- Economical 1.5-litre engine
- Safe and predictable handling
- High standard of fit and finish
- Underwhelming performance
- Light, overly-assisted steering
- Limited interior space, especially the rear seats
- Shallow cargo bay
Overview
Released in December 1995, the Toyota EL54 Paseo was a compact, two-plus-two coupe. Manufactured in Toyama, Japan, the front-wheel drive Paseo was powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine that was mated to either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission.
5E-FE engine
The 1.5-litre 5E-FE four-cylinder petrol engine had a cast iron block, an aluminium cylinder head, fuel injection, coil-on-plug ignition, flat-topped pistons, double overhead camshafts (belt-driven), four valves per cylinder and a compression ratio of 9.4:1.
Dimensions and suspension
The EL54 Paseo was 4155 mm long, 1660 mm wide, 1296 mm tall and had a 2380 mm long wheelbase. Furthermore, the Paseo had MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam rear axle (both with coil springs, gas-pressurised dampers and anti-roll bars).
| Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EL54 Paseo | 1.5-litre petrol I4 (5E-FE) | 5sp man., 4sp auto |
69 kW at 5400 rpm | 136 Nm at 4400 rpm |
Safety equipment
Standard safety equipment for the EL54 Paseo was limited to front seatbelt pretensioners. An optional safety pack, however, included a driver’s airbag and ABS.
Features
Standard features for the Paseo included 14-inch steel wheels with 185/60 R14 Bridgestone Potenza tyres, a four speaker sound system with a radio and cassette player, folding rear seats, central locking, power windows, power mirrors and a tilt adjustable steering column.
Extra-cost, optional features included air conditioning, metallic paint finishes and, for the ‘luxury pack’, a CD player and sunroof.
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