REAL MOTOR JAPAN
Sign UpLog In

Toyota Sienta

NCP81Stock varies — page stays live

The standard front-wheel-drive variant of the first-generation Sienta. It pairs the highly reliable 1.5-liter 1NZ-FE naturally aspirated engine with a Super CVT-i transmission, emphasizing city fuel economy and smooth acceleration.

Engine
1NZ-FE VVT-i
Displacement
1,496 cc
Drive
2WD (FF)
Gearbox
CVT
Fuel
Petrol
Body
Minivan
Toyota Sienta NCP81Toyota Sienta — representative 1st Gen (XP80) image

Chassis variants of the Sienta

NCP811NZ-FE VVT-i1,496 ccFFCVT
NCP851NZ-FE VVT-i1,496 cc4WD4ATNSP1702NR-FKE Dual VVT-iE1,496 ccFFCVTNHP1701NZ-FXE Hybrid1,496 ccFFe-CVT

Dimensions & shipping volume

Length
4,120 mm
Width
1,695 mm
Height
1,670 mm
Weight
1,160 kg
Shipping volume
11.66 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
NCP81-0XXXXXXSep 2003 – May 2006Pre-facelift
NCP81-5XXXXXXMay 2006 – Jun 2015Facelift & Dice Edition

Import eligibility by country

Age limits are counted from the month of manufacture, not first registration. This NCP81 was produced 2003–2015; the statuses below are checked against Jul 2026.

KenyaNot eligible
8-year limit from manufacture — all units now exceed it.
UgandaCheck unit age
Only units manufactured Jul 2011 or later qualify (15-year limit).
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 NCP81

What is the primary difference between the NCP81 and NCP85?
The NCP81 is front-wheel drive (FF) and utilizes a continuously variable transmission (CVT), whereas the NCP85 is four-wheel drive (4WD) and utilizes a traditional 4-speed automatic transmission.
Was there a break in the production of the NCP81?
Yes, Toyota briefly discontinued the Sienta in late 2010 but revived it in mid-2011 due to sustained consumer demand, continuing production until the second generation arrived in 2015.