Toyota added a barn door option for its strong sale hello ace valve after nearly 20 years.
While the HiAce offers standard dual sliding doors for its size, it has only been offered a raised tailgate in the rear since the HiAce SBV was phased out in 2003. That’s not ideal if you need to back onto an elevated loading dock or wish to load the valve with a forklift.
The lack of barn doors has not proven a hindrance to sales since the launch of the latest vehicle. It is the best-selling mid-size truck in Australia in 2020 and 2021, and holds the title in 2022 with a 37.9% market share.
It may not be sexy, but the HiAce is still a big deal in the van world.
Outside of the barn door, there are no changes to the HiAce for 2023. It comes with a turbo-diesel engine as standard – the V6 is built around limited customer demand – and comes in any color as long as it’s free. is white.
Everything good about it since its launch is still good in 2023.
How much does Toyota HiAce cost?
HiAce range now starts at $46,360 in advance on road costs for upgraded models with manual transmission, switch to $48,360 before circulation for liftback with an automatic.
Choosing the Barn Door option adds $750 to the price tag, meaning our testers will keep you coming back $49,110 before circulation.
That fits Ford Transit Custom 340L LWB Auto ($52,390), Renault Trafic Pro LWB ($52,200), and Hyundai Staria Premium Trucks ($51,240).
Price of Toyota HiAce 2023:
Literature
- Toyota HiAce LWB Van 6MT: $46,360
- Toyota HiAce LWB Van 6AT: 48,360 USD
- Dashboard Toyota HiAce LWB Van 6AT: 48,360 USD
- 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 Valve 6AT: 49,110 USD
- Door panel Toyota HiAce LWB Van 6AT: 49,110 USD
- Toyota HiAce LWB Barn Door GL Van 6AT: 50,110 USD
- Toyota HiAce SLWB Barn Door Van 6AT: $57,670
How is the inside of the Toyota HiAce?
Before getting to the passengers, let’s talk about cargo space.
The LWB model tested here measures 5265mm . long, 1950mm . wide And height 1990mmwith one Wheelbase 3120mm.
With a cargo compartment that is 2530mm . long, 1760mm . wide (1268mm between arches) and 1340mm . highLWB has 6.2m3 space in its cargo compartment, compared to 9.3m3 in SLWB.
The metal floors, wooden wall trim and lack of cargo dividers all make the HiAce feel a bit empty, but it’s worth noting that owners will immediately dig through the accessory catalog to get the car ready. their truck for whatever job they’re doing.
Access through the barn doors is excellent, as you’d expect. You’ll need to use a manual strut to lock them in place at a 90-degree angle in tight spaces, but they will hold themselves up when opened up to 180 degrees.
Although a bit bare, HiAce is a comfortable place to spend time. There’s plenty of adjustment in the steering wheel, the seats slide far enough to accommodate those long legs, and the seat cushion strikes a balance between comfort and support.
Visibility through the windshield is quite good, but the stout little bonnet is hard to see, which makes it more difficult to place the car in tight spaces than on the older model with the upright front end. Of course, this time your legs are not in the cringe zone.
The upright panel is basic, but has everything the average craftsman needs. There are three cup holders on the dashboard. A large storage bin between the seats is here, which is not the case with the manual model we drove in 2020.
It has a usable flat surface and a rubber void under your feet. Not only does it allow you to store things, but it also provides a flat space to sign documents or handle paperwork on the go.
Toyota’s infotainment technology is usable, but it’s slowly being replaced across the range by a system with sharper graphics and more responsiveness.
Factory satellite navigation is handy for delivery drivers out of reach of mobile devices.
There are papers by Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for some of the infotainment system’s shortcomings, though it’s not as wireless as is the case with newer Toyota products.
It worked flawlessly during our time in the car and provided much easier access to phone-quality entertainment, calling, and mapping.
What’s under the bonnet?
Toyota HiAce 2023 is equipped with an engine 2.8 liter four-cylinder diesel engine manufacture 130kW power and 450Nm torque with a six-speed automatic transmission fitted to our testers.
Choosing a six-speed manual entry reduces that torque output 420Nm.
Toyota HiAce 2023 uses a statement 8.2L/100km in LWB automatic guise, but we saw 11.2 liters per 100 km in a week with a strong inclination towards city driving.
Fuel tank holds 70 liters.
How does the Toyota HiAce drive?
The turbo-diesel engine in the HiAce is shared with HiLux ute, and has plenty of low-end torque.
Compared to the manual we drove in 2020, the automatic has 30Nm more torque. It doesn’t feel much faster at idle, but a little extra swing helps when you’re carrying a heavy load.
No load, HiAce moves easily. The automatic transmission shifts smoothly through ratios, often keeping revs below 3000 rpm to save fuel and keep the cabin reasonably quiet.
There’s a lot of diesel squealing when you hit the gas, but it’s surprisingly smooth and quiet on the go. Even with a load on board, it feels solid, though 2200kg weight constraints and the fact that the same motor in the HiLux pumps out 20kW and 50Nm again.
However, in case the HiLux ute misses the stop/start, it does feature in the HiAce, which is a win if you spend a lot of time in the stopped state. It’s easily turned off if you don’t like it.
Our tester is the quagmire standard, which means there’s no bulkhead between the cargo compartment and the cabin. That means it’s very resonant in the cabin, and all the noise from the normally muffled powertrain can be heard through the floor.
That’s not a problem for owners with cabin baffles, and road noise is still perfectly bearable at 100 km/h without baffles. My passenger and I can converse without raising our voices and phone calls work without too much difficulty.
With a long wheelbase and wide track, the HiAce feels comfortable on the highway. It doesn’t get tossed around by headwinds and the steering is precise enough to deliver confidence on twisty turns.
Combined with cruise control (though not adaptive), that sense of stability means eating up miles more happily than its flying predecessor ever had.
Unfortunately, lane keep assist is overzealous. Instead of steering you back between the white lines, it will brake when it detects you’re drifting. It’s more rudimentary than the steering assist offered elsewhere in the Toyota range and feels very abrupt behind the wheel.
The larger body on the new HiAce makes it popular in town. The old model was easy to maneuver because the driver sat at the front of the car. In 1950mm . wideThe new model is also 355mm wider than the replacement model.
With a wide forward field of view, large mirrors and a suitable driving position, you can still maneuver the HiAce through the city with relative ease. The gentle steering makes navigating through narrow lanes or harbors a breeze, and the reverse camera is good enough to be of use if you’re trying to line up a trailer.
The rotation is excellent, considering the size of the car. You’ll be surprised how often a U-turn is enough when a three-point turn is necessary.
You get what?
All HiAce models have two seats, with the exception of the Crew Van which seats 5 and the Commuter which seats 12.
New for the 2023 model year is a rear barn door option that replaces the single tailgate with a pair of vertically split doors, which on LWB models include dual rear wipers.
HiAce Highlights:
- 16 inch steel wheels
- Large spare wheel
- 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wired Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
- Bluetooth
- DAB + digital radio
- Satellite positioning
- 4.2 inch instrument cluster display
- Front USB port
- cruise control
- Leather steering wheel
- Lumbar support supports the driver
Is Toyota HiAce safe?
The last HiAce wasn’t known for crash safety, but the new HiAce has come out with the goal of changing that.
It has one Five-star safety rating ANCAP based on testing conducted in 2019. It achieved a score of 94% for the protection of adults in the vehicle, 88% for the protection of child occupants, 84% for the ability to protect the occupants of the vehicle. protect vulnerable pedestrians and 77% for safety assistance.
Standard safety equipment includes:
- Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)
- Pedestrian detection (day/night)
- Cyclist detection (date)
- Blind spot monitoring
- Lane departure warning
- Lane keeping assist
- Rear traffic warning
- Automatic headlights
- Traffic sign recognition
- Reverse camera
- Front and rear parking sensors
Most Toyota HiAce 2023 models have seven airbags, besides the LWB Crew Van there are nine. Commuter has three.
The HiAce range also gets Toyota Connected Services for 2022, which includes a 24/7 Emergency Call Center function that relays the vehicle’s location in the event of a “need to intervene” collision or if the airbag deploys.
The call function can also be activated manually via the SOS button inside the cabin.
How much does it cost to run a Toyota HiAce?
Toyota supports its vehicles with a 5 year unlimited km warrantyup to seven years on the powertrain if you service it in its dealer network.
Price-limited service offered for the first six visits, required every six months or 10,000 km.
It’s a shame that owners have to visit the dealership twice a year, especially considering the fact that van drivers often depend on their vehicles to get to work. Each service is limited to $260.
CarExpert tests Toyota HiAce
HiAce is selling well for a reason.
It has been improved, safe and practical; the addition of barn doors just makes it so.
While the death of the V6 petrol engine and exterior color options have narrowed the range, the turbocharged diesel is a smarter choice for most operators and better tuned to the HiAce than the other models. competitors only have diesel engines.
Problem? A six-month maintenance period is too short for private owners, let alone professional operators who depend on their vehicles for money. That’s the only real devastation for a very capable van.
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THAN: Everything Toyota HiAce
