Toyota has added a barn-door choice to its strong-selling HiAce van after shut to twenty years.
Though the HiAce provides commonplace twin sliding doorways on its measurement, it’s solely supplied a lift-up tailgate on the rear because the HiAce SBV was axed in 2003. That’s not preferrred if it’s essential to reverse as much as a raised loading dock, or need to load the van utilizing a forklift.
The dearth of barn doorways hasn’t confirmed an obstacle to gross sales because the newest automotive’s launch. It was the best-selling mid-sized van in Australia in 2020 and 2021, and retained the title in 2022 with a 37.9 per cent slice of its market.
It may not be attractive, however the HiAce stays a giant deal within the van world.
Past the barn doorways, there aren’t any adjustments to the HiAce for 2023. It options turbo-diesel energy as commonplace – the V6 was axed on the again of restricted buyer demand – and is available in any color as long as it’s white.
Every little thing that’s been good about it since launch stays good in 2023.
How a lot does the Toyota HiAce price?
The HiAce vary now kicks off at $46,360 earlier than on-road prices for a liftback mannequin with a handbook transmission, leaping to $48,360 earlier than on-roads for the liftback with an automated.
Choosing the Barn Door possibility provides $750 to the value tag, that means our tester will set you again $49,110 earlier than on-roads.
That aligns it with the Ford Transit Customized 340L LWB Auto ($52,390), Renault Trafic Professional LWB auto ($52,200), and Hyundai Staria Load Premium van ($51,240).
2023 Toyota HiAce pricing:
Van
- Toyota HiAce LWB Van 6MT: $46,360
- Toyota HiAce LWB Van 6AT: $48,360
- Toyota HiAce LWB Panel Van 6AT: $48,360
- Toyota HiAce LWB GL Van 6AT: $49,360
- Toyota HiAce LWB Crew Van 6AT: $51,360
- Toyota HiAce SLWB Van 6AT: $56,920
Barn Door
- Toyota HiAce LWB Barn Door Van 6AT: $49,110
- Toyota HiAce LWB Barn Door Panel Van 6AT: $49,110
- Toyota HiAce LWB Barn Door GL Van 6AT: $50,110
- Toyota HiAce SLWB Barn Door Van 6AT: $57,670
What’s the Toyota HiAce like on the within?
Earlier than we get to the passengers, let’s speak cargo house.
The LWB mannequin on take a look at right here measures 5265mm lengthy, 1950mm vast and 1990mm tall, with a 3120mm wheelbase.
With a cargo bay that’s 2530mm lengthy, 1760mm vast (1268mm between the arches) and 1340mm tall, the LWB has 6.2m3 of house in its cargo bay, in comparison with 9.3m3 within the SLWB.
The steel flooring, picket wall trims, and lack of a cargo divider all made the HiAce really feel a bit naked, nevertheless it’s value noting homeowners will instantly delve into the accent catalogue to get their van prepared for no matter work they’re doing.
Entry via the barn doorways is superb, as you’d anticipate. You’ll want to make use of a handbook strut to lock them into place correctly at 90 levels in tight areas, however they’ll maintain themselves when opened to the utmost 180 levels.
Though it’s a bit naked, the HiAce is a cushty place to spend time. There’s loads of adjustment within the steering wheel, the seat slides far sufficient to accomodate lengthy legs, and the seat padding finds a stability between consolation and assist.
Visibility via the windscreen is respectable, however the stubby little bonnet is difficult to see which makes putting the van in tight areas more durable than it was within the previous mannequin with its vertical entrance finish. In fact, your legs aren’t within the crumple zone this time round.
The upright dashboard is primary, however has all the pieces the common tradie would want. There are three cupholders on the sprint. A large storage bin between the seats options right here, which wasn’t the case within the handbook mannequin we drove in 2020.
It has a usable flat high, and a rubberised house at your ft. Not solely does it permit you to retailer stuff, it offers a flat house for signing paperwork or dealing with paperwork on the transfer.
Toyota’s infotainment expertise is serviceable, nevertheless it’s step by step being changed throughout the vary by a system with sharper graphics and sooner responses.
Manufacturing facility satellite tv for pc navigation is helpful for drivers delivering past the attain of cellular reception.
Having Apple CarPlay and Android Auto papers over among the infotainment system’s shortcomings, though it’s not wi-fi as is the case in newer Toyota merchandise.
It labored flawlessly throughout our time with the automotive, and provides far simpler entry to phone-quality leisure, cellphone calls, and mapping.
What’s underneath the bonnet?
The 2023 Toyota HiAce is powered by a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel producing 130kW of energy and 450Nm of torque with the six-speed automated fitted to our tester.
Choosing the entry six-speed handbook drops that torque output to 420Nm.
The 2023 Toyota HiAce makes use of a claimed 8.2L/100km in LWB auto guise, however we noticed 11.2 litres per 100km on per week with a powerful skew to metropolis driving.
The gas tank holds 70 litres.
How does the Toyota HiAce drive?
The turbo-diesel engine within the HiAce is shared with the HiLux ute, and packs loads of torque down low.
In comparison with the handbook we drove in 2020, the automated mannequin packs 30Nm extra torque. It doesn’t really feel all that a lot faster unladen, however each further little bit of twist helps if you’re lugging round a heavy load.
Unladen, the HiAce scoots alongside effortlessly. The automated transmission shuffles easily via the ratios, typically holding the revs beneath 3000rpm to avoid wasting gas and maintain the cabin moderately quiet.
There’s a good serving of diesel clatter if you lean on the throttle, nevertheless it’s impressively clean and quiet at a cruise. Even with a load on board it feels sturdy, regardless of its 2200kg kerb weight and the actual fact the identical engine within the HiLux pumps out 20kW and 50Nm extra once more.
The place the HiLux ute misses out on cease/begin, nevertheless, it options within the HiAce which is a win should you spend numerous time at a standstill. It simply be turned off should you don’t prefer it.
Our tester was bathroom commonplace, which implies there was no divider between the load bay and cabin. Which means it’s very echoey within the cabin, and all of the noises from the driveline which can be often muffled are audible via the ground.
It’s not a problem for homeowners who match a cabin divider, and highway noise was nonetheless solely bearable at 100km/h with out one. My passenger and I might chat with out elevating our voices, and cellphone calls nonetheless labored with out an excessive amount of bother.
With its lengthy wheelbase and vast monitor, the HiAce feels properly planted on the freeway. It doesn’t get knocked round by crosswinds, and the steering is exact sufficient to encourage confidence on sweeping bends.
Mixed with cruise management (albeit not adaptive), the sensation of stability means eats up the miles extra fortunately than its flighty predecessor ever might.
Sadly, the lane-keep help is overzealous. Quite than steering you again between the white strains, it brakes when it detects you drifting. It’s extra rudimentary than the steering help supplied elsewhere within the Toyota vary, and feels very abrupt behind the wheel.
The bigger physique on the brand new HiAce makes itself recognized on the town. The previous mannequin was straightforward to pilot as a result of the motive force sat on the very entrance of the car. At 1950mm vast, the brand new mannequin can also be 355mm broader than the automotive it replaces.
With a widescreen view out the entrance, giant mirrors, and commanding driving place, you may nonetheless thread the HiAce via the town with relative ease although. The sunshine steering makes manoeuvring via laneways or tight loading docks a breeze, and the reversing digicam is sweet sufficient that it’s helpful to have should you’re making an attempt to line up a trailer.
The turning circle is superb, relative to the car’s measurement. You’ll be stunned by how typically a U-turn will suffice the place a three-point flip might have been obligatory.
What do you get?
All HiAce fashions seat two occupants, besides the Crew Van which seats 5 and the Commuter which seats 12.
New for the 2023 mannequin 12 months is the choice of rear barn doorways that substitute the one tailgate with a pair of vertically cut up doorways, which on LWB fashions embrace twin rear wipers.
HiAce highlights:
- 16-inch metal wheels
- Full-size spare wheel
- 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wired Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
- Bluetooth
- DAB+ digital radio
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- 4.2-inch instrument cluster show display
- Entrance USB port
- Cruise management
- Leather-based-accented steering wheel
- Driver powered lumbar assist
Is the Toyota HiAce protected?
The final HiAce wasn’t recognized for its crash security, however the brand new one launched with the objective of adjusting that.
It has a five-star ANCAP security ranking primarily based on testing carried out in 2019. It earned a 94 per cent rating for grownup occupant safety, 88 per cent for little one occupant safety, 84 per cent for weak highway consumer safety, and 77 per cent for security help.
Normal security gear consists of:
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Pedestrian detection (day/evening)
- Bike owner detection (day)
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Lane departure warning
- Lane maintain help
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Computerized high-beam
- Site visitors signal recognition
- Reversing digicam
- Entrance and rear parking sensors
The vast majority of the 2023 Toyota HiAce vary has seven airbags, apart from the LWB Crew Van which has 9. The Commuter has three.
The HiAce vary additionally acquired Toyota Related Companies for 2022, which features a 24/7 Emergency Name Centre perform that relays the car’s location within the occasion of a collision “that requires intervention” or if an airbag deploys.
The e-call perform will also be triggered manually by way of a SOS button contained in the cabin.
How a lot does the Toyota HiAce price to run?
Toyota backs its automobiles with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee, prolonged to seven years on the drivetrain should you service inside its vendor community.
Capped-price servicing is obtainable for the primary six visits, required each six months or 10,000 kilometres.
It’s a disgrace homeowners have to go to the vendor twice per 12 months, particularly contemplating the actual fact van drivers are typically reliant on their automobiles for work. Every service is capped at $260.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Toyota HiAce
The HiAce is a powerful vendor for a cause.
It was already refined, protected, and sensible; the addition of barn doorways has solely made it extra so.
Though the loss of life of the V6 petrol engine and exterior color choices have narrowed the vary, the turbo-diesel is a wiser possibility for many operators and aligns the HiAce higher with its diesel-only rivals.
Points? The six-month service intervals are too brief for personal homeowners, not to mention skilled operators reliant on their automobiles to earn cash. It’s the one actual blight on what’s in any other case a really succesful van.
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