Same size, two generations
The 1ZZ-FE is a 1,794 cc in-line four with an aluminium block, cast-iron liners and a chain-driven 16-valve head; VVT-i arrived on the intake camshaft after the first model years. It powered the Corolla and Corolla Altis of 2000–2008, the Allion and Premio, the Wish, the Matrix and Pontiac Vibe, the Celica and — in its early years — the RAV4 1.8. The 2ZR-FE, introduced in 2007, is a 1,798 cc four with Dual VVT-i on both camshafts; it took over the Corolla, Auris, Allion and Premio, the Matrix and the Scion xD.
For an importer the difference is the car park behind each engine. The 1ZZ follows the older, larger population of 2000s Corollas and Allions that East Africa, Nigeria and Pakistan imported in huge numbers; the 2ZR follows the 2008-onward cars that are now the volume of the Corolla trade.
| 1ZZ-FE | 2ZR-FE | |
|---|---|---|
| Layout | 1.8 L in-line four, petrol (1,794 cc, 79 × 91.5 mm) | 1.8 L in-line four, petrol (1,798 cc, 80.5 × 88.3 mm) |
| Valvetrain | DOHC 16-valve, timing chain; VVT-i on the intake side (not on the first 1998–99 engines) | DOHC 16-valve, timing chain; Dual VVT-i |
| Typical output | About 120–140 hp | About 128–138 hp |
| Years | 1998–2008 | 2007 onward |
| Typical vehicles | Corolla / Corolla Altis 2000–2008, Allion, Premio, Wish, Matrix, Vibe, Celica, early RAV4 1.8 | Corolla 2007+, Auris, Allion and Premio 2007+, Matrix, Scion xD |
| Known weak points | Oil consumption on early engines (piston rings and oil-drain design, later revised) | Fewer reported patterns; water pump and thermostat are the usual service items |
| Published price (per unit, FOB, full container) | US$ 670 | US$ 410 |
| Matching gearbox (mixed configurations only) | US$ 190 — two-wheel drive only | US$ 260 |
Are the 1ZZ and 2ZR interchangeable?
No. The displacement is almost identical, but the 2ZR is a different design: different block and head, Dual VVT-i with its own engine control unit and harness, and different mounting and ancillaries. Putting a 2ZR into a 1ZZ car is a conversion, not a replacement. Buy the engine the car left the factory with — the year and the model code on the vehicle's plate decide it, and the engine identification guide shows where the code is stamped on the block.
A useful rule for the Corolla trade: cars built up to 2007 are 1ZZ territory; 2008 onward is 2ZR. In between, check the plate — changeover dates varied by market and body.
Why the older engine costs more
Buyers are sometimes surprised that the 1ZZ-FE is priced above the newer 2ZR-FE. Published prices follow what an engine costs at source, and at source the 1ZZ is scarcer: the donor cars are older and fewer of them reach the dismantling yards in good condition, while the 2ZR population is larger and younger. For the importer the arithmetic still works, because the cars that need a 1ZZ have no alternative engine.
The early 1ZZ-FE is known for oil consumption, a design issue with the piston rings and oil-drain holes that Toyota later revised. 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.
Which markets ask for which
Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania ask for both: the Allion, Premio and Wish that dominate the used-import lots are 1ZZ cars up to 2007 and 2ZR cars after. Nigeria and Ghana buy the 1ZZ for the 2003–2008 Corolla and Matrix, and the 2ZR for the later Corolla. In Pakistan the 1ZZ follows the 1.8 Corolla Altis of the mid-2000s. A typical East African container carries 1NZ-FE and 2NZ-FE as the volume base, with 1ZZ-FE and 2ZR-FE on top.
More on the family is on the Toyota 1ZZ and 1AZ page and the Toyota 1NZ, 2NZ and 2ZR page.
What it costs, and how to order
Both are published models: 1ZZ-FE US$ 670 and 2ZR-FE US$ 410 per unit, FOB, 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 (US$ 190 for the 1ZZ-FE gearbox, two-wheel drive only; US$ 260 for the 2ZR-FE). Used gearboxes are sold untested and as-is. Build the mix on the quote page; availability of every model is confirmed in the quotation.
Sources
- Toyota ZZ 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 1ZZ-FE and the 2ZR-FE?
Both are 1.8-litre Toyota in-line fours. The 1ZZ-FE (1,794 cc, 1998–2008) has VVT-i on the intake side and powered the 2000–2008 Corolla, Allion, Premio, Wish and Matrix; the 2ZR-FE (1,798 cc, from 2007) has Dual VVT-i and replaced it in the Corolla, Auris, Allion and Premio.
Can a 2ZR-FE replace a 1ZZ-FE?
No — different block, head, engine control unit, harness and mounts make it a conversion rather than a replacement. Buy the engine the car was built with.
How much does a used 1ZZ-FE cost wholesale?
US$ 670 per unit at ENGICOR, FOB, Grade A only, inside a full container of 90 or 130 engines. The 2ZR-FE is US$ 410. The 1ZZ-FE gearbox is US$ 190, two-wheel drive only, in the mixed configurations only.
Does the 1ZZ-FE burn oil?
Early 1ZZ-FE engines are known for oil consumption, which Toyota traced to the piston rings and oil-drain design and later revised. Our manual crankshaft and photo check cannot measure oil consumption; have your installer run a compression check before fitting if it matters to your customers.
Which cars use the 1ZZ-FE?
The Corolla and Corolla Altis of 2000–2008, the Allion and Premio, the Wish, the Matrix and Pontiac Vibe, the Celica and the early RAV4 1.8, among others.