Save time by reading 4 expert Hyundai iLoad reviews - combined into one!
finder score: 71.33%
| Website | Rating | Notable quotes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CarAdvice | 74% | "The Hyundai iLoad will get the job done and still drives well given its age." | Read more |
| Drive | 70% | "But the iLoad is easy to use, takes little familiarisation and takes the business of delivering the goods very seriously indeed." | Read more |
| Motoring | 70% | "The Hyundai iLoad is a solid all-rounder that remains relevant in today's commercial van market regardless of age." | Read more |
| PerformanceDrive | - | "The 2019 facelift does help boost its appeal significantly. There's a crisper design and much-improved interior, and increased safety, albeit retaining a four-star ANCAP rating." | Read more |
For Australia, there are two different iLoad body types, with two variants (Van or Crew Van), as well as the options of a manual or automatic transmission.
If you're after a straightforward, three-seater panel van, this is the option to go for. The entry-point price of a liftback tailgate iLoad with a manual six-speed box is $41,380. An automatic costs an extra $3,030, at $44,410. The T Swing (standing for Twin Swing barn doors, which open up 180°) iLoad vans with a manual transmission start at an estimated $44,406, while you need to outlay an additional $3,124 for an auto variant, making for a total of $47,530.
This standard specification includes the following:
Compared to key rivals, like the Toyota HiAce, the specification isn't as comprehensive and instead covers the core essentials.
If you require more than three seats, then you'll need to go for the Crew Van iLoad. Hyundai fits the Crew Van with six seats, one extra than the Toyota HiAce Crew Van which only has five. A manual transmission Crew Van with a liftback tailgate has an estimated price of $45,918. The auto comes in at a drive-away cost of $47,125. With rear barn-doors, you'll pay $47,202 for a six-speed manual gearbox iLoad and the five-speed auto variant will set you back $49,650.
On the Crew Van, you'll get the following extra equipment:
Click on a price to compare car loans for the Hyundai iLoad.
| iLoad Van | iLoad Crew Van |
|---|---|
| 2.5-litre diesel, six-speed manual, three seats, tailgate: $41,380 | 2.5-litre diesel, six-speed manual, six seats, tailgate: $45,918 |
| 2.5-litre diesel, five-speed automatic, three seats, tailgate: $44,410 | 2.5-litre diesel, five-speed automatic, six seats, tailgate: $47,125 |
| 2.5-litre diesel, six-speed manual, three seats, barn door: $44,406 | 2.5-litre diesel, six-speed manual, six seats, barn door: $47,202 |
| 2.5-litre diesel, five-speed automatic, three seats, barn door: $47,530 | 2.5-litre diesel, five-speed automatic, six seats, barn door: $49,650 |
The only free paint option is Creamy White. If you pay $695, you can have your iLoad Van painted in Timeless Black or Hyper Metallic (Grey)
Hyundai charges $716 for the above exterior colours on the Crew Van iLoad.
| Website | Pros | Cons | Notable quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| CarAdvice |
|
| "However, it has an old four-star crash rating, lacks advanced safety tech, and would benefit from a few extra creature comforts that are becoming the norm these days, even in the van market." |
| Drive |
|
| "Long-term running costs are likely to be the iLoad's big selling point and, in the context of the market we're dealing with, that can absolutely not be under-estimated." |
| Motoring |
|
| "Over the space of a week, it was user-friendly and dependable in loaded scenarios, with strong foundations that claw back valuable points for not having the latest mod-cons." |
| PerformanceDrive |
|
| "Hyundai Australia introduced a major facelift for the iLoad in May last year, bringing in some much-needed improvements to in-car comfort and convenience, safety, and a fresher look for the exterior." |
Unlike some of its rivals, the iLoad has a very simple engine line-up, with just one 2.5-litre diesel engine.
The 2.5 CRDi is a Hyundai/Kia group diesel engine. It's a turbocharged, four-inline, DOHC block with Common Rail Direct injection (where the CRDi comes from).
Hyundai builds the engine with two different power outputs. Manual models get a Waste Gate Turbocharger (WGT) and pump out 100kW at 3,800rpm and a reasonable 343Nm between 1,500 and 2,500rpm.
In front of an automatic, Hyundai ditches the other turbo and drops in a Variable Geometry Turbocharger, upping the power to 125kW at 3,600rpm. Torque jumps up to a stout 441Nm between 2,000 and 2,250rpm.
Both tunes meet Euro 5 emission standards and do not need AdBlue.
Hyundai gives buyers two options: a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission. Autos have a manual sequential mode. All iLoads are two-wheel drive.
How did the motoring journalists find the iLoad's powertrain out on public roads? Testers described the engine as responsive and lively. One reviewer found it accelerated forcefully and unrelentingly, thanks to the beefy 2.5-litre donk. That's great news for anyone who'll be driving throughout cities, as the iLoad should be able to keep pace with modern traffic, even while carrying loads. The opinion that the 2.5-litre diesel was eager and energetic was widely held. One reviewer even went as far as stating it was as quick as an average passenger car.
Hyundai's time-proven reputation for designing well-engineered and robust diesel power plants was also referenced by some testers. Even when loaded up with over a half-tonne of goods, the iLoad reportedly still has plenty of vigour. Obviously, the power will be eaten up slightly, but there's still ample to go around, reportedly. That's great, as there's nothing worse than having to drive a fully-loaded van hard just to get it going.
Across the sample of Hyundai iLoad reviews, there were a few downsides mentioned though. Motoring experts decided it is a significantly louder engine than some of its key rivals, but that was acceptable given the block's gumption. Additionally, the idea that the automatic could have more highway speed-friendly ratios was also bandied around because the engine revs would commonly need to sit at 3k to maintain forward progress. As a plus though, the automatic vans have cruise control, which should take some of the fatigue out of motorway journeys. Apparently, the gutsy engine helps compensate for the comparatively small selection of gear ratios, at least by modern automotive standards.
Finally, one tester told how the van tended to spin the rear wheels under heavy acceleration on wet roads, so you'll want to back off on the "go" pedal a bit.
| 2.5-litre CRDi | |
|---|---|
| Engine type | Four-inline, longitudinally-mounted with Dual Overhead Cams (DOHC), 16 valve |
| Drivetrain | RWD |
| Engine size/displacement | 2,497cc |
| Fuel type | Diesel |
| Cylinders | Inline four |
| Fuel tank capacity | 75 litres |
| Max power | 100kW @ 3,800rpm (Manual) 125kW @ 3,600rpm (Auto) |
| Max torque | 343Nm @ 1,500-2,500rpm (Manual) 441Nm @ 2,000-2,250rpm (Auto) |
| Fuel consumption (combined, best model) | 7.6L/100km (Manual Van) |
| Acceleration (0-100km/h) | N/A |
| Emissions standard | Euro 5 |
| Top speed (km/h) | N/A |
| Security | Engine immobiliser |
| Transmission | Six-speed manual or five-speed automatic with sequential manual mode |
| Towing capacity (unbraked/braked) | 750kg/2,000kg (manual) 750kg/1,500kg (automatic) |
Here's how much diesel you can expect the iLoad to use.
Our numbers for fuel economy come from the Green Vehicle Guide, a government website.
Hyundai iLoad Van and Crew Van manual:
The Green Vehicle Guide calculates if you drove 14,000kms annually, with two-thirds spent on urban roads, you'd spend approximately $1,729 on fuel.
Hyundai iLoad Van and Crew Van automatic:
The more powerful and torquey automatic will use a little more fuel, costing $2,079 yearly under the above-given driving conditions.
There's been a push for decades to make commercial vehicles more comfortable and easier to drive. Evidence of those forward leaps include making the steering lighter, the ride less buffeting and the experience as car-like as possible. How does the iLoad perform in this area then?
The Hyundai iLoad reviews we studied indicated it feels tight and planted, at least for a van. Some journos determined that the van's centre of mass is placed nice and low, which keeps it controlled through corners. The iLoad's aerodynamics were also appreciated, helping to minimise the influence of wind on the reasonably high-sided van.
When loaded up, a state you'd expect most vans to be in either perpetually or at least at one point of the workday, the rear leaf-spring suspension does get jumpy, by all accounts. But even so, it was decided that the handling doesn't go to pot too badly. It appears that minimal effort is required to turn the wheel, which will help when making three-point turns on tight roads or covering all-day urban parcel delivery routes. One journo wrote that they found the iLoad was unexpectedly manoeuvrable. Being a big vehicle, engineered to carry heavy loads, it wasn't surprising to hear that the steering response was a little imprecise. Another liked the innate handling characteristics of the rear-wheel-drive van.
In fact, other pundits actually described the van as gratifying to drive. Hyundai engineers should take that as a huge compliment, considering the iLoad isn't necessarily a dual-lifestyle marketed van like the Transporter or Ford Transit Custom Sport.
There was a caveat though, one tester didn't like the factory tyre option from Nexen. They felt they lacked traction on rain-soaked roads, but that was from their own anecdotal experience. It should be noted that they didn't actually get the chance to test the treads in the wet, so take this with a grain of salt.
After studying the comments of the motoring experts, it seems that the iLoad has a basic, but well-executed interior.
The driving position garnered a lot of thumbs up, with words like comfortable and accessible being bandied around. In fact, supposedly, you feel like you're sitting in a car, as opposed to a commercial vehicle. It's useful that Hyundai made the iLoad standard van a three-seater, though the middle seat isn't great for long trips or chubby workmates – a common complaint with almost any vehicle with three seats upfront. Also, reviewers knocked the middle seat for its shorter backrest, lack of a headrest and an old-school lap belt, rather than having a more modern and effective three-point restraint. Still, it's cool to know that you can flop the middle pew down and gain two cup holders and a flat space to place paperwork, your Maccas or a laptop. Journos also pointed out that there are tonnes of places to put documents and tools.
Driver visibility is said to be very good, due to the iLoad having nice and wide wing mirrors. Ostensibly, the cab doors are generous, making the interior very accessible.
The spec, though basic and unfussy, also attracted positive comments. It's good to see the inclusion of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard as well as a USB port.
It's not all plain sailing though, going by the Hyundai iLoad review sample set we examined. Testers ranked the iLoad as having one of the noisiest interiors compared to competitors. Ok, it's a van, but others seem to be able to attenuate the boom a little more effectively. Additionally, several testers said that it couldn't hide its age. In particular, the basic trip computer and non-digital speedometer were called out.
Across the board, the iLoad was universally lambasted for lacking the extra safety tech almost all its rivals possess. To be fair, it would be easier to list what it does have, rather than what's missing.
There are no seatbelt reminders, no side head-cushioning airbags, no knee airbags, no adaptive cruise control, no AEB, no blind-spot monitoring, no emergency brake assist or lane support system, no DRLs and no traffic sign recognition. It doesn't even have tyre pressure monitoring. You can get almost any of the above on competing vans.
The most important part of a van, the rear loadspace, is decently apportioned. It's not as big as some competitors, like the HiAce, though. With that said, it will readily take a pallet. Plus, there are ten tie-downs. Also, unlike the HiAce, you can get a barn-door iLoad so you can actually load the van with a forklift.
To sum up, the iLoad has a simple, plain interior that's not uncomfortable, but it could have more passenger comforts and safety assists.
Very few tradies are going to keep a van as it came from the dealer because they need to carry long lengths of materials or want to organise supplies and tools in the rear. Here's what factory-fitted options you can get:
| iLoad Van - Manual | iLoad Van - Auto | iLoad Crew Van - Manual | iLoad Crew Van - Auto | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four-star ANCAP rating | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Airbags:
| ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Electronic stability control (ESC):
| ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Rear-view camera | Liftback only | Liftback only | Liftback only | Liftback only |
| Rear door child-safety locks | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Pretensioner, load limiter and height adjustable upper mounts for seatbelts | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Driver seatbelt reminder | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Height-adjustable head restraint (not including front centre seat) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Anti-theft alarm | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Central locking | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Engine immobiliser | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Keyless entry remote, two fobs | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Rear solid brake discs | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Spare wheel type | ||||
| Dusk-sensing headlights | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| iLoad Van - Manual | iLoad Van - Auto | iLoad Crew Van - Manual | iLoad Crew Van - Auto | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple CarPlay & Android Auto | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Bluetooth phone connectivity | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Bluetooth audio streaming | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Seven-inch touchscreen | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Seats | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Two-speaker audio system | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| AM/FM radio | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Radio data system (RDS) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| AUX/USB audio input with iPod compatibility | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Height-adjustable driver's seat | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Front single 12V outlet | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Front passenger outer assist grip handles | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Fixed second-row bench seat | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Second-row rear outer assist grip handles | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Second-row pop-out latch type windows | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Front power windows | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| One-touch automatic down - driver's window | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Front occupants sun visors | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Day/night rear-view mirror | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Trip computer | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Manual A/C | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Heated rear windshield | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Woven, two-tone grey cloth seats | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Centre console cup holders | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Dash top storage compartment | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Dual glove box compartments | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Dual cup holders and storage compartment on rear of middle seat | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Sliding door map pockets | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Cargo area covered in vinyl floor | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| 10 tie-down hooks in cargo area | ✔ | ✔ | ✖️ | ✖️ |
| Six cargo tie-down hooks | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Tilt and telescopic steering column adjustment | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| iLoad Van - Manual | iLoad Van - Auto | iLoad Crew Van - Manual | iLoad Crew Van - Auto | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheel size and type | ||||
| Twin sliding doors | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Rear window wiper and washer | Not on Twin Swing door models | Not on Twin Swing door models | Not on Twin Swing door models | Not on Twin Swing door models |
| Power-adjustable exterior mirrors | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Chrome front grille surround | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Front and rear mudflaps | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Scuff plate integrated into rear bumper | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
The iLoad is a no-frills, uncomplicated van that'll get the job done. Reviewers discovered it has a surprisingly quick and powerful engine and is comfortable to drive. It's not the biggest, it's not the cheapest and it doesn't have all the latest mod-cons or safety assists, but if you can get a really good deal on one, you should at least consider one.
If you take a few seconds below to compare van loans, you could save hundreds of dollars over the loan period.
Pictures: Hyundai
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