alongside the Corolla Spacio and the larger Ipsum in Toyota’s minivan lineup. Production ended in Japan on 13 October 2017, so there was no 2019 Toyota Wish and no 2019 model year; the final Wish was the second-generation AE20, built from 2009 to 2017. This article covers what the Wish was, the specifications of its last generation, and the models that replaced it.
What the Wish Was
The Wish was a five-door compact MPV with standard three-row seating, positioned between the Corolla Spacio and the Ipsum. In Japan it was sold through Toyota Netz dealerships, and it was also assembled in Thailand for Malaysia and Singapore and in Taiwan, as well as being imported to Hong Kong. The first generation (AE10) ran from January 2003 to April 2009, when it was replaced by the second-generation AE20 model.
Interior and Seating
The second-generation Wish was offered as a six- or seven-seater. Most versions seated seven with a three-place second row, while the top 2.0Z model used two folding captain’s chairs in the middle row and seated six. The cabin had three rows of seats, with the rearmost pair folding to create load space, a layout aimed at families who needed occasional seven-seat capacity in a compact footprint. Standard safety features included anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist, with traction and stability control available.
Exterior and Dimensions
The second-generation Wish rode on a 2,750 mm (108.3 in) wheelbase and measured 4,590 to 4,600 mm (180.7 to 181.1 in) long, 1,695 mm (66.7 in) wide, or 1,745 mm (68.7 in) on the wider-fendered 2.0Z, and 1,590 mm (62.6 in) tall. Curb weight ranged from about 1,355 to 1,380 kg (2,987 to 3,042 lb). Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on 1.8-liter models. Its compact dimensions made it simpler to place in Japanese streets than larger minivans.
Engines and Transmission
The final Wish generation used Toyota’s ZR-family four-cylinder engines. The 1.8-liter 2ZR-FAE with Valvematic made 144 PS and 176 Nm of torque in two-wheel-drive form, or 133 PS and 164 Nm with all-wheel drive. A 2.0-liter 3ZR-FAE engine produced 158 PS and 196 Nm. All models used Toyota’s Super CVT-i continuously variable transmission with a seven-speed sport sequential mode. Fuel economy was among the best in the compact MPV class at the time of launch, helped by the engines’ Valvematic variable valve system.
The End of Production
Toyota ended Wish sales in Taiwan in 2016, where it was replaced by the Sienta, and discontinued the model in Japan on 13 October 2017 and in Singapore by mid-2018. With the Wish gone, Toyota’s three-row compact MPV role in Japan was taken over by the Sienta, the Prius α, and the taller Noah, Voxy and Esquire triplets. The name was retired entirely, so any vehicle advertised as a 2019 or later Toyota Wish would not be a factory model.
What Replaced the Wish
Toyota replaced the Wish in its Japanese lineup with a combination of models rather than a single successor. The compact Sienta took the entry three-row slot, the Prius α offered a hybrid five- or seven-seat alternative, and the Noah and Voxy covered buyers who wanted a larger, taller box-shaped minivan. Buyers looking for a used three-row Toyota today would more likely consider one of those models. Related reading on this site includes the 2019 Toyota Kluger Review.
Markets and Sales
The Wish was popular in Japan and in several Asian markets. Beyond Japan it was assembled in Thailand from December 2003 and exported to Malaysia and Singapore, and it was built in Taiwan from 2004 for the local market. It was also sold in Hong Kong as an import from Japan. In Japan the Wish regularly appeared among Toyota’s better-selling models of its type, and its success prompted rivals such as the Honda Stream and Mazda Premacy to adjust their own positioning in the compact MPV segment.
Design and Packaging
The Wish was designed to combine compact exterior dimensions with three rows of usable seats. Its wheelbase and low floor helped maximize cabin space within a footprint close to that of a compact car, which made it easy to place in congested Japanese cities. The dashboard and center console were reworked over the two generations, and the 2012 facelift added LED-inset headlights, a revised grille and a new instrument cluster.
The first-generation Wish, launched in 2003, used 1.8-liter and 2.0-liter engines and quickly became a strong seller in Japan, with a 2005 facelift bringing cosmetic updates and a revised transmission for the 2.0Z. The second-generation model from March 2009 moved to the ZR engine family and a standard seven-speed CVT, and it remained the version on sale until production ended in 2017.
All second-generation models sent power to the front wheels or, on 1.8-liter versions, optionally to all four. The 2.0Z’s wider body and larger bumpers pushed it into a higher Japanese tax category, which affected its cost of ownership relative to the 1.8-liter cars, and the 1.8S and 1.8A models with aero kits similarly sat in a higher tax band.
By the final years the Wish had been overtaken in Japan by taller, more efficient minivans and by hybrid models, and Toyota chose to consolidate its lineup around those instead of developing a new Wish. Because the Wish was a Japan-first model, it was never sold in North America or Europe, where Toyota offered different MPVs and crossovers instead.
