Toyota Noah Grade Guide: S-X vs S-G vs S-Z — All Differences Explained

Toyota's benchmark family minivan, decoded grade by grade — now hybrid-only, with every grade unified onto the same sporty aero-styled body. Here's exactly what separates S-X, S-G, and S-Z, current as of the April 2026 update.

📅 Current Model: 4th-generation Noah (90-series, full model change January 2022, major running update April 10, 2026, on sale May 6, 2026) 🚗 Grades: S-X · S-G · S-Z 🇯🇵 Japan Domestic Market — Hybrid-Only Since April 2026 (Excluding Welcab) 🚪 Power Sliding Doors, Low Floor, Class-Leading Interior Width

Big News: Noah Is Now Hybrid-Only

Toyota announced a major running update to the Noah on April 10, 2026 (on sale May 6, 2026) that discontinued the gasoline-only engine entirely, aside from the separate Welcab welfare-vehicle lineup. Every standard grade now uses the same 1.8L hybrid system, and Toyota simultaneously unified the exterior design: the plain "standard body" styling that used to sit alongside aero-look grades has been dropped, meaning every current Noah — even the new entry grade — wears the sportier aero-designed front end that used to be reserved for upper trims.

If you've seen older reviews or price lists referencing a Noah "X" grade in gasoline form, that configuration no longer exists in the standard lineup as of this update — it's been replaced by the aero-styled hybrid "S-X."

What Is the Toyota Noah?

The Noah traces its roots to 1996, when Toyota sold a rear-wheel-drive-based "Town Ace Noah" and "Lite Ace Noah," shared with commercial van variants. In 2001, Toyota split the passenger-oriented model off as its own independent nameplate — simply "Noah" — switching to a front-wheel-drive platform with a low floor, the layout that still defines the car's interior comfort today. Hybrid power arrived with the third generation in 2014, and steady efficiency improvements since then have largely erased minivans' old reputation for poor fuel economy.

The current fourth generation (chassis code 90-series) had its full model change in January 2022, sharing its platform with the Toyota Voxy — Noah leans toward a more orthodox, premium family-car identity, while Voxy pursues a sharper, bolder look aimed at a slightly younger buyer. The April 2026 update, arriving roughly four years after that full model change, is described by Toyota and reviewers alike as considerably more substantial than a typical running update — closer to the scale of a proper minor change.

Grade Lineup at a Glance

Prices per Toyota's official Japan-market pricing following the April 10, 2026 announcement (on sale May 6, 2026). Hokkaido-region pricing may differ. This represents an increase of roughly ¥79,200–¥188,100 across the range compared to pre-update pricing, reflecting the added standard equipment described below. S-Z is available only as a 7-seater — if you need 8-seat capacity, you'll need S-X or S-G, since most of S-Z's upper-grade equipment is tied specifically to the 7-seat configuration.

The Powertrain — One Hybrid System, Every Grade

Every current Noah grade uses the same newly developed 1.8L hybrid system, paired with a next-generation (fifth-generation) THS II:

• Every electronic control device in the hybrid system was redesigned for this update
• Higher-output motor and battery, with improved overall system efficiency
• Toyota describes the result as class-leading quietness and fuel economy for this segment
• Fuel economy: every grade now exceeds 23 km/L WLTC (FF models; E-Four is somewhat lower)
• 4WD (E-Four) models gain a new SNOW EXTRA drive mode as of this update, improving low-traction handling in snow

There's no separate gasoline option to weigh anymore, aside from the Welcab welfare-vehicle range (which retains a gasoline choice and benefits from a consumption-tax exemption specific to that vehicle category) — every standard Noah buyer is choosing a hybrid.

Full Grade Breakdown

S-X — New Entry Grade

From ¥3,261,500 (HEV, 2WD, 7-seat)

• Newly introduced with this update as the aero-styled replacement for the previous plain-bodied "X" grade
• 7.0-inch TFT color meter with multi-information display (a size increase, previously 4.2 inches on the outgoing equivalent grade)
• Front automatic air conditioning, standard
• Front-passenger-side power sliding door with one-touch switch, standard
• Projector-type LED headlamps (manual leveling) with LED turn signals and LED clearance lamps, standard across every grade including S-X
• The only grade where the newly added piano-black shift knob and window switch surround trim is not applied — S-X keeps a simpler interior finish here

Toyota and dealer materials position S-X specifically for buyers who want the latest hybrid system and full Toyota Safety Sense while minimizing total cost — including fleet/corporate buyers and those planning to personalize the car with aftermarket accessories.

S-G — Mid Grade

From ¥3,700,400 (HEV, 2WD, 7-seat)

• 7.0-inch meter display (upgraded from 4.2 inches as of this update), matching S-X
• Piano-black trim on shift knob and window switch surround, unlike S-X
• Front-and-rear drive recorder available as a manufacturer option (standard only on S-Z)
• Available in both 7-seat and 8-seat configurations, in FF or E-Four
• One reviewer widely cited across Japanese auto press specifically recommends S-G as the "sweet spot" grade — enough visual and equipment upgrade over S-X to feel like a genuine step up, without S-Z's price premium

S-Z — Top Grade

From ¥4,056,800 (HEV, 2WD, 7-seat only)

• 12.3-inch meter display — a major jump from the outgoing 7-inch unit, and the largest cluster in the range by a wide margin
• Projector-type LED headlamps with automatic leveling and LED daytime running lights, available as a manufacturer option (versus the manual-leveling units standard elsewhere)
• Front-and-rear drive recorder, standard
• Meter hood finished in stitched leather-look material, with added stitching on the instrument panel and revised seat upholstery design
• Taillamps that illuminate on the tailgate side as well, for a more upscale nighttime rear appearance
• 17-inch wheels — but only on 2WD models; E-Four (4WD) versions of S-Z are limited to 16-inch alloys, the same wheel size as lower grades
• With the E-Four "Comfort Package High" option, gains an ottoman and angle-adjustable armrest
• Steering wheel heater available as an option — exclusively on S-Z; no other grade offers it at all

Full Feature Comparison Table

✓ = Standard/Available | ✗ = Not offered. Features sourced from Toyota's official grade pages and April 2026 running-update press coverage (toyota.jp/noah).

Toyota Safety Sense and Advanced Driver Assistance

Every current Noah grade carries the full Toyota Safety Sense suite, including Pre-Collision Safety, Lane Trace Assist, all-speed radar cruise control, and Proactive Driving Assist. Toyota Teammate Advanced Park (automated parking assistance) and Advanced Drive (hands-off highway driving support under defined conditions) both continue to be offered on this generation, unchanged by the April 2026 update.

Practical Buying Notes Worth Knowing

A few details that owners and reviewers have specifically flagged as easy to miss when configuring a new Noah:

• Gasoline is Welcab-only. If you want a non-hybrid Noah, the welfare-vehicle Welcab lineup (which also benefits from a consumption-tax exemption) is now the only route — it went on sale slightly later, in mid-May 2026.
• E-Four never gets 17-inch wheels, even on S-Z — 4WD models are capped at 16-inch alloys across the entire range.
• Toyota's "Arene" in-car AI agent is not fitted to this generation of Noah as of this update.
• The Auto Brake Hold memory function is not included — a gap noted by at least one detailed owner review compiling configuration gotchas.
• 8-seat configuration is 2WD-only on S-X and S-G; E-Four models are 7-seat only across the range, and S-Z itself is 7-seat only regardless of drivetrain.
• Toyota added Taiwan-based production capacity alongside this update, which owners and dealers expect to help stabilize the long delivery waits that had affected this model.
• The free-stop tailgate function — allowing the power back door to be stopped at any position via a body-side button, an industry-first feature Toyota specifically highlights — is standard across every grade, not just S-Z.

Which Grade Should You Buy?

💴 Best for Lowest Total Cost

Choose the S-X grade. Full Toyota Safety Sense, the new hybrid system, a 7.0-inch TFT meter, front auto air conditioning, and a power sliding door are all standard — you're mainly giving up piano-black interior trim and S-Z's more premium touches.

⭐ Best Value — The Recommended Sweet Spot

Choose the S-G grade. Widely cited by Japanese auto press as the best-balanced choice, it adds piano-black interior trim over S-X and offers an optional drive recorder, while staying well below S-Z's price and keeping the 8-seat option available.

🏆 Best Overall Specification

Choose the S-Z grade. The 12.3-inch instrument display, standard drive recorder, upgraded seat trim and stitched meter hood, illuminated tailgate-side taillamps, and exclusive steering wheel heater option make it the most complete Noah — but remember it's 7-seat only, and E-Four versions don't get the 17-inch wheels that help define its look on 2WD cars.

Importing a Toyota Noah

For buyers sourcing a Noah from Japanese auction, a few identification points matter:

• Instrument display size is the fastest way to separate grades at a glance: a 7.0-inch display means S-X or S-G, while a 12.3-inch display confirms S-Z.
• 17-inch wheels indicate a 2WD S-Z specifically — an E-Four S-Z will still show 16-inch wheels, so wheel size alone can't distinguish S-Z from lower grades on a 4WD car; check the instrument cluster and drive recorder instead.
• 8-seat configuration rules out S-Z entirely and, on E-Four models, rules out 8-seat regardless of grade — only 2WD S-X and S-G offer 8 seats.
• A plain, non-aero-styled Noah body is necessarily a pre-April-2026 car — every current-production Noah uses the unified aero design, so a standard-bodied example is either an older unit or a different grade era entirely.
• A gasoline-engine Noah (outside Welcab) is necessarily a pre-April-2026 build — confirm production date against the chassis data if powertrain matters to a specific buyer, since the hybrid-only transition is very recent.
• Illuminated tailgate-side taillamps and a stitched, leather-look meter hood are S-Z-exclusive details worth checking in auction photos where visible.

Always confirm the exact grade, seating configuration, drivetrain, and accident history against the chassis number before bidding, since equipment details — especially which running-update year a car was built to — are easy to misread from auction photos alone. If you're bidding from overseas, running the chassis number through a Japanese auction sheet and history check before you commit is the safest way to confirm the car in front of you actually matches the grade it's listed under — that's exactly the kind of check we built JPChecker to make simple.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Toyota Noah still available with a gasoline engine? Only through the separate Welcab welfare-vehicle lineup. As of the April 2026 update, every standard Noah grade — S-X, S-G, and S-Z — is hybrid-only.

What is the cheapest Toyota Noah grade? The S-X grade is the entry point, priced from ¥3,261,500 (tax included) for a 2WD 7-seat hybrid as of the April 2026 update — newly introduced to replace the previous plain-bodied entry grade.

What is the difference between Noah S-G and S-Z? S-Z adds a 12.3-inch instrument display (versus 7.0 inches on S-G), a standard front-and-rear drive recorder (optional on S-G), stitched leather-look meter hood and instrument panel trim, illuminated tailgate-side taillamps, and an exclusive steering wheel heater option. S-Z is also limited to 7-seat configuration, while S-G offers both 7- and 8-seat options.

Does the Toyota Noah have 8-seat capacity? Yes, on S-X and S-G in 2WD. S-Z is 7-seat only regardless of drivetrain, and E-Four (4WD) versions of any grade are limited to 7-seat configuration.

Is the Toyota Noah the same as the Toyota Voxy? They share the same platform, hybrid powertrain, and interior packaging, but Noah is styled toward a more orthodox, premium family-car look while Voxy pursues a sharper, bolder design aimed at a slightly younger buyer. Voxy is also priced roughly ¥50,000–¥70,000 higher than the equivalent Noah grade.

Does the Noah's 4WD (E-Four) come with 17-inch wheels on the top grade? No. Even on S-Z, E-Four models are limited to 16-inch wheels — the 17-inch wheels associated with S-Z's styling are only available on 2WD versions.

What safety features are standard on every Noah grade? The full Toyota Safety Sense suite is standard across every grade, and Toyota Teammate Advanced Park and Advanced Drive continue to be available on this generation.