1996 TOYOTA Paseo 1.5i 5MT (90 HP)

Vehicle Overview

When it first arrived in 1991, the small coupe Toyota Paseo almost went unnoticed. Not because it wasn’t reliable or stylish, but it simply lacked the character the famous Celica had.

While the first generation’s price kept increasing, sales dropped dramatically. Thus, it was time for a change.

To redress the situation, Toyota restyled the Paseo and unveiled the new model in late 1995.

Available in a single trim level, the equipment available was midway between the base and the upmarket versions of the 1991 Paseo.

While from a distance, the new Paseo looked pretty much like its predecessor, a closer look would reveal the car’s new, more aggressive profile.

At the front, the Paseo featured a longer grille with a redesigned bumper that incorporated the air intake. While the first model looked more like a coupe, the refreshed version had more of a fastback design with the new roofline.

At the rear, the Paseo had a neat red spoiler and a rear wiper. The rear bumper, as well as the front one, were body-color painted.

Fitted with larger rear quarter windows, the interior became lighter. However, it remained as cramped as its predecessor in terms of rear legroom and headroom. The front seats came with a new light grey material, adding to the interior’s roominess.

Under the hood, the Paseo had a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder unit that developed 92 hp and 136 Nm. As the numbers indicate, the Paseo was not a fast car but remained a stylish coupe good for a first car.

The engine was mated with a 5-speed manual or an optional 4-speed automatic transmission.