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5BF-S403U

Toyota TownAce S403U specs

S403U is the model code of the Toyota TownAce (registered in Japan as a goods vehicle). Japan’s transport ministry lists it in its fuel economy lists from 2021–2024 under the model type 5BF-S403U. A genuine car’s chassis number starts S403-.

S403U at a glance

Make
Toyota
Model
TownAce
Model code
S403U
Model types
5BF-S403U
In MLIT’s lists
2021–2024
Engines
2NR 1,496 cc petrol
Gearboxes
4-speed automatic, 5-speed manual
Drive
rear-wheel drive
Kerb weight
1,160–1,170 kg
Official fuel economy
11.9–15.6 km/L (34–44 mpg)

Fuel economy is from Japan’s official tests and is usually better than you’ll see on UK roads. MLIT doesn’t list power or torque.

5BF-S403U

Listed 2021–2024. The 5BF prefix (our explanation, not MLIT’s) means petrol goods vehicle or bus certified to Japan’s 2018 emissions rules, 50% below their limits. Check 5BF-S403U against ULEZ and clean air zones.

EngineGearboxDriveWeightSeatsFuel economyListed
2NR1,496 cc petrol4-speed automaticrear-wheel drive1,170 kg—15.1 km/L43 mpg, Japanese JC08 test2021–2024
2NR1,496 cc petrol4-speed automaticrear-wheel drive1,170 kg—11.9 km/L34 mpg, WLTC test2021–2024
2NR1,496 cc petrol5-speed manualrear-wheel drive1,160 kg—15.6 km/L44 mpg, Japanese JC08 test2021–2024
2NR1,496 cc petrol5-speed manualrear-wheel drive1,160 kg—12.9 km/L36 mpg, WLTC test2021–2024

Each row is one version as MLIT lists it. A version can appear twice when MLIT gave figures on two tests that year. Low-emission stars and trim names aren’t shown. MLIT gives fuel economy in km/L; the mpg figures are our conversion to UK gallons. Japanese tests are gentler than real UK driving, so expect less.

S403U build year by chassis number

Japan’s carmakers list the chassis numbers each code was built with every year from 2015. Find the serial below, or use the build year finder.

S403U · 5BF-S403U · Toyota
BuiltChassis numbers
2020S403U-000051 to 001467
2021S403U-001468 to 005102
2022S403U-005103 to 008682
2023S403U-008683 to 012974

From the JAMA chassis number lists: 車台番号一覧表. We keep only the chassis code, serial ranges and year. JAMA calls them reference information, not a certificate.

Check an S403U before you buy

Make sure the car is what the advert says: the chassis number on the V5C should start S403-, and the engine and gearbox should match one of the versions above. Our free check reads the UK MOT history and compares it with the chassis code.

Other Toyota TownAce model codes

Questions

What engine does the S403U have?

MLIT lists the Toyota TownAce S403U with 2NR 1,496 cc petrol.

What fuel economy does the S403U get?

Officially between 11.9 and 15.6 km/L (about 34–44 mpg), depending on the version, on Japan’s own tests. Real-world figures are usually lower, especially against the older 10-15 mode test.

How heavy is the S403U?

Between 1,160 and 1,170 kg kerb weight, depending on the version.

Is 5BF-S403U the same as S403U?

Yes. 5BF-S403U is the full model type: the letters before the hyphen are Japan’s emissions code, which changed as the rules were tightened, and S403U is the model code. The chassis number starts with S403-.

About these figures

The model types, engine codes, capacities, gearboxes, drive, weights, seats and km/L figures are copied from MLIT’s yearly lists of cars on sale in Japan each March, so “listed” years are list years, not exact production dates. The English model names, mpg conversions, emissions code explanations and chassis number matching are ours. Lists before 2013 were printed as PDFs that we read by machine; where an older list gives an engine code that doesn’t match its capacity, we’ve used the figure the same model type has in other years. Check anything that matters against the car’s own papers. Spotted a mistake? Email [email protected]. All Toyota model codes.

Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), Japan, fuel economy lists 2004–2026, used under the Public Data License 1.0. Edited and translated by JDM History.