Big families need big rides. And for those whose numbers just won’t fit inside a regular van, well, a minibus might be what they’re looking for.

If you’re in the market for a crowd carrier, then you’re in luck because today we pit two minibuses to find out which among them suits your needs. To start this heavyweight bout, let’s head on to our tale of the tape.

Exterior

Toyota Coaster

• Dimensions: (L x W x H): 6,990mm x 2,080mm x 2,635mm
• Wheelbase: 3,935mm
• Ground Clearance: 180mm

Hyundai County

• Dimensions: (L x W x H): 6,350mm x 3,350mm x 2,630mm
• Wheelbase: 2,035mm
• Ground Clearance: 195mm

The Toyota Coaster towers over the Hyundai County with its long and wider body. The Japanese also have a longer wheelbase than the Korean which means it offers a more comfortable ride.

That said, we give this round to the Coaster.

Interior

Inside the Toyota Coaster are fabric seats and a two-spoke urethane steering wheel and shift knob. Other simple but functional amenities include room lamps, step lamps, luggage lamps, PVC front floor carpet and mat, and a vinyl rear floor carpet and mat.

The Hyundai County also comes with fabric seats, a two-spoke urethane steering wheel and shift knob combo as well as an overhead lamp, fluorescent lamps, a free-flow ventilator, an electric ventilator, and a roof ventilator.

Both 29-seater crowd carriers have their own creature comfort amenities. That said, both are tied for this round.

Engine

Toyota’s minibus is outfitted with the N04C-VQ Euro 4-compliant diesel mill mated to a five-speed manual transmission. It produces 133hp and 390Nm of torque.

On the other hand, Hyundai’s entry into the mini-bus segment uses the D4DD engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission. It makes 137hp and 373Nm of torque.

Because of its more powerful engine, the Hyundai County get the win for this round.

Safety

In terms of safety, Toyota packs the Coaster with a suite of seatbelts, a fire extinguisher, an anti-theft alarm, and an anti-lock braking system.

Hyundai outfits the County with seatbelts, a load-sensing proportioning valve, and ABS.

While both vehicles offer both driver and passengers safety, we’d have to give the win to the Toyota Coaster for packing its minibus with a fire extinguisher.

Variants and pricing

Toyota Coaster

Toyota Coaster 29-Seater – P3,748,000

Hyundai County

Hyundai County (28+1-Seater Bus) MT – P3,148,000

Verdict

Both the Toyota Coaster and the Hyundai County make for a great minibus whether you’re going to use it for family trips or as a utility vehicle. And despite its weaker engine, the Toyota Coaster is our winner with its better features.

Photos from Toyota and Hyundai

Also read: 

Toyota PH Donates Toyota Coaster to Local Parasport Athletes

MIAS WIRED: Hyundai PH highlights commercial line to help 'heroes of new normal'

PNP Acquires 20 New Toyota Coasters to Boost Operational Capability and Visibility