The Toyota Noah is a boxy people carrier with seven or eight seats and two sliding rear doors. In Japan it is a family car. Abroad it is bought as a family van, a school-run car, a hotel or airport shuttle and a taxi. It is built alongside the Toyota Voxy: same body, same engines, a different front end and different grade names.
Generations You Will Find
| Generation | Years | Engines | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| R70 | 2007–2014 | 2.0 petrol, CVT | The cheapest Noah. Too old for age-limited markets such as Jamaica and Kenya. |
| R80 | 2014–2021 | 2.0 petrol, or 1.8 hybrid | The Noah most buyers want today. Facelifted in 2017. |
| R90 | 2022 onwards | 2.0 petrol, 1.8 hybrid | Newest and still expensive at export prices. |
Grades
- X: the base grade. Often sold as special editions such as X Smart Edition or X Limited, which add equipment like power sliding doors.
- G: more comfort equipment.
- Si: the sporty-looking version with the aero body kit. The most popular grade with private buyers.
- Si W×B ("double-by"): a special edition of the Si with darker styling details.
- Si GR Sport: body kit and suspension tuning from Toyota's GR division.
The grade is part of the listing name, for example "Noah Si W×B".
7 or 8 Seats?
Eight-seat Noahs have a bench in the middle row. Seven-seat versions have two separate middle seats with a walk-through to the back. For taxi or shuttle work you usually want eight. The seat count is on the auction sheet and export certificate, so ask if the listing doesn't say.
What to Check
- Sliding doors: open and close both. Power sliding door motors and rails are the most common wear item on any Japanese minivan.
- CVT gearbox: ask whether the inspector noted judder or whining.
- Mileage and use: many Noahs are family cars, but some were company shuttles. Check the auction grade and interior wear, not only the kilometres. See how to spot odometer rollback.
- Rear air-conditioning: Noahs have a second AC unit for the back. Make sure it blows cold.
- Underbody rust: cars from snowy northern Japan can have rust underneath. The auction sheet notes it.
- Auction sheet: read how to read a Japanese auction sheet.
Age Limits: Which Countries Can Take One
Some countries cap the age of an imported car: Jamaica allows up to 5 years, Trinidad & Tobago 4 years, and Kenya and Guyana 8 years. The Bahamas, Barbados, Suriname, the Eastern Caribbean islands such as Saint Lucia and Antigua, Uganda and Tanzania have no strict age limit on our checker. Rules change, so always confirm with your clearing agent before you pay.
For the Noah this means an older R70 can go to the Bahamas, Barbados, Suriname, Uganda or Tanzania, while Kenya and Guyana need a recent R80 and Jamaica and Trinidad need an even newer car.
The table at the bottom of this page applies each country's rule to our live stock and shows the cheapest delivered price. For the full list see import age limits by country, and for duty and port fees see how to calculate the total cost.
Comparing vans? See our 7 and 8 seater family vans guide.