Toyota Hiace

When it comes to the interior, Toyota’s game plan is all about customization depending on the model. The GL Grandia Tourer for instance comes with five rows of seats at maximum capacity of 3-4-3-3-4 which would say a lot about the available leg space in the cabin and the intended niche market for the trim. Worth describing, however, is the Super Grandia’s cabin. This luxurious Toyota can only fit a maximum of 10 passengers to not compromise comfort. Besides the ample leg space and headroom, the Super Grandia is fitted with a dual-zone automatic air conditioning system with rear individual AC vents, personal lamps for rear passengers, strategically placed charging ports and cup holders to keep passengers connected and the vehicle organized. Features like the smart entry system, push start engine, and auto easy closer doors are an added convenience. However, what the Hiace fleet lack would be an updated infotainment system. Though all HiAce comes fitted with 6.8-inch touchscreen audio (except for the Commuter), it is not as functional. It does not come with a navigation system or smartphone mirroring. For a posh vehicle, you would also expect the Super Grandia to come with a flip floating HD monitor for rear passengers’ entertainment.

Though the Toyota Hiace ditched the one-box design, it retains some of its heritage with a refreshed take via the two-box design that still resembles the familiar box with wheels silhouette that the van is known for. The 2020 Toyota Hiace has a more pronounced hood across its fleet with minor changes on the details, depending on trim. The most eye-catching and robust of the fleet is, of course, the Super Grandia. The massive front grille and chrome details coupled with LED headlights with clearance lamps scream luxury. Go a bit lower and you will also find LED fog lights connected by a narrow chrome strip. This posh Hiace rides on a set of 17-inch alloy wheels. The dimensions of the Hiace also vary depending on the trim. The smallest of all the Hiace would be the Commuter at 4,695 mm long, 1,695 mm wide, and 1980 mm tall. The longest is the GL Grandia Tourer at 5,915 mm. The posh Super Grandia comes in a decent 5,300 mm long and is the tallest among the fleet at 1,990 mm and widest at 1,970 mm.

Since this is a hauler, don’t expect the Toyota Hiace to be an aggressive road monster. Toyota never meant it for spirited driving. The combination of Macpherson struts and leaf spring suspension helps soften the bumps on the roads. Passenger comfort, however, is a different story. The lower level trims that pack more passengers— 14 to 17, will ride in relative comfort with the fifth-row passengers getting the brunt of most of the discomfort due to lack of leg space. For a plush riding experience, the Super Grandia delivers. By limiting the number of seats and rows to a seating configuration of 2-2-2-4, Toyota was able to fit sliding, tilting captain chairs with ottoman and butterfly headrest on the second and third row of the van for a plushier ride. The rearmost seat can be folded or removed entirely to make more space for luggage or for the ultimate form of riding comfort.

All Hiace vans are fitted with the ever-reliable 2.8-liter direct injection diesel engine of Toyota. But depending on the trim level and model, the engine power and torque varies. The Hiace Super Grandia models as well as the GL Grandia AT are equipped with the 1GD-FTV 2.8 L 4 cylinder, 16-valve in-line type DOHC engine that delivers 176 PS of output at 3,400 rpm and 450 Nm of torque at 1,600 – 2,400 rpm. The Euro 4 standard compliant engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. The GL Grandia Tourer, the GL Grandia MT, and the Commuter Deluxe are also equipped with the same 2,755cc engine but produces lower levels of output. For the GL Grandia Tourer, the same engine provides 163 PS of power at 3,600 rpm and 420 Nm of torque at 1,400 – 2,200 rpm which is paired to either a 6-speed automatic or 6-speed manual transmission. The GL Grandia MT and the Commuter Deluxe, meanwhile, can deliver 176 PS of output at 3,400 rpm and 420 Nm of torque at 1,400-2,600 rpm both are paired to a 6-speed manual. The basic Hiace commuter is the only model that gets a 1kd-FTV 4-cylinder L Type, 16-valve DOHC engine that churns out 136 PS of power at 3,400 rpm and 300 Nm of torque at 1,200 – 2,400 rpm. The 2,982cc, Euro 4 standard engine is partnered to a 5-speed, dash-mounted, manual transmission. For a fully loaded Hiace, the van can clock in about 7 to 8 kmpl for city driving and about 10 kmpl on the highway which isn’t half bad considering the number of persons and cargo you could fit in the vehicle.

Braking is handled by a ventilated disc and drum combination system in all Hiace vehicles. But when it comes to safety, top-of-the-line Hiace gets all the bells and whistles. 9 SRS airbags, traction control, vehicle stability control with brake assist, hill start assist, anti-lock braking system, rearview mirror with integrated back monitor display, clearance and back sonar, and the Toyota Vehicle Security System (TVSS) which is just the fancy name for vehicle alarm with engine immobilizer. The Super Grandia Elite even comes with Toyota Safety Sense that includes adaptive cruise control, pre-collision system, lane departure alert, and auto high beams.

If you are looking for a van for utilitarian or commercial use, Toyota Hiace got you covered. It is a reliable vehicle that caters to a wide array of niche markets from those seeking a plush ride to a decent family hauler, to a basic commercial vehicle. Passenger comfort is diminished as you push for more seating capacity. But the reliable engineering that Toyota is known for remains the same across the trim. That is why the Hiace remains to be a ubiquitous sight in our roads and hi-ways because it is this reliability that makes the Toyota brand a favorite among Filipino car buyers.