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Rod Chapman28 May 2019
NEWS

All-new Toyota HiAce touches down

Toyota's long-awaited sixth-generation HiAce arrives with a totally fresh take on the top-selling mid-size van

The radical new sixth-generation Toyota HiAce commercial van arrives in Australian showrooms today, co-inciding with its national media launch at Altona in Melbourne's western suburbs.

Fifteen years on from the introduction of the model it replaces, Toyota has taken the top-selling nameplate in Australia's medium van (2.5 to 3.5-tonne GVM) segment and made extensive changes, including a new platform, powertrains, a semi-bonneted design and a host of new technology.

These include a raft of cutting-edge safety features that help the new Toyota HiAce achieve a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating – up from the four-star result its predecessor gained under a less stringent scoring regime in 2011.

2019 Toyota HiAce Range (L-R) LWB Van, SLWB Van with option pack, Commuter GL and LWB Crew Van.

Along with the new features comes a corresponding hike in HiAce pricing, with the range attracting an average rise of just under $4000.

While Toyota Australia had already revealed many details of the new HiAce prior to the vehicle's launch, full specifications for the new LCV are now available, revealing the full extent of the generational shift.

The new nine-model range spans LWB (long wheelbase) Van, LWB Crew Van and SLWB (super long wheelbase) Van and Commuter models, the latter a 12-seat minibus available in two trim grades, including a new up-spec Commuter GL with power sliding side door, better sound insulation and colour-matched bumpers, among other niceties.

Wider and longer

2019 Toyota HiAce SLWB Van.

Underpinning the new line-up is an all-new chassis, with all models now longer and wider than their predecessors. LWB Van models are now 570mm longer, with a 640mm-longer wheelbase (now 3210mm), while SLWB Van and Commuter models are now 535mm longer, with a 750mm longer wheelbase (now 3860mm).

All models are 1950mm wide overall – that's up 255mm for LWB variants and up 70mm for SLWB variants – while the front and rear tracks of all models now measure 1670mm. That's an increase of 200mm at the front and 205mm at the rear for LWB models, and 15mm at the front and 20mm at the rear for SLWB models.

The LWB models gain 10mm in overall height (now 1990mm) while the SLWB models are 5mm lower (at 2280mm). However, the cargo bay for LWB models has been reduced by 470mm over its predecessor.

Van models now sport dual sliding side doors as standard, with increased side apertures in SLWB Van models to accommodate a standard Australian pallet. All HiAce models now have extra room between their rear wheel-arches, also with enough space to accommodate a standard Australian pallet.

2019 Toyota HiAce LWB Van.

The LWB Crew Van has second-row 60/40 split-row seating for three (and two ISOFIX child seat mounting points) while the 12-seater SLWB Commuter variants have four rows of double seats behind the driver and two single seats behind the passenger, with an extra 90mm of length delivering increased legroom for each.

Toyota claims internal load space of 6.2 cubic metres (LWB Van) and 9.3 cubic metres (SLWB Van) for the new HiAce, compared to 6.0 cubic metres and 9.8 cubic metres for the outgoing model, while kerbside weights have increased by around 315 to 415kg, depending on variant. Toyota says payload limits remain unchanged for the new platform.

Offsetting the increased weight is a more potent pair of engines with the urge fed to the rear wheels via either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission (add $2000).

Fresh power, better diesel economy

2019 Toyota HiAce LWB Van with 3.5 litre V6 Petrol Engine.

Toyota says the new HiAce’s 3.5-litre petrol V6 produces a claimed 207kW at 6000rpm and 351Nm at 4600rpm.

Meantime its 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel produces a claimed 130kW at 3400rpm in Van and Crew Van models (120kW at 3600rpm in Commuter models) and 450Nm at 1600-2400rpm in Van and Crew Van auto models (420Nm at 1400-2600rpm in manual equivalents, or 420Nm at 1600-2200rpm in Commuter models).

The new 2.8-litre turbo-diesel delivers up to 30kW and 150Nm more than its 3.0-litre predecessor, while the petrol V6's output is boosted by 89kW and 108Nm over its 2.7-litre four-cylinder predecessor.

The turbo-diesel is available across all models, while the petrol is available in LWB Van and SLWB Van variants but not the LWB Crew Van or SLWB Commuter models.

2019 Toyota HiAce SLWB Van with Option Pack.

For the diesel, Toyota claims a Combined Cycle fuel economy as low as 7.5L/100km for the LWB Van (manual turbo-diesel) rising to 8.4L/100km for the SLWB Van (auto only), with consumption now reduced through the use of an idle-stop system.

The equivalent figures for the petrol V6 span 12.0L/100km (auto) to 12.4L/100km (manual) for both LWB Van and SLWB Van models.

The figures spell a reasonable lift in economy compared to the older turbo-diesel HiAce, which spanned combined-cycle figures of 8.1 to 9.5L/100 (diesel variants), while the new petrol HiAce is thirstier – the older petrol model spanning 9.8 to 10.9L/100km.

Braked towing capacity has increased for most variants, from 1400kg for the outgoing model to 1500kg for all but the turbo-diesel LWB Van, which now has a limit of 1900kg, and the petrol-manual LWB Van, which remains at 1400kg.

Safety as standard

2019 Toyota HiAce Crew Van.

The semi-bonneted design affords far easier cab access then the old cab-over-engine format, while boosting safety through an increased crumple zone, improving engine access for maintenance, and delivering more a more refined and comfortable ride.

The HiAce's dynamics are also aided by the HiAce's increased front and rear tracks, and its new MacPherson strut/leaf-spring suspension set-up.

Comfort is further enhanced by new and more supportive seating, a driver's seat with six-way adjustment, and a steering column adjustable for tilt and reach, while the HiAce now benefits from niceties like new instrumentation and a 7.0-inch multimedia touch-screen.

Standard with satellite navigation with live traffic updates, digital radio, CD player, Bluetooth connectivity and voice commands, Toyota says Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will be available for the multimedia system in the final quarter of this year, and available as a no-cost retrofit option.

However, perhaps the biggest boost in technology lies with the HiAce's enhanced safety tech. As standard, Toyota's Safety Sense suite packages autonomous emergency braking (with day/night pedestrian detection and daytime cyclist detection) with lane departure warning (with dynamic steering), road sign recognition (certain speed zone signs only) and auto high beam assist.

2019 Toyota HiAce Commuter GL.

That's on top of fundamentals like stability control, anti-lock brakes and cruise control (standard, not adaptive), plus systems like blind-spot monitoring, a reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert, and up to nine airbags.

And in what Toyota says is a first for Australia, the HiAce can be optioned with a digital rear-view centre mirror that provides an unobstructed rear view even when the load bay is fully loaded.

It seems there's no longer any excuse for the 'humble' delivery van to skimp on safety features – nor indeed any justification for the term 'humble'.

The full Toyota HiAce range is backed by a five-year/160,000km factory warranty.

Toyota's Service Advantage capped-price servicing scheme is available for up to three years or 60,000km, whichever comes first, and service intervals remain pegged at every six months or 10,000km.

Servicing of petrol-engined models costs $180 per service, rising to $240 for diesel-engined models.

The new HiAce is available in French Vanilla paint across the range, with selected variants also available in Quicksilver Mica, Light Blue Armour and Goldrush.

The outgoing HiAce ended 2018 with 6852 sales for a leading market share of 33.9 per cent – well ahead of Hyundai's iLoad (4362 sales) and Volkswagen's third-placed Transporter (2095).

Its stranglehold on the light bus segment (under 20 seats) is even more pronounced, with 2641 examples sold last year equating with 86.3 per cent of the market.

Watch this space for our first drive of the new Toyota HiAce on Friday (May 31).

How much does the 2019 Toyota HiAce cost?
LWB Van 3.5-litre V6 petrol 6MT: $38,640 (+$4170)
LWB Van 3.5-litre V6 petrol 6AT: $40,640 (+$3110)
LWB Van 2.8-litre turbo-diesel 6MT: $42,140 (+$4610)
LWB Van 2.8-litre turbo-diesel 6AT: $44,140 (+$4060)
LWB Crew Van 2.8-litre turbo-diesel 6AT: $47,140 (+$5020)
SLWB Van 3.5-litre V6 petrol 6AT: $48,640 (+$2950)
SLWB Van 2.8-litre turbo-diesel 6AT: $52,140 (+$2880)
Commuter 2.8-litre turbo-diesel 6AT: $67,140 (+$4110)
Commuter GL 2.8-litre turbo-diesel 6AT: $70,140 (new model)

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