Toyota Hiace

Hiace Overview

The Toyota Hiace has a long history to back up the immense popularity that it enjoys in these contemporary times. In fact, talk about vans and the name ‘Hiace’ would inevitably come up. The current generation of the model was introduced in the Philippines back in 2005 and in the subsequent year, the top-end Super Grandia was added to the lineup.

The Hiace has always had a potent and big engine under the hood. However, the power delivery has been on the conservative side as it was never an outright powerful car. It has an abundant amount of torque on offer, which could carry 15 passengers without feeling heavy on the accelerator pedal. Moreover, it is also known to be the most fuel-efficient car in the segment which can accommodate more than 10 occupants.

There is one more thing that makes the Toyota Hiace gain the kind of popularity it has in the domestic market. The base variants of the van-cum-minibus is a very affordable option for personal as well as commercial use, and even though the Hyundai Starex acted as a strong competitor, the Hiace turned out to be the victorious one.

Toyota Hiace Interior & Features

The interior of the Toyota Hiace is quite big and spacious, thanks to its boxy design and big dimensions. It has a seating capacity of 11 in the Super Grandia and 15 on the Commuter. This is nothing but the reason why the car has been on top of everyone’s mind when they think of a big van.

On the Super Grandia variants, there is a seating capacity of nine occupants including two captains’ seat at the rear. The boot space is ample on both 11-seater and 15-seater but can be increased further by folding down the rear row. The Super Grandia, especially, is just as roomy as your personal living space.

Plus, when it comes to features, the Hiace is nothing short of grandeur. The moment you step inside, you will feel that the comfort level rises. Though the Philippines is not desert-like hot, the hottest days of April and May is definitely not what you will prefer over anything else. And just for this, the Hiace has dual air-conditioning and AC vents for each row.

On the dashboard, the placement of everything, along with their quality, seem to be extremely right. The gear knob is placed on the dash to make the front seat cluster cleaner and more spacious. Plus, right at the back of the front seat headrests, there are two screens which support DVD and could be the perfect companion for long drives.

Hiace Exterior

The Toyota Hiace is an exemplary example of exquisite styling and the perfect utilization of the big size. It is bigger than any other minivans and hence, can accommodate so many passengers easily. However, it is still smaller than the 5-metre mark which gets the handling to be easier than any minibus.

The design is extremely soothing and very much relevant to a van. The upright posture and the slanting windscreen add to the attractive bits. And the good thing about such a boxy design is that the interior appears to be huge and every inch of the cabin can be utilised. Plus, the timelessness gives it an upper edge. Imagine, this current Hiace was launched back in 2005 and the same boxy design has been persisted with for over a decade now.

The front portion is distinctly recognisable for a van. The chrome grille and the large headlamps are unmistakeably fitted in with absolute perfection. The sliding doors are bigger and the B-pillars bring about a halt at the monotonous window line.

The minibus rides on 15-inch wheels at all ends, which appear to be slightly smaller for a vehicle this big. However, the tyres are quite thick in order to carry so many passengers at once.

Toyota Hiace Ride & Handling

One should not expect a spirited driving from an MPV. Though the HIACE will take care of regular bumps and small Knitty Gritties of the road, it is not meant for rough terrains. The suspension setup is a Macpherson strut and leaf spring and comfort of the passengers depend a lot on the amount of leg space available in the respective row. For a better seating arrangement, Toyota has offered 2-2-2-4 configuration with captain chairs and ottoman and butterfly headrest. Also, the last seat can be completely removed to increase the standard luggage space available and an ultimate form of riding comfort.

Hiace Engine & Fuel Consumption

In its all three versions, the Hiace comes fitted with a potent 3.0-litre D4-D common rail direct injection diesel engine that is capable of delivering a maximum power output of 136 PS at 3400 rpm and peak torque of 300 Nm between 1200 - 2400 rpm. It is further coupled to a 5-speed manual transmission. Although the Hiace comes with a bigger powertrain, fuel efficiency is optimized in an effective manner to deliver a good number. One can expect a mileage ranging between 8-10 kmpl, depending on the terrain and driving style. Previously a 2.5-litre unit was also available but, now it is discontinued looking at the demand.

Toyota Hiace Braking & Safety

Being one of the most respected automotive manufacturers across the globe, passenger safety is always at the top priority. The Hiace MPV is certainly one of the safest commercial minivans in the country with high attention to occupant safety. The presence of dual SRS airbags and advanced features such as brake assist and anti-lock braking system ensures the vehicle stays in total control. 3-point ELR seatbelts with pre-tensioner are available on all seats to make sure the passengers stay as safe as the front cabin occupants. The vehicle’s braking is assisted through 2 ventilated disc brakes in the front and drum brakes in the rear. Despite its long body, the Hiace has quite a remarkable turning radius of just 6.2 meters making it highly preferable for city use.

Hiace Verdict

The current version of the Hiace is a very comfortable people mover. With all the advanced features and smooth engine performance, Toyota Hiace is on par with all its direct competitors. The key highlight is the captain seats which makes the overall experience of the occupants very comfortable.