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It’s early in the New Year, and that means it’s time for the annual update to Toyota's HiAce van range.
This year, along with new variants in the line-up, the HiAce scores a revised 2.7 litre four-cylinder petrol engine that boosts power by 6.3 percent.
Power outputs for the petrol unit now measure 118kW and 243Nm - up 7kW and 2Nm respectively - and the engine is Euro 5 emissions compliant with a fuel figure as low as 9.8 l/100km.
Toyota has achieved this figure by fitting the HiAce with a new six-speed automatic transmission, which replaces the four-speed auto from last year and Toyota says this now makes the auto more efficient than the manual for the first time.
The new auto models represent an average 16.7 percent improvement in fuel use on the combined cycle, and the long wheelbase van is the most economical variant.
The petrol five-speed manual model is still a considerable 12.9 percent more efficient than before, rising to 14.7 percent when the city fuel cycle is considered in isolation.
But the biggest improver for fuel use on the city cycle is the super long wheelbase van with automatic transmission, which now uses a whopping 19.9 percent less fuel than before.
The 100kW/300Nm 3.0 litre turbocharged diesel engine is still available, with a fuel figure as low as 8.0 l/100km (five-speed manual).
Toyota’s ECO lamp in the HiAce’s instrument cluster carries over from last year’s update, and safety improvements from last year have been complemented by standard electronic stability control in all HiAce models.
Two new variants join the list of available models for 2015, including a 12-seat petrol-powered Commuter bus and a diesel-powered five-seat “crew van”.
The standard Commuter bus has 14 seats, and the new 12-seat variant enables Australian driver’s licence-holders to drive it with a ‘car’ licence.
The crew van is offered exclusively in a new ‘Ink’ paint finish, and has a second sliding door along with a second-row bench seat to accommodate three passengers.
The second-row seat tilts and folds forward when not required to maximise cargo space.
Long wheelbase variants gain a window in the left-hand sliding door to improve driver visibility, and the front passenger seat is now on sliding rails in all models (previously fixed).
Price-wise, the 2015 HiAce starts from $32,990 plus on-roads. Diesel models are up to $1,000 cheaper for the new year, while the six-speed auto adds $500 to some variants.
MORE: Toyota Prado Altitude - Special ‘City SUV’ Returns For 2015
MORE News & Reviews: Toyota | Vans | LCV
Pricing (excludes on-road costs)
2015 TOYOTA HIACE
PETROL
- LWB van - $32,990
- SLWB van - $40,990
- Commuter bus - $53,490
DIESEL
- LWB van - $35,990
- LWB crew van - $37,990
- SLWB van - $44,990
- Commuter bus - $57,490
Options:
- Automatic (diesel): $2,500
- Automatic (petrol): $3,000
- Paint (other than white): $550
- Auto door (bus): $900
- 12-seat bus: No-cost option (auto petrol only)
- Interested in buying TOYOTA ? Visit our TOYOTA showroom for more information.
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14 Comments
Toyota engines even with the so called improvements are looking so outdated compared to the engines found in many of its competitors. Why do they even bother keeping the 2.7 petrol when it's so underpowered and outdated and even the 3.0l TD is massively underpowered compared to what most manufacturers are now offering. The whole HiAce is long in the tooth and questionable in the value stakes.
Maybe because the 2.7L petrol is its best engine - the 3.0L diesel is, well to be generous, very ordinary. The 2.7 might not be a rocket but its durable.
Durable = Old tech though. Many of toyotas engines fit into this category. Given the high starting price of the HiAce they should ditch the petrol and just offer the Diesel for the same money.
Not everyone wants a diesel! Toyotas about the only one that offers it!
I drive in the commuter vans very often, as every Airport Parking company in Melbourne uses them. No Ford Transit, no VW, no Hyundai. They might be outdated and overpriced, but they are very reliable. So, who cares about outdated engines, when you can easily do over 300,000 hassle free kilometres.
This sort of attitude is what has allowed japanese companies to become so lazy and continuing to produce and sell vehicles with out dated drivelines. I know a few Hyundai vans with over 300,000k's on the clock and I know a couple of airport transfer companies who have Mercedes Vans with high k's and no issues. I would like to believe a company such as toyota can easily build a modern 2.0l petrol engine that has not only more power and torque than its 2.7l while offering far better fuel economy and all while remaining as reliable as the older stuff is. Same goes for the diesel engine since its getting outclassed by an average of 50 kw's and 200Nm of torque which is massive.
You are missing the point completely. I couldn't care less about the Hilux and Hiace and I always wonder why they sell so many, as there are more exciting vehicles out there. How often do you hear about issues with Hilux or Hiace? Very rarely and this is exactly what tradies want. It doesn't matter, if you can haul your tools half a second faster from traffic light to traffic light, or if you safe a Dollar on fuel. Resale value is high and the overall cost of ownership quite good.
Maybe you need to look into issues effecting Hilux utes before putting the blinkers on like most people seem to do. The 3.0l diesel for a start is not as trouble free as you seem to think.
The petrol uses massive amount of fuel when loaded up with weight. My mate goes through $180 a week with his petrol where I use $75 with my diesel. Worked out it's $7000 a year more to run a petrol! I have had problems with mine as Toyota have slipped with reliability. Turbos were an issue around 2007-8 as were the high pressure fuel pump. I've had both go. Hard to go to other brands though. VW no way as will cost a fortune when they break down which is normal and $10k more expensive and iloads are now starting to fall apart going by the guys I know at Hyundai. They said to stay away. Good when new but run after a few years. Toyota are way under powered in the diesel models compared but I'm hoping for a revamp one day.
Is the crew van a narrow body or a wide body
I'll add that I am in the market now trying as hard as I can to decide between the Hyundai and the HiAce. HiAce; -Front seats. Sitting real close to the scene of the accident -Easier to navigate -can be a pain to get into -slightly higher than the iLoad -Sitting over the wheel= shock through spine -The manual is fun to drive when mid to higher range in revs -Crew van version rear seats are adjustable -Suspension is much softer? Suspension Dampers better -Seats better quality and softer -Rear doors have small crappy looking box like sliding windows. Kinda like been stuck in a box. -Petrol manual version has cruise control iLOAD; -Crew van has rear partition(slightly sealed in. It CAN be removed but silly engineers wielded upright brackets on the floor so if thinking about removing so you can transport a longer item...think again. .Unless you don't mind item or upright brackets being damaged. And yes of course you would need to remove the rear seats. No biggie. -Crew van rear seat completely non-adjustable. Hope you like a straight back. -Rear suspension is rigid hard. Sit in the back and take it over a bump and hear passengers curse you :-). It's hard as. -Not sitting over front wheel= much less shock (to almost none) up and through your spine. NB: Must go slow over bump with rear wheel though, else shock goes up spine :-\ -Diesel engine has great pick-up. Creams the Toyota. -No petrol/manual in Crew van. That's what they said. -Rear doors have pop-out windows Toyota crew about $43,000 iLoad about $40,000 Difference: iLoad has a partition in the rear (NB: semi removable. Brackets all round are wielded to vehicle. Dumb. It is not integral to the structure of the vehicle. It is just an accessory. Wielding it was just silly) Seats are adjustable in the Toyota iLoad gives 10 year roadside assist (seems like it might be needed after reading peoples complaints about Hyundai reliability on the net.) and suspension is hard as rock in Hyundai. Toyota Crew same width as non-crew. Pretty sure about that as I looked at both. I can't decide. Hmm... I'll be trading it in every two years. Hyundai diesel? Damn that hard suspension though.
What happened to my comments?
Which? I can't find a record of previous comments.