Toyota Corolla Runx
NZE121Stock varies — page stays liveThe NZE121 is the most common variant of the Runx, featuring the economical 1.5-liter 1NZ-FE engine. It is highly regarded for its everyday reliability and exceptional fuel efficiency.
Engine
1NZ-FE VVT-i
Displacement
1,496 cc
Drive
2WD (FF)
Gearbox
4AT / 5MT
Fuel
Petrol
Body
Hatchback
Toyota Corolla Runx — representative 9th Gen (E120) imageChassis variants of the Corolla Runx
ChassisEngineDisplacementDriveGearbox
NZE1211NZ-FE VVT-i1,496 ccFF4AT / 5MT
NZE1241NZ-FE VVT-i1,496 cc4WD4ATZZE1221ZZ-FE VVT-i1,794 ccFF4ATZZE1232ZZ-GE VVTL-i1,795 ccFF6MT / 4ATZZE1241ZZ-FE VVT-i1,794 cc4WD4ATDimensions & shipping volume
Length
4,175 mm
Width
1,695 mm
Height
1,470 mm
Weight
1,080 kg
Shipping volume
10.4 M³
Manufacture year vs. registration year
Japanese paperwork shows the first registration date, but African customs count age from the month of manufacture. Verify with the chassis serial before purchase:
Serial prefixProduction periodSeries
NZE121-0XXXXXXJan 2001 – Sep 2002Early Production
NZE121-3XXXXXXSep 2002 – Apr 2004Mid Production (Minor Update)
NZE121-5XXXXXXApr 2004 – Sep 2006Late Production (Facelift)
Import eligibility by country
Age limits are counted from the month of manufacture, not first registration. This NZE121 was produced 2001–2006; the statuses below are checked against Jul 2026.
KenyaNot eligible
8-year limit from manufacture — all units now exceed it.UgandaNot eligible
15-year limit from manufacture — all units now exceed it.TanzaniaEligible
No age ban; vehicles over 10 years pay additional excise duty.ZambiaEligible
No age limit; surtax applies to vehicles older than 5 years.MalawiEligible
No age limit; duty calculated on cc and age band.Common questions about the NZE121
What is the average fuel consumption of the NZE121 Runx?
Under standard JDM 10-15 mode testing, it achieves around 16.6 km/L, which translates to roughly 6.0L/100km under gentle driving conditions.
Is the 1NZ-FE engine chain-driven?
Yes, the 1NZ-FE engine uses a timing chain rather than a timing belt, significantly reducing scheduled maintenance costs.