Toyota is facing stronger competition in the VFACTS van segment than it has in years. The company's perennial champ, the HiAce, is losing substantial market share to the Hyundai iLoad, so an upgraded model couldn't come soon enough.
That update has now arrived and provides buyers with plenty of reasons to reconsider the HiAce for their next purchase. There's the added power and torque from the 1KD-FTV turbodiesel engine, for a start. Now boasting peak power of 100kW, the engine is 25 per cent more powerful (an extra 20kW) and delivers 14Nm more torque, taking the new figure up to 300Nm.
Combined with changes to the diff ratio (raised from 3.909:1 to 3.727:1), the turbodiesel variants are now more frugal -- by as much as seven per cent. Toyota claims that the LWB variant with manual transmission has improved fuel economy to the tune of 8.0L/100km in combined-cycle testing -- versus 8.6L/100km previously. CO2 emissions are also reduced; a 15-gram improvement from 225 to 210g/km for this particular variant.
All HiAce models add standard ABS to the equipment list as part of the upgrade. A minor facelift distinguishes the upgraded van from its predecessor and principally consists of changes to the frontal styling (new grille, headlights and front bumper). Inside the HiAce, Toyota has specified Dark Grey interior trim in lieu of the previous Grey. The instrument binnacle has been restyled and automatic variants gain a revised bezel for the shift lever. Finally, buyers of the HiAce Commuter can now opt for an automatic door closer for the sliding door.
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