Toyota HiAce LWB 2025 Review 

When it comes to sales-chart success, few vehicles command the market like the Toyota HiAce – but change doesn’t come for free.

The updated range now costs $2994 more across the board, largely due to significant upgrades in safety tech and infotainment, which we’ll dig into.

Essentially, all that results in a $54,630 sticker before on-road costs (ORCs) for the 2025 Toyota HiAce LWB Barn Door we’re testing in our review.

If you didn’t know, the acronym stands for Long Wheelbase – despite it being the shorter version – while there’s also a Super Long Wheelbase (SLWB).

Aside from the choice of wheelbase, buyers can opt for crew or cargo van configurations, all powered exclusively by a turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine following the discontinuation of the petrol V6.

Rear-wheel drive is the sole driveline arrangement; however, you can choose between a six-speed manual (base LWB only) or automatic transmission.

The barn-door style tailgate was introduced in 2022 and adds $750 to the total cost of our test van.

The LWB Crew Van, which adds some rear seats and side windows – but without barn doors – can be purchased for $56,880 plus ORCs.

Natural competition for the HiAce in the Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) segment includes: the perennial Ford Transit, the Hyundai Staria Load, and the LDV Deliver 7.

Being a workhorse, don’t expect too many luxuries. Still, the 2025 Toyota HiAce LWB Barn Door isn’t totally deprived of features.

Externally, the commercial van runs 16-inch steel wheels with covers, a full-size spare wheel, dual sliding doors (one for each side), dusk-sensing headlights with auto high beam, and variable intermittent wipers – but no auto function.

You can paint your HiAce any colour you like – as long as it’s white. Well, French Vanilla to be exact.

The hard-wearing black mirror covers are another subtle nod to the 2025 update.

If you’re looking for something a bit fancier, a circa $1000 option pack jazzes up the aesthetics with body-coloured bumpers and door handles, front fog lights, and digital rearview mirror (or $1798 if you include this with the barn doors).

Inside, the basic-is-best theme plays out via manual climate controls with oversized dials, fabric seat upholstery and rubber floor mats. Although, there is some ‘luxe’ appeal over the leather-wrapped, multi-function steering wheel and electric lumbar support for the driver.

Accessories are plentiful, so you can add in myriad bits and bobs like a tow bar, roof racks, rubber mats, and interior ladder racks to keep gear dry. Add panel protection, nudge bars, canvas seat covers, air-con partitions, and weather shields for a setup that’s as rugged as it is practical.

Warranty-wise, the HiAce offers five years or 160,000km of cover.

The catch? Servicing every six months or 10,000km – shorter than most rivals – and it’ll set you back $3263 over 4.5 years.

Not the cheapest deal going.

One of the biggest changes for the 2025 Toyota HiAce LWB Barn Door is the transition to electric power steering.

This update brings more advanced Toyota Safety Sense features, including lane departure warning with active steering assistance.

The upgrades don’t stop there: safe exit assist, intelligent adaptive cruise control, advanced speed sign recognition, and an electronic handbrake. Plus, the airbag count jumps to eight with a front-centre addition to meet today’s safety benchmarks.

The autonomous emergency braking (AEB) hasn’t been left to idle – it now works in junctions, crossings, and head-on situations, and can detect motorbikes, pedestrians, and cyclists. These upgrades join standard features like blind spot monitoring, reversing camera, rear cross-traffic alert, and front and rear parking sensors.

Suffice to say, the 2025 Toyota HiAce LWB recently reaffirmed its five-star ANCAP safety rating. It’s worth noting that the HiAce Commuter and Minibus are unrated.

Sadly, the HiAce continues with halogen headlights instead of clear LED units – far from ideal for night driving.

There’s also no 360-degree camera to assist with reversing, and the base model lacks a bulkhead to stop cargo from entering the cabin in certain situations.

Thankfully, the extra safety kit doesn’t nag you with constant beeps or awkward steering corrections – it’s refreshingly subtle.

A few key upgrades bring the 2025 Toyota HiAce LWB Barn Door up to market-driven modern standards.

The most noteworthy change is a 7.0-inch digital unit replacing the largely analogue instrument cluster. It has clear and informative graphics but lacks customisation.

An 8.0-inch infotainment screen sits high on the dash, retaining a physical volume knob (thankfully) while everything else is touchscreen. It’s classic Toyota in look and feel, but wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are a big win.

While there’s only one USB-A port, the cabin does feature a wireless charge pad, 12-volt outlets, embedded satnav, Bluetooth, and DAB+ digital radio.

The HiAce also includes Toyota Connected Services (TCS), offering stolen vehicle tracking, collision notification, SOS emergency call, and multimedia connect via the myToyota Connect app – though it’s only complimentary for the first year.

There’s nothing too special under the extended snout, but that’s no bad thing as it’s a tried-and-true unit.

Powering the rear axle in the 2025 Toyota HiAce LWB Barn Door is the turbocharged 2.8-litre four-cylinder diesel engine (1GD-FTV) paired with a six-speed automatic for outputs of 130kW/450Nm.

The HiAce misses out on the mild-hybrid tech offered in other Toyota models, but the diesel feels strong and easily handles the van’s two-tonne mass.

The auto transmission does an amicable job – you’ll quickly adapt to the unusual dash-mounted gear lever, though the drivetrain never fully hides its commercial roots and can be quite vocal under heavy acceleration.

Oddly, opting for barn doors rules out the six-speed manual, which also drops torque to 420Nm.

This largely depends on where you drive the 2025 Toyota HiAce LWB Barn Door. And considering it’s likely to be a city-dwelling work van, the news isn’t so bright.

Toyota claims 8.2L/100km combined, but as we found out, you need to leave the CBD and cruise along freeways to get anywhere near that figure.

Even with stop/start active, we managed no better than 10.3L/100km – unloaded. It was higher until an extended highway loop mercifully brought it down.

Our test vehicle was near-new, so figures may improve after a few tanks through its 70-litre diesel capacity.

As a side note, the revised HiAce now uses R1234yf refrigerant for the air-conditioning, cutting its global warming impact compared to standard gases.

The 2025 Toyota HiAce LWB Barn Door is long in name (and reality), it’s also very wide. Yet, once you become familiar with the dimensions, it’s a very easy van to drive and navigate.

It’s comfy, easy to drive and everything just works as it should – a plus for workers spending long hours behind the wheel. While the lack of a bulkhead adds some road noise, the HiAce proved effortless over our 240km test loop.

There’s an honesty to its driving character, with the rear-wheel-drive layout benefiting overall dynamics.

It’s no sports car, but it behaves predictably and without drama.

Our testing was done with no weight in the back, yet the basic MacPherson strut front and live rear axle suspension deliver a ride that’s both comfortable and composed.

Electronically assisted steering not only enables more safety tech but also delivers lighter responses for easy low-speed manoeuvres, while maintaining reassuring weight at higher speeds.

The automatic Barn Door variant also benefits from all-round disc brakes for strong stopping power.

The only ‘downside’ to the handling is that in wet conditions, the rear-drive layout can struggle for purchase, requiring the electronic nannies to intervene.

Arguably, this is where the 2025 Toyota HiAce LWB Barn Door need to shine. 

The addition of centre-split rear doors brings genuine practicality, making loading and unloading easier in tight spaces.

For those requiring access via the back doors, the split system requires less room behind the van than the traditional one-piece tailgate, and it also makes loading items in via a forklift easier. The latter is particularly important since the HiAce can accept a standard Aussie pallet between its wheel arches.

The doors are stopped by a soft lock at 90 degrees but can continue to 180 degrees by manually pushing past that initial point. Unlike some of the segment competition, the HiAce doesn’t allow the doors to extend out against the bodyside.

If you’re after the nitty gritty, the HiAce’s load area can hold 6.2 cubic metres, while the van itself is 5265mm long, 1950mm wide, 1990mm high and rides on a 3210mm wheelbase. The load bay is 1497mm in width and 1340mm in height at the doors. Inside, the official load length is 2530mm, while the width expands to 1760mm (1268mm between the wheel arches).

While the two barn doors expand practicality, they do impede rear visibility.

The sliding side doors on both sides are manual, not electric, and the floor is bare ribbed steel (as mentioned above, you can purchase a rubber mat as an accessory).

There are eight drainage plugs and six tie-down latches in the cargo area as well as some cheap panelling and two lights.

For the LWB Barn Door auto we’re testing the gross vehicle mass is 3300kg, the gross combined mass is 4800kg, and the braked towing capacity is 1500kg.

If you’re expecting plush niceties, you’re barking up the wrong tree.

The 2025 Toyota HiAce LWB Barn Door focuses more on being hardwearing and utilitarian.

Inside, there’s an abundance of hard plastics screwed together to present a fuss-free mobile office that’s easy to use and clean.

A leather steering wheel is the only tactile treat, while the oversize climate control knobs should be a piece of cake to use with gloves on those frigid winter mornings.

Just don’t expect to have a toasty or cooled back and buttocks, as the cloth-covered seats are neither heated nor ventilated.

Electronic lumbar support for the driver is complemented by overhead and A-pillar grab handles, making it easier to climb in and out of the cab from either side.

Storage is decent thanks to the central compartment, forward tray, and lockable glovebox, but a dash-top shelf would have been handy. Likewise, with rearward visibility compromised, a standard digital rearview mirror feels like an obvious upgrade.

The seating position is a beneficiary of the engine’s front-mounted shift, with a more car-like arrangement while still gaining a ‘see-over’ view.

As we’ve said from the outset, popularity doesn’t directly result in a perfect product – and the 2025 Toyota HiAce LWB Barn Door certainly isn’t without fault.

It avoids any major flaws, and with Toyota’s reputation for dependability in Australia, it stands out as a strong choice for workers who rely on their van.

Are there competitors with varying levels of added tech, more features, better powertrains, and nicer cabins?

Yes, but the HiAce ticks a lot of boxes to make it a must have on your commercial van test-drive list.

2025 Toyota HiAce LWB at a glance:
Price:?$54,630 (plus ORCs)
Available:?Now
Powertrain:?turbocharged 2.8-litre four-cylinder diesel engine
Output:?130kW/450Nm
Transmission:?Six-speed automatic
Fuel:?8.2L/100km (ADR combined)
CO2:?214g/km (ADR combined)
Safety rating:?Five-star (ANCAP 2025)

Join the conversation at our Facebook page
Or email us at editor@carsales.com.au