Toyota HiAce LWB
Execution of intended purpose
The HiAce's load bay is a basic painted steel affair and it only has six smaller tie-down anchor points.
Despite having the shortest wheelbase of the six it actually offers what are among the biggest load bay dimensions and equal-best cargo capacity – 6.0 cubic metres (on par with Fiat's Scudo).
A raised lip at the leading edge of the load bay will prove annoying for anyone attempting to butt large boxes against the back of the seating but this aside it's a functional space.
The neat and tidy load bay has fewer holes and stamping marks than, say, the Trafic or Vito. The load floor height is the lowest on test – 560mm – while the dimensions of the side and rear doors are generous (see break-out box).
Cabin entry is the worst of the bunch. The small step is too far forward, the seat too high and the aperture not big enough, although the A-pillar grab handle helps.
There's no height or headrest adjustment in the seating, the cushioning isn't especially supportive, and there’s a lack of head room.
At least the high seat delivers a clear view over traffic and the top-hinge door provides decent vision to the rear. The reasonable side mirrors also do their bit.
Cabin storage is average. We like the central compartment with folder slots, cup holders and deep bin, but the slim side pockets are afterthoughts and there's no dedicated dash-top storage. However, glovebox size is decent, and there's a tray below it.
The HiAce is the noisiest on test by seven decibels, recording 83dBA at 80km/h.
The single-piece floor mat looks none too special and the fitted sections around and behind the flat seats are hardly Lexus quality. The door pockets are thin-skinned and narrow, and suitable for papers and time sheets but little else.
The Toyota looks well put together, with consistent panel gaps throughout the body, well presented (single-sealed) inner door areas and good quality paintwork, including on the rear floor.
Under the tiny 'bonnet' (the 3.0-litre four-cylinder engine is way back out of sight, beneath the seats) there’s little to see, apart from easy-access service items such as brake, windshield washer and radiator fluid.
It's actually a bit of a handful when unladen and especially so on a wet road, where it takes little input to see the back of the rear-wheel-drive HiAce break loose. It's crying out for stability control – unavailable, sadly – but it does settle down with a load.
The four-speed automatic obviously offers a restricted choice of ratios but it does its job without fuss or fanfare. With 600kg on board it tears up the hills without breaking a sweat.
A bit of vibration is present through the steering wheel but it stops short of being annoying.
The ride is a bit choppy unladen but everything falls into place with some weight. The steering feels light and responsive and the basic suspension package affords a nicely composed ride.
The brakes felt okay on the road but the HiAce recorded the longest braking distance from 60km/h – 18.6 metres. It was the only van to have drums at the rear, but they do the job if lacking the outright power of the Scudo’s or Transit Custom’s.
The HiAce truly shines for fuel economy. Toyota claims the lowest consumption here and that was confirmed by our comparative test – at 9.14L/100km the HiAce triumphed. That's a good thing: it's got the smallest fuel tank (70 litres).
The HiAce has the worst towing capacity of the group (1400kg) but has the best turning circle (10.0 metres). Its snub nose assists when negotiating tight confines, as does the standard reversing camera.
Cruise control, central locking, power windows and MP3/CD/USB/Bluetooth-capable audio are standard-fit. Sat-nav is available as an accessory (along with roof racks, nudge bars and other equipment common to the segment), but the options list is limited to metallic paint at $550.
The HiAce will need to visit the service shop more, with six month/10,000km intervals. The warranty is a standard 36 month/100,000km version and there’s no capped-price servicing arrangement available. Roadside assist is available at $78 per annum.
Despite its age, the HiAce is a star on the used vehicle lots. A 2011 example (new price: $40,190 in auto form) has a median resale of $30,650, according to redbook.com.au – that’s a retained value of 76 per cent.
The Toyota’s intuitive Bluetooth system – for telephony and audio streaming – is commendable, but screen size, resolution and its fiddly buttons are not.
The HiAce features cruise control but no speed limiter, and a rear window wiper, reversing camera (with integrated rear-view mirror display), washer and demister are standard.
On the technology front, it's really only let down by its dated design and some sub-standard features (see Execution of Intended Purpose, above).
While it does have electric mirrors and an auto window for the driver, it only has one front of cabin light, just four directional air vents and its trip computer is basic in its information offering.
What we liked: | Not so much: |
>> Spirited performer | >> No traction control |
>> Excellent manoeuvrability | >> Poor noise suppression |
>> Capacious cargo volume | >> Dated cabin and ergonomics |