Numbers first, because with the Toyota Noah they are the story: Petrol engine, 114 kW. Toyota built from 2001, in the decade of stability control, dual-clutch gearboxes and the first serious hybrids.
Where it came from
The Toyota Noah (Japanese: トヨタ・ノア, Hepburn: Toyota Noa) is a minivan with two rear sliding doors built by Toyota and sold mainly in Asian countries. It is positioned below the Alphard, and above the Sienta. The Noah was also positioned below the Estima until the latter was discontinued in 2019. Being a front-wheel drive-based vehicle, it replaces the rear-wheel drive-based TownAce/LiteAce Noah, while retaining the "R" model code series and generation numbering. In contrast with its predecessor, the Noah features rear sliding doors on both sides.
The twin version of the Noah is named the Toyota Voxy (Japanese: トヨタ・ヴォクシー, Hepburn: Toyota Vokushī). It is marketed as the sportier version of the Noah, featuring split-type headlights and clear taillight lens, a styling trait that would later be shared with the larger Vellfire. For the third generation, another twin version was also available, named the Toyota Esquire (Japanese: トヨタ・エスクァイア, Hepburn: Toyota Esukwaia). It was marketed as the more luxurious version of the Noah, sported a different grille design and more upmarket interior. Starting with the fourth generation, the Noah is also rebadged and sold by Suzuki as the fourth-generation Suzuki Landy (Japanese: スズキ・ランディ, Hepburn: Suzuki Randi), replacing the previous Landy model, which from 2007 until 2022 had been based on the Nissan Serena. Up until the third generation, the vehicle was specifically developed to provide variants that complies with the Japanese dimension regulations for compact vehicles with length dimensions under 4,700 mm (185.0 in) and width under 1,700 mm
Under the skin
Under the skin sits Petrol engine; it is rated at 114 kW; other versions carried different engines, listed in the specification table below. Kerb weight is 1500 kg. Power-to-weight lands near 76 horsepower per tonne, which is unhurried — enough for the job, not for the bragging. The gearbox is a 4-speed Automatic transmission / automatic (2001–2004) / Continuously variable transmission / CVT (2004–2007). The wheelbase is 2825 mm. These are manufacturer figures carried by Wikipedia and Wikidata, not road-test measurements.
In context
Where it sits in Toyota's history is not in doubt: the Toyota TownAce/LiteAce Noah (R40/R50) came before it; it was built at Kariya, Aichi (Toyota Auto Body), Japan. On a showroom list of its day it stood against the Mazda RX-8, the Chery A11, the Mitsubishi Grandis. Nearby in the Toyota catalogue sit the Toyota Agya and the Toyota Calya.