2019 Toyota Hiace: Reasons to buy

It was way back in the year 1967 when Toyota first launched the Hiace. And since then it has been catering to the needs of thousands of customers globally. Today, this sturdy and trustworthy machine is in its sixth generation. The 2019 Hiace made its global debut here in the Philippines earlier this month. It was a special event because it was the first time that our country got a chance to host a world premiere!

The 2019 Toyota Hiace price starts at Php 1.59 million for the base model. Toyota Philippines offers it in a total of five variants which we’ve already talked about in one of our earlier stories. So far, we are quite impressed by the new Hiace. Here are some of the top reasons as to why you should buy this multi-seater.

New exterior design

The primary purpose of Toyota Hiace is to carry a large number of people in one go and/or to transport as much good as possible in one trip. It has been designed to fulfil these two tasks, and it does them brilliantly. However, things tend to take a backseat when it comes to the design, aesthetics, and looks of such a vehicle. A clear example of this is the previous generation Hiace. Toyota has rectified that in the 2019 model.

The new 2019 Hiace is so much better looking than its predecessor, at least from the front. Toyota has changed the placement of the engine on this model. It no longer is located under the driver’s seat, but a bit forward. This allowed Toyota to use a regular front bonnet instead of a cab-over design.

And Toyota utilised this opportunity beautifully. The new Hiace comes with a set of large and sharp headlamps. A big part of the Hiace’s new look is courtesy to these headlamps. Not only they give an aggressive look to the vehicle but also tells us that the Hiace is much modern and mature now. Then there’s the new bumper that accommodates a vertical strip of LED daytime running lights and a small round fog lamp on either side. Of course, this depends on the variant you pick.

We also like the set of new wheels. They enhance the side profile of the vehicle. Also, the conventional extended bonnet design makes the new Hiace look more in shape and proportionate, especially from the side. This eliminated the boxy appearance from the front, however, the same remains at the back. But it’s okay. We are not complaining. The central new element at the rear end of the Hiace is the set of larger tail lights.

Interior

Toyota has also updated the interior of the new 2019 Hiace. It is now more MPV-like. It gets 3-spoke steering, vertical AC vents, gear lever as an integrated part of the dashboard, etc. Most of the controls are well within the driver’s reach, there is a revised centre console, instrument cluster, and new HVAC controls.

The seating capacity of the new Hiace differs variant-wise. The Commuter model can seat 17 people, the GL Tourer can accommodate 14, and the GL can carry 12 at the max. The cabin theme, materials used, and the fit and finish of the parts are the same in all variants.

Engine

2019 Toyota Hiace specs see a revision in the engine as well. The old 3.0-litre mill has been replaced by a new 2.8-litre 4-cylinder turbo-diesel engine which has been tuned to produce 176 PS of max power. Toyota has cleverly altered the torque output of the engine depending on the variant. So, the Commuter Deluxe has got 420 Nm whereas the GL Grandia models come with slightly more 450 Nm. Only the base model comes with a manual gearbox. The models above it have got an option of a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Safety features

 

The new Hiace has also seen a bump up in the safety features. It has ABS and dual front airbags as standard across all the variants. There’s an extra centre airbag available in the Commuter Deluxe variant. The Grandia variants come with stability control and hill start assist. And the Tourer variant has got disc brakes on all four wheels along with the all the aforementioned features. Other variants get disc brakes only at the front.

So, these were some of the top reasons as to why you should buy the new 2019 Toyota Hiace. Toyota has done an excellent job with it, and it is a well-deserved upgrade. The top-end variant is priced at Php 2.22 million.