Two different families, not two sizes of one engine
The 1NZ-FE is a 1,497 cc in-line four of the NZ family, in production since 1999: aluminium block, chain-driven 16-valve head and VVT-i on the intake camshaft. It is the engine of the Vitz and Yaris 1.5, the Probox and Succeed, the Corolla Axio and Fielder 1.5, the Vios, Ractis, Sienta and Belta. The 2ZR-FE is a 1,798 cc four of the ZR family, introduced in 2007, with an aluminium block and Dual VVT-i on both camshafts; it powers the Corolla from 2007, the Auris, the Allion and Premio, the Matrix and the Scion xD.
The codes look alike, but the engines share no major parts. What they share is the car park: in most African and Asian markets the same Corolla body was sold with either the 1.5 or the 1.8, and a parts counter needs to know which one is in front of it before ordering.
| 1NZ-FE | 2ZR-FE | |
|---|---|---|
| Layout | 1.5 L in-line four, petrol (1,497 cc, 75 × 84.7 mm) | 1.8 L in-line four, petrol (1,798 cc, 80.5 × 88.3 mm) |
| Engine family | Toyota NZ | Toyota ZR |
| Valvetrain | DOHC 16-valve, timing chain; VVT-i on the intake side | DOHC 16-valve, timing chain; Dual VVT-i |
| Typical output | About 107–109 hp | About 128–138 hp |
| Typical torque | About 127–143 Nm | About 173 Nm |
| Years | 1999 onward | 2007 onward |
| Typical vehicles | Vitz / Yaris 1.5, Probox and Succeed, Corolla Axio and Fielder 1.5, Vios, Ractis, Sienta, Belta | Corolla 2007+, Auris, Allion and Premio 2007+, Matrix, Scion xD |
| Known weak points | Oil consumption at high mileage; chain and VVT-i rattle on cold start; overheating history in ex-taxi units | Fewer reported patterns; water pump and thermostat are the usual service items |
| Published price (per unit, FOB, full container) | US$ 780 | US$ 410 |
| Matching gearbox (mixed configurations only) | US$ 190 | US$ 260 |
Are the 1NZ and 2ZR interchangeable?
No. They are different families with different blocks, mounts, engine control units, harnesses and gearbox pairings. Putting a 2ZR into a car built with a 1NZ is a conversion project, not a replacement, and it is rarely worth the work. Buy the engine the car left the factory with: the model is stamped on the block and printed on the vehicle's build plate, and the engine identification guide shows where to read it.
The practical trap is the Corolla. A Corolla Axio or Fielder 1.5 carries the 1NZ-FE; the Corolla 1.8 of 2007 onward carries the 2ZR-FE; and the older Corolla 1.8 of 2000–2008 carries neither — it has the 1ZZ-FE, compared in the 1ZZ vs 2ZR guide. Three engines, one badge on the boot.
Why the smaller engine costs more
Buyers are often surprised that the 1.5 is priced above the 1.8. Published prices follow what an engine costs at source, not its displacement, and the 1NZ-FE is the most requested engine in this trade: the Probox, Vitz and Corolla fleets of East and West Africa run on it, so demand at source is constant. The 2ZR-FE comes from a large and newer donor pool and costs less to buy.
For a counter the conclusion is not to substitute one for the other, but to weight the container by what the local car park needs. A load can carry both: the 1NZ for volume, the 2ZR to lower the average cost per unit.
What our check covers on both
Our check is the same for every engine: cleaning, handling, a manual crankshaft rotation with a tool to confirm the mechanism turns, and photos from every side, delivered to you as an order file — Engine 1, Engine 2 and so on. It is not a compression, leak-down, bench or running test, so it does not prove how an engine will run once installed. You don't need to travel to buy, but you or your representative are welcome to visit for a Guangzhou Inspection Day and review your prepared lot in person, with a USD 1,000 visit deposit credited to your order.
Neither engine has a failure pattern that a hand check can rule out. On a 1NZ from a taxi or fleet car, ask your installer for a compression check before fitting; it is the most useful single test on this engine.
Which markets ask for which, and how to order
The 1NZ-FE is the volume engine of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria and Ghana. The 2ZR-FE follows the 2008-onward Corolla, strong in Nigeria, the Gulf and Pakistan. More on both is on the Toyota 1NZ, 2NZ and 2ZR page.
Both are published models: Grade A only, engines supplied as removed from the vehicle (what is fitted varies by unit and shows in each engine's photos), inside a full container of 90 (20-ft) or 130 (40-ft) engines, or in the mixed configurations of 45 + 45 and 65 + 65 with used gearboxes. Build the mix on the quote page; availability of every model is confirmed in the quotation.
Sources
- Toyota NZ engine — Wikipedia (specifications, years and applications)
- Toyota ZR engine — Wikipedia (specifications, years and applications)
- ENGICOR prices and terms: our own published list, recorded monthly in the used engine price index.
Price a container yourself
Build the mix you want in the online quoter — 90 engines in a 20-ft or 130 in a 40-ft, or 45 + 45 / 65 + 65 with gearboxes — and the FOB total reaches your inbox the same minute, at our published per-unit prices, every engine Grade A. Prefer to ask? Tell us the destination country and the models you need and we reply within one business day, usually within hours.
Frequently asked
What is the difference between the Toyota 1NZ-FE and the 2ZR-FE?
The 1NZ-FE is a 1.5-litre (1,497 cc) engine of the NZ family with about 107–109 hp, fitted to the Vitz, Yaris, Probox and Corolla 1.5; the 2ZR-FE is a 1.8-litre (1,798 cc) engine of the ZR family with about 128–138 hp, fitted to the Corolla from 2007. They are different families and share no major parts.
Can a 2ZR-FE replace a 1NZ-FE?
No. Mounts, engine control unit, harness and gearbox pairing are all different, so it is a conversion rather than a replacement. Buy the engine the car was built with; the model stamped on the block decides it.
Which is better, the 1NZ or the 2ZR?
Neither is better in general; they serve different cars. The 1NZ-FE is the lighter 1.5 for small cars and has the largest demand in East and West Africa; the 2ZR-FE is the stronger 1.8 for the Corolla from 2007 onward.
How much do the 1NZ-FE and 2ZR-FE cost wholesale?
At ENGICOR the 1NZ-FE is US$ 780 and the 2ZR-FE is US$ 410 per unit, FOB, Grade A only, inside a full container of 90 or 130 engines. The 1.5 costs more because it is the most requested engine at source.
Does the Corolla have a 1NZ or a 2ZR?
It depends on the version. The Corolla Axio and Fielder 1.5 use the 1NZ-FE, the Corolla 1.8 from 2007 uses the 2ZR-FE, and the Corolla 1.8 of 2000–2008 uses the older 1ZZ-FE. Read the model on the engine block before ordering.