For the fifth consecutive year, Toyota is the biggest car maker in the world. As you can imagine, it takes more than selling Corollas and RAVs to grab and keep the sales crown for so long to the detriment of the VW Group. Toyota’s massive product portfolio includes some dirt-cheap models, like the $10,000 Corolla Axio sedan and Corolla Fielder wagon. Those dirt-cheap JDMs are going away, but there’s another car available for about the same money.
We’re not cheating by talking about kei cars, which can be had in the Land of the Rising Sun for less than $7,000. The Probox is a regular car, measuring 167.1 inches long, 66.7 inches wide, and 60.2 inches tall. It fits into the compact segment and is manufactured by scandal-ridden Toyota subsidiary Daihatsu in Japan. A badge-engineered Mazda is also available as the Familia Van.
The Probox starts at 1,529,000 yen or $10,200 at current exchange rates. Regarding space and practicality, it’s a lot of car for the money, although we’ll admit the styling looks like it’s stuck in the 1990s. The van/wagon mashup has been around since 2014 in its second generation, while the original model was launched in 2002. The Probox gets a naturally aspirated 1.3-liter gas engine with just 94 horsepower and 90 pound-feet of torque in its most basic form.
But you’re not stuck with this spartan version riding on 14-inch steelies. Toyota Japan also sells the Probox with a slightly more potent 1.5-liter engine, and you can even opt for a thrifty hybrid setup and all-wheel drive. It’s a no-nonsense practical car that gets the job done without pretending to be something more sophisticated. There will always be demand for basic transportation, and the Probox delivers it at minimal cost. Even the most expensive version starts at 2,057,500 yen or approximately $13,700.
The Probox doesn’t necessarily skimp on features, especially if you step up to a higher trim level. While the base model is stuck with manual air conditioning, nicer ones get automatic AC and a heated driver’s seat. Other goodies include power windows, radio, and remote locking. There’s even Toyota Safety Sense with lane assistance, automatic high beams, and other driver assistance systems to keep you out of trouble.
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The interior’s modularity is also a strong point. The Probox quickly transforms from a wagon into a van by folding the rear bench. The flat cargo floor can store items as long as 71.2 inches behind the front seats. Toyota engineered the workhorse with a boxy tailgate for a wide access area, making it easy to load and unload voluminous items.
Of course, that shockingly low asking price wouldn’t be possible without a favorable JPY/USD conversion rate. As we mentioned in the article about the old Corolla going away, the yen lost about a quarter of its value compared to the dollar in the last five years. However, there are still other regions of the world where $10,000 buys you a new car. China would be the most obvious example, but we recently talked about a four-figure Skoda crossover in India where Honda and Suzuki are selling sub-$10,000 sedans.
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