finder score: 87.75%
| Website | Rating | Notable quotes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CarAdvice | 83% | "The all-new Toyota HiAce really kicks a six for Toyota. It's an example of Toyota working hard to develop class-leading products with passenger safety at the very top of mind." | Read more |
| Drive | 82% | "The 2019 Toyota HiAce is the best version of Australia's most popular van that's ever been available." | Read more |
| WhichCar | 100% | "Toyota has gone out to prove that it can beat the Euro van crowd at its own game, and succeeded." | Read more |
| CarsGuide | 86% | "After a week of testing, we discovered that Toyota's HiAce-based version is worthy of consideration as a tradie's genuine alternative to a dual-cab ute." | Read more |
In Australia, Toyota markets five different trim grades and body styles.
The entry model to the HiAce range is the LWB van. It starts from $48,411 drive-away, with a 2.8-litre turbo diesel and a manual gearbox. You'll find that same block in the HiLux, Prado and Fortuner. A 6-speed automatic costs an extra $2,060 ($50,471 driveaway). In this guise, you receive:
For a van, this kind of spec list is outstanding, especially considering it's the entry line.
If you need to carry more than two, then you might want to consider the Crew Van HiAce. Prices start from $53,561 for a diesel model, fitted with an automatic. No manual gearbox or petrol engines are available on the Crew Van. The van has five seats.
On top of the LWB van specifications, you get:
The SLWB (Super Long Wheel Base) HiAce has an extended wheelbase (the distance between the centres of the front and rear wheels). It has a 9,300-litre loadspace, compared to the smaller 6,200-litre volume of the standard HiAce. It will also happily carry a 1,135kg payload. The drive-away price starts at around $58,711.
In addition to the extra room and load carrying capacity, you also receive an overhead storage console.
The HiAce SLWB Commuter is a minibus version of the van, with 12 seats. It will carry a 1,080kg payload. It is sold equipped with a 2.8-litre turbo diesel and a 6-speed auto. This HiAce starts from $73,835.
Features include:
Toyota describes the Commuter GL minibus, as having an "improved" interior. Because of the extra tech, it has a slightly lower payload of 1,040kg. The starting drive-away price is $76,925.
In addition to the Commuter minibus, the GL has:
Click on a price to compare car loans for the Toyota HiAce.
| LWB Van | LWB Crew Van | SLWB Van | SLWB Commuter | SLWB Commuter GL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.8-litre diesel, 6-speed manual, 2 seats: $48,411 | 2.8-litre diesel, 6-speed automatic, 5 seats: $53,561 | 2.8-litre diesel, 6-speed automatic, 2 seats: $58,711 | 2.8-litre diesel, 6-speed automatic, 12 seats: $73,835 | 2.8-litre diesel, 6-speed automatic, 12 seats: $76,925 |
| 2.8-litre diesel, 6-speed automatic, 2 seats: $50,471 |
For the LWB Crew Van, you can pay $696 for:
On the top of the line Commuter GL, there are four exterior colour options:
| Website | Pros | Cons | Notable quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| CarAdvice |
|
| "It drives beautifully, it's loaded with standard safety tech and best of all it can be optioned with innovative accessories that have been engineered by the team in Australia with longevity in mind." |
| Drive |
|
| "The new HiAce gets the full 5-star ANCAP rating, and its result really lifts the bar for the van segment as a whole." |
| WhichCar |
|
| "You do pay more for the Hiace than other similarly-sized competitors, but that's balanced by strong resale, a strong 5-year warranty and standard service pricing that's locked to $240 per 6 months/10,000km." |
| CarsGuide |
|
| "It has its shortcomings, particularly the lack of rear seat cargo protection and storage options, but these can be addressed with genuine or aftermarket accessories. So if you need to carry a team and their gear in enclosed comfort for work or play, the HiAce Crew makes plenty of sense in either role." |
Toyota opted to equip the HiAce van with a choice of two engines, a 3.5-litre V6 petrol or a 2.8-litre turbocharged diesel block.
The naturally-aspirated 7GR-FKS engine is also used in Chinese market LandCruiser Prados. In Aussie models, the V6 produces 207kW at 6,000rpm. Peak torque measures 351Nm at 4,600rpm. Capacity is 3.5-litres. The petrol-engined HiAces are the lightest in the range, with kerb weights of 2,120-2,135kg. This engine is no longer available in Australia.
If low-down torque is more your thing (if you need to tow a big trailer, for example), or you want the most frugal van possible, then you'll want the 2.8-litre diesel engine Toyota sells. Toyota also fits the 1GD-FTV to the HiLux, Fortuner and Prado so it should be a proven and rugged engine. The straight-four, turbocharged diesel pumps out 130kW @ 3,400rpm and makes up to a gutsy 450Nm between 1,600-2,400rpm.
You can spec the HiLux with either a manual or an automatic gearbox, both with six speeds. All models send power rearwards, to the back axle.
Car reviewers generally felt the HiAce had a super-strong engine line-up. In town, they said the V6 petrol engine was great to drive, and unexpectedly quiet, given the van body configuration. With the petrol engine HiAce, reviewers observed that to extract the power, you do have to work the accelerator harder than a diesel model. That's all due to how low-down a diesel engine can produce peak torque. Reviewers relished the diesel's grunt and how it made seemingly lighter work of propelling the HiAce. To the ears of motoring journalists, the diesel was also pleasantly hushed, with a silky-smooth power delivery.
Critically, some of the testers loaded up the vans with some cargo, to get a sense of how it drove with weight in the back. Unlike smaller vans, which can become slightly bogged down and sluggish with even a modest amount of weight in the rear, the HiAce apparently can shrug it off without breaking a sweat.
Deciding between the powertrains might be tricky. Reviewers generally fell into two groups, one for the diesel and others in favour of the petrol engine. The diesel has real get up and go from the off, as well as fuel economy on its side.
The discontinued petrol, though, has more power and testers loved the pairing of the naturally aspirated V6 with an auto gearbox. Then again, at least one motoring writer also decided the petrol was more enjoyable to drive. Servicing is cheaper on the petrol models, so factor that into your decision, as well as test driving both if you're torn between the two.
Some models are automatic-only, but if the particular variant you're after comes with a manual, reviewers found the clutch to be light (traditionally, commercial vehicles tend to have larger clutches and stiffer feeling pedals) and more car-like. Gear shifts were described as swift, precise and effortless.
Toyota says the six-speed manual is an intelligent transmission (iMT), with rev-matching to smoothen up and down gear shifts. Engineers also cut down the height of, and relocated, the shifter to improve the feel of gear changes. The top gears are overdrives, with more legs for higher speeds. It's a lighter, shorter and generally quieter transmission than the one used previously.
Technicians sourced the automatic from Toyota Group company, Aisin. You'll find the same auto transmission in HiLuxes, as well as Prados, Fortuners and the Isuzu D-Max. It has an overdrive on the top two speeds, to help lower revs at motorway cruising speeds and to boost fuel efficiency. You can manually shift gears if you wish.
Journalists liked the automatic around town, with it giving van drivers one less thing to have to do when hustling on delivery routes in tight, congested, inner-city roads.
| 3.5-litre V6 petrol (7GR-FKS) | 2.8-litre turbo diesel (1GD-FTV) | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine type | Vee-configuration, dual variable valve timing with intelligence, combined fuel injection, dual overhead cam | Inline, common-rail, direct-injection, turbocharged, double-overhead cam |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Engine size/displacement | 3,456cc | 2,755cc |
| Fuel type | Petrol (Green Vehicle Guide says 91 RON) | Diesel |
| Cylinders | 6, vee | 4, inline |
| Fuel tank capacity | ||
| Max power | 207kW @ 6,000rpm | 130kW @ 3,400rpm (some models, 120kW at 3,6000rpm) |
| Max torque | 351Nm @ 4,600rpm | 420Nm: 1,400-2,600rpm (some models 450Nm from 1,600rpm to 2,400rpm) |
| Fuel consumption (combined, best model) | 12L/100km | 7.5L/100km (LWB Van turbo diesel manual) |
| Acceleration (0-100km/h) | ||
| Emissions standard | ||
| Top speed (km/h) | ||
| Security | ||
| Transmission | ||
| Towing capacity (unbraked/braked) | ||
Toyota says the diesel is now more efficient, by 0.5L per 100km, than the previous generation HiAce, thanks to the progress made by engineers. Here are the official fuel economy figures for each engine and model (due to weight variations from trim, powertrain and body configurations):
We reference the Green Vehicle Guide, an Australian government initiative to publish clear fuel economy comparisons.
Toyota HiAce LWB van manual:
From the above figures, we can extrapolate predicted annual fuel costs. If you covered 14,000kms each year in your HiAce diesel van, with 66% of the time in built-up areas, you'd spend around $1,709 on diesel fuel.
Toyota HiAce LWB van automatic:
The automatic diesel van would cost you $1,793 annually at the servo, based on the above driving conditions.
Toyota HiAce LWB crew van automatic and SLWB two-seater van automatic:
The heavier crew van, with its 5 seats would cost a little more in diesel every year, around $1,868 for 14,000kms of 66% urban driving and the rest spent on extra-urban, i.e. on motorways or country roads.
Toyota HiAce LWB auto:
The V6 LWB is a little bit more thirsty, and will cost you $2,965 each year on the above given driving circumstances.
Toyota HiAce SLWB auto:
A V6 SLWB uses slightly more fuel again, with 14,000kms driven yearly expected to cost approximately $3,042. That's if you're travelling 66% of the time in urban areas, the rest on higher speed roads.
There are often some differences between the factory fuel economy figures and the recordings of motoring journalists. One journo used 14.1L/100km with the petrol model, quite a bit higher than the brochure digits. Another commented on managing to achieve results within 0.5-litres of the combined diesel's fuel economy claim. The majority of that driving was without a load in the rear.
Still, another expert source, managed to get within 1.7 litres/100km of the official diesel economy, with a good 30% of it reportedly almost at the maximum payload capacity.
Overall, the fuel economy isn't terrible for a van.
Why on earth would you try to assess a van's handling? Well, nowadays, buyers are more demanding and expect as much a car-like driving experience as possible. A van that's easy to drive and comfortable could help lower fatigue and just generally make journeys more pleasant.
Journalists, who are used to travelling in all-types of vehicles, from utes to high-performance sports cars, were left a bit startled by the handling of the HiAce. Ostensibly, its steering is nice and light, not heavy like you'd imagine for a commercial vehicle. Testers also said it was more exact in the response, with lower levels of effort needed, compared to the older cab-over-engine type HiAce.
Van suspension is always going to be selected primarily based upon how much weight it can handle, with comfort lower down the list of priorities. However, the HiAce is apparently surprisingly comfortable whether it's filled to near max, carrying a light load or empty. Critically, the reviewers said that when loaded up, a state you'd expect a van to at least start the working day in, it still manages to keep up with traffic without overly-stressing the engine and the added weight makes the suspension a bit more giving.
This generation, with its revised layout and semi-bonneted design, is much less like sitting at the wheel of a bus or a truck, according to some of the testing panel.
In short, judging by the comments of motoring journalists, it's a van that will happily work as a daily driver or a tradie chariot. It's also supposedly one of the best-handling vans on the market.
Just because you're buying a van doesn't mean you should have to sacrifice comfort or conveniences. Fortunately, with the HiAce, reviewers found you don't need to.
The most commonly mentioned advantage of the new front-end design is that it's easier to get in and out. That might not sound like a big deal, but we know a number of tradies with back pain likely caused by the routine twisting and dropping to the ground when exiting a van. One reviewer stated it was possible to get genuinely comfy at the wheel, compared to the previous generation HiAce, thanks to the improved seating position. It has been likened to an SUV in this respect. Another noticeable improvement is that the cabin apparently feels less cramped. Almost all journalists said the front and sidewards visibility was excellent, though one complained they had to remove the rear centre seat headrest on the crew van variant, as it was blocking their view. However, this particular journalist did not mention why they couldn't just look at the smart digital rearview mirror.
Another great touch, showing Toyota's experience in building practical commercial vehicles, is the sizable wing mirrors. Reviewers liked to use the blind spot mirrors, which came in handy when parking kerbside. Reviewers said it was nice and quiet inside too.
You get a decent amount of tech on the HiAce as standard, more than some mass-market hatches even. The base model has the following: 7 airbags, a glazed left-side sliding door, 16-inch steel wheels (with a full-size spare), halogen headlamps and daytime running lights, a leather accented steering wheel, satellite navigation, a 7-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, auxiliary and USB ports, Bluetooth® connectivity, a 4.2-inch multi information display (MID), steering wheel controls for the audio, MID and telephone and cruise control. Standard safety tech is also quite impressive, with Toyota Safety Sense; which is comprised of: pre-collision safety with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert, automatic high beams, road sign assist, blind spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, a reversing camera, as well as front and rear parking sensors! That's pretty first-class in the van world.
As van interiors go, we think it is one of the coolest looking dashboards. The simplicity and two-tone colouring is reminiscent of Star Trek shows from the early 90s. But what features and tech do you get for your money?
LWB Van spec key features:
Option Pack 1 (for diesel automatics only)
Option Pack 2(for diesel automatics only)
A solid fit-out for an entry-spec model.
On top of the LWB Van spec, the Crew Van has:
This should make the Crew Van decently comfortable for teams.
The SLWB, or Super Long Wheel Base, gets:
Option Pack:
With room for 12, the Commuter has:
The top of the range GL minibus HiAce, on top of the SLWB Commuter, has:
| LWB Van turbo diesel manual/auto | LWB Van petrol manual/auto | LWB Crew Van turbo diesel auto | SLWB Van turbo diesel auto | SLWB Van turbo petrol auto | Commuter turbo diesel auto | Commuter GL turbo diesel auto | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5-star ANCAP rating | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
7 SRS Airbags
| ✔ | ✔ | 9 airbags | ✔ | ✔ | 3 airbags | 3 airbags |
| Pre-Collision Safety System with pedestrian detection and daytime cyclist detection | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Lane Departure Alert (LDA) and Brake Assist (BA) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Automatic High Beam (AHB) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Road Sign Assist (RSA) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Rear view reversing camera | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Front and rear parking sensors | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Front passenger occupant detection (Visual and audible) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Rear passenger occupant detection (Visual and audible) | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ |
| Head restraints for all seats | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Automatic headlights | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Daytime Running Lights | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Electronic Data Recorder (EDR) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Fatigue detection | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Forward Collision Warning (FCW) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Secondary multi-collision brake | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Speed assistance manual speed limiter | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Speed sign recognition and warning | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Trailer stability control | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Glass roof escape hatch | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Rear brakes | Drums on manual, ventilated discs on auto | Drums on manual, ventilated discs on auto | Ventilated disc brake | Ventilated disc brake | Ventilated disc brake | Ventilated disc brake | Ventilated disc brake |
| LWB Van turbo diesel manual/auto | LWB Van petrol manual/auto | LWB Crew Van turbo diesel auto | SLWB Van turbo diesel auto | SLWB Van turbo petrol auto | Commuter turbo diesel auto | Commuter GL turbo diesel auto | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cloth seats | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖️ |
| Synthetic leather/fabric seats | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔ |
| Number of seats | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 12 |
| Leather-accented steering wheel | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Front and rear interior lamps | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| 7-inch colour touchscreen with AM/FM radio and CD player, also DAB+ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Bluetooth®, single USB and auxiliary input | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖️ |
| 6 rear USB charging ports | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔ |
| Rear reading lamps | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | 6 |
| Apple CarPlay and Android Auto | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Cruise control | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Openable rear windows | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ |
| 4.2-inch colour Multi-Information Display (MID) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Steering wheel switches | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Digital rear view mirror with auto-dimming | Optional on diesel | ✖️ | ✔ | Optional | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔ |
| Rear A/C vent | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ |
| Rear A/C vents for each passenger | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Front power windows | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| LWB Van turbo diesel manual/auto | LWB Van petrol manual/auto | LWB Crew Van turbo diesel auto | SLWB Van turbo diesel auto | SLWB Van turbo petrol auto | Commuter turbo diesel auto | Commuter GL turbo diesel auto | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semi-bonnet design | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Dual-sliding doors | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖️ | ✖️ |
| Left side sliding door with glass panel | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Left sliding door with steel panel | Option on diesel | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ |
| Rear side sliding door with glass | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ |
| Halogen headlamps and DRLs | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| LED DRLs | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔ |
| Body colour door handles | Option on diesel | ✖️ | ✔ | Option | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔ |
| Body colour, painted front and rear bumper | Option on diesel | ✖️ | ✔ | Option | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔ |
| Automatic sliding door | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔ |
| 16-inch steel wheels | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖️ |
| 16-inch alloy wheels | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔ |
| Full-size spare | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
With very few downsides, expert reviewers found the new generation HiAce to be the best yet and definitely one of the best on the market. It holds value well, appears to be well-assembled and has a rounded standard equipment fit-out from the factory. With local development and testing under its belt, the HiAce is well suited to the Australian market. If you're looking at vans this size, the HiAce should definitely be on your shortlist.
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Pictures: Toyota
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