The is a subcompact car manufactured by Toyota from 1978 until 1999 across five generations, in five body configurations sized between the Corolla and the Starlet. Manufactured at the Takaoka plant in Toyota City, Japan, and sharing its platform with the Cynos (aka Paseo) and the Starlet, the Tercel was marketed variously as the —sold at Toyota Japanese dealerships called Toyota Corolla Stores—and was replaced by the Platz in 1999. It was also known as the and sold at Toyopet Store locations. Starting with the second generation, the Tercel dealership network was changed to Vista Store, as its badge engineered sibling, the Corolla II, was exclusive to Corolla Store locations.

The Tercel was the first front-wheel drive vehicle produced by Toyota, although it was the only front-wheel drive Toyota to have a longitudinally mounted engine.

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The Tercel was introduced in Japan in August 1978, and the United States in 1980. It was originally sold as either a two- or four-door sedan, or as a three-door hatchback. The hatchback's rear design was the result of using taillights similar in design to those used on the bigger Mark II: the Tercel was originally intended to be sold through Toyopet Stores, alongside the Mark II. The Tercel ended up being marketed through the Corolla Store and the Diesel Store locations in Japan, while a version badged "Toyota Corsa" was marketed in parallel through the separate Toyopet distribution network. In the United States it was named the "Corolla Tercel". Models sold in the US were powered by a 1,452 cc SOHC four-cylinder 1A-C engine producing at 4,800 rpm. Transmission choices were either a four- or five-speed manual, or a three-speed automatic available with the 1.5-litre engine from August 1979 on.

In the Japanese market, the 1,500 cc engine developed at 5,600 rpm, while the 1.3-litre 2A engine, added in June 1979, offered a claimed .

In this new front-wheel-drive design, the first for Toyota, the engine is mounted longitudinally. The transmission is mounted under the floorpan, as is the case in a rear-wheel-drive car. Unlike a rear-wheel-drive car, the transmission has a ring and pinion gear on the front part of the transmission, underneath the engine. The engine, transmission and differential are located a little off of the centre line of the car. Halfshafts then extend from the transmission to the front wheels. This made for a taller package than usual, making the beltline higher as well, but Toyota felt that traditionalists might be scared off by a transverse setup. As early as 1980, Toyota also hinted that this setup made the conversion to a four-wheel-drive setup easier, although such a version had to wait for the second generation. The Tercel also had rack and pinion steering, the first time such a design was used by Toyota since the 2000GT.

In August 1980, the Tercel (and Corsa) underwent a facelift, with considerable changes to the front and minor ones to the interior and rear. The 1A engine was replaced by the 3A of identical displacement but now with . The second generation Tercel was moved from the Corolla to the Vista sales network, while the Corsa remained available through Toyopet stores, and the Corolla II in the Corolla dealer network.

  • 1452 cc 3A-U: at 5,600 rpm (9.0:1 compression, 82.05–86.05)
  • 1,452 cc 3A-SU: at 6,000 rpm (twin variable venturi carburettors, swirl intake version, 84.08–88.02) As with the earlier generation, engine and transmission were still mounted longitudinally, and the arrangements were the same. In some markets, engines received minor improvements, such as reformulated combustion chambers (to improve emissions and fuel economy), higher compression ratios, and new auxiliary devices for the carburettor assemblies.

The four-wheel-drive models (chassis code AL25, only with the 1.5 litre engine) could be equipped with six-speed manual transmissions, and could be shifted from two- to four-wheel drive without coming to a stop. The sixth gear it carries is an "extra low" (EL) first gear, a standard transmission gear with a very low (4.71:1) gear-ratio. The EL gear generates a 17.6:1 final drive ratio, giving the driver the torque needed to extract the vehicle from conditions which otherwise may have trapped it. It is only available when in four-wheel drive, and because of its low gear-ratio it is suitable only for very low-speed use. Also included with better equipped four-wheel-drive models was an inclinometer above the radio and air conditioner that measures the tilt of the car.

The new Tercel 4WD was built from existing pieces in the Toyota inventory. The engine, transaxle and front-wheel-drive system were from the existing Tercel; the longitudinally mounted engine made such a conversion a simple affair. The coil-sprung, live rear axle and the drive shaft was taken from the rear-wheel drive Corolla. The only major part specifically designed for the new Tercel 4WD was the transfer case, built into the transmission. The transfer case provides the driver with three different power arrangements: Normally, the car is operated with front-wheel drive. When the driver pulls the 4WD selector lever back into four-wheel drive, or presses a button on the gear selector for the automatic transmission, front and rear differentials are driven at the same RPM via a direct mechanical coupling. There is no conventional center differential, so the four-wheel-drive system can be used only on loose or slippery road surfaces (such as snow, gravel, or sand); otherwise the drivetrain experiences severe wear, and handling is compromised. The third power option (which was only available on the six-speed manual) is low range. This is not the same as the low-range power option found in a truck or conventional SUV, as the Tercel lacks a high-range-low-range transfer case. When the lever is placed in four-wheel-drive mode it becomes possible to down shift the vehicle from first to EL.

In 2025, CBC in Canada reported on a man whose car had been driven over and was still in operation.

Europe

Versions available in Europe:

  • 1.3 litre DX (three-door hatchback, five-door hatchback)
  • 1.3 litre GL (three-door hatchback, five-door hatchback)
  • 1.5 litre GL (three-door hatchback, five-door hatchback)
  • 1.5 litre 4WD (five-door estate, only version from 1986 onwards)

Engines:

  • 1,295 cc 2A: at 6,000 rpm
  • 1,452 cc 3A/3A-C: at 5,600 rpm

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File:'85-'86 Toyota Tercel 5-Door.jpg|1985–1986 Tercel 5-door (AL21, North America)

File:2nd Toyota Tercel 3-door.jpg|1983–1984 Tercel 3-door (AL21, US)

File:1983 Toyota Tercel AL20 (1).jpg|Tercel 1300 (AL20, Europe)

File:Toyota-SprinterCarib.JPG|Toyota Sprinter Carib (AL25, Japan)

File:Toyota Tercel Wagon 4WD SR5.jpg|1986 Tercel wagon (AL25, US)

File:Interior of AL20 Tercel.jpg|Dash and interior of 1983 Tercel

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Third generation (L30; 1986)

In 1986, Toyota introduced the slightly larger third generation Tercel with a new 12-valve engine which featured a variable venturi carburetor, and later models with EFI. From this generation on, the engine is mounted transversely, with the transmission mounted on the right side of the engine in a layout developed by Dante Giacosa and earlier popularised in such vehicles as the Fiat 128 and Volkswagen Golf. Other changes included revised rack-and-pinion steering and a newly designed, fully independent suspension. The Tercel continued in North America as Toyota's least expensive vehicle, while it was no longer offered in Europe. In other markets, the smaller Starlet was also offered.

In Japan, the top trim package Tercel Retra GP-Turbo came installed with Toyota's four wheel independent suspension, labeled "Pegasus", along with their "Lasre" branded multi-port fuel injection, using the 3E-TEU engine. "Retra" was short for retractable, a reference to the car's unique hidden headlamps.

In 1986, Toyota also introduced a turbodiesel version with Toyota's 1.5-litre 1N-T engine coupled with a manual five-speed transmission. This was exclusively sold in the Japanese domestic market.

The wagon version continued to be of the previous generation, as did the four-door sedan (which was not exported to most countries), until it was moved to the Corolla's underpinnings in 1988. The variable venturi carburettor reportedly has some problems, especially in the earlier models, such as a too rich mixture, which is caused by the too thin Teflon coating of the fuel-metering needle, which erodes over time due to friction. It also has had problems with the compensator (choke device), which can also cause overly rich mixture when not working properly.

;North America

The third generation Tercel arrived in North America in late 1986, for the 1987 model year. As with Tercels globally, it received the new 12-valve E-series engine family. In North America, only the 1.5-litre engine was available, producing in federalized trim. In 1987 (for the 1988 model year), Toyota introduced the Tercel EZ to North America. Fitted with less standard equipment than the standard Tercel it has vinyl upholstery, a four-speed manual transmission, rubber mats instead of carpeting, and a deleted passenger's side sun visor. This was also when the two-door sedan model was introduced, sometimes referred to as a "coupe" in the United States.

The Tercel 3-door hatchback was offered in VC, VS, VZ, Joinus and Avenue trim levels. Model grades for the sedan were Joinus, Avenue, VE, VX and VZ. The top-of-the-line VZ is powered by a 5E-FHE engine. The Joinus hatchback and sedan, Avenue and VX sedan were also offered with 1.5-litre 1N diesel engine. The 4WD models were available as Joinus and VS hatchbacks, as well as the Avenue and VX sedans. 4WD models were all powered by the 1.5-liter 5E-FE engine. The higher level Japanese sedans have different tail lights and a better-equipped interior than the export models. This was the first Tercel to offer anti-lock brakes. The Tercel was carried over to 1994 with no major changes aside from changing over to haloalkane, a non-CFC refrigerant, for the air conditioning system.

; South America

In Chile, the Tercel was introduced in 1991 as a four-door sedan with a 1.3-litre, SOHC 12-valve , four-cylinder, carburetor engine, under the name "Corolla Tercel". The "DX" basic version came with tachometer and four spoke steering wheel. It gained moderate success, helped by the recognition of the Corolla name.

In September 1992, a Canadian-spec version was introduced to Chile to replace the previous one with a new 1.5-litre SOHC engine. Unlike the previous one, it was simply called "Tercel". It was brought along the Canadian-spec Corolla to meet the new emission standard since no Latin American version of either was yet available with a catalytic converter. Due to the higher trim level of the Canadian-spec versions, the Tercel was initially marketed as a successor of the Corolla E90, which had just been discontinued.

;Corsa

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Toyota corsa el41 sedanaxspecial 1 f (cropped).jpg|Pre-facelift Toyota Corsa 1.3 AX Special (EL41, Japan)

Toyota corsa el41 sedanaxspecial 1 r (cropped).jpg|Pre-facelift Toyota Corsa 1.3 AX Special (EL41, Japan)

Toyota Corsa 1990 1.jpg|Facelift Toyota Corsa sedan (Japan)

Toyota Corsa 1990 2.jpg|Facelift Toyota Corsa sedan (Japan)

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;Corolla II

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Toyota Corolla II 1.3 TX 1991 (front).jpg|Pre-facelift Corolla II 1.3 TX hatchback (EL41)

Toyota Corolla II 1.3 TX 1991 (rear).jpg|Pre-facelift Corolla II 1.3 TX hatchback (EL41)

Toyota-corollaII EL45-front.jpg|Facelift Corolla II hatchback 4WD (EL45, Japan)

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Fifth generation (L50; 1994)

Designed between 1991 and 1992 by Shinichi Hiranaka and Yasuhisa Hamano, Toyota introduced an all-new Tercel in September 1994, for the 1995 model year. The new Tercel featured a redesigned exterior and new engine, offering a stiffer body with better handling and was one of only a handful of cars in the US to have OBDII in 1995. Reflecting the state of Japan's post-Bubble economy, the car was somewhat decontented in comparison to its overbuilt predecessor.

For 1997, all North American market Tercels were available only in the CE trim level and incorporated many of the standard and optional items from previous base and DX models. All Tercels came standard with a new 13-inch wheel and tire combination.

Inside, the Tercel's dashboard was revised with rotary ventilation controls. All Toyota models had revised seat fabric and door panels. The RedHawk and WhiteHawk editions were introduced in addition to the BlackHawk trim already offered, which came standard with air conditioning, 185/60R14 tires on custom wheels, a rear spoiler with integrated brake light, and hawk symbols to identify the special model.

Facelift

For 1998, the Tercel's styling was updated, highlighted by multi-reflector headlights, a revised grille and front fascia design and clear lens turn signal lights for the front and rear. The facelift occurred in December 1997 for the Japanese market, and covered all three lines (Tercel, Corsa, Corolla II).

The Tercel's rear styling was also enhanced with redesigned composite tail lights and updated bumper molding. The new molding extended across the entire length of the rear bumper.

Production of the Tercel for the American market ended in 1998 as the model was superseded by the Echo. Production for Japan, Canada and some other countries continued through 1999. Taiwanese production continued until 2003. The Soluna AL50 was powered by the 1.5-litre 5A-FE engine, and campaigned as the "Asian family car". Trim levels are XLi, SLi (Thailand only), and GLi.

Only the XLi and GLi were sold in Thailand (from January 1997) and Indonesia (from April 2000) where the XLi was common for taxis. Based on the GLi, the Soluna S-Limited with body kits was offered for a short time. A facelifted Soluna appeared in Thailand in late 1999 and arrived in Indonesia in May 2001.

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File:1997 Toyota Soluna (AL50) 1.5 XLi Sedan front (cropped).jpg|1997 Toyota Soluna 1.5 XLi (AL50; pre-facelift, Thailand)

File:Toyota Soluna in Pattaya (cropped).JPG|Toyota Soluna 1.5 GLi Auto (AL50; pre-facelift, Thailand)

File:Toyota Soluna.jpg|Toyota Soluna 1.5 GLi (AL50; facelift, Thailand)

File:Toyota Soluna tail.jpg|Toyota Soluna 1.5 SLi (AL50; facelift, Thailand)

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Dimension growth

The Tercel remained smaller than the Corolla throughout its production, though by the end of its production the Tercel had become almost the same size as the North American-market 1975–1978 Corollas that were current at the time the first generation Tercel was introduced.

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References

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