The Toyota Hiace is a vehicle with a great design that has gained worldwide popularity as a first-class commercial vehicle for transporting passengers and small loads. Before the advent of minivans, this type of body, such as a minibus, was dominant. The fourth-generation Toyota Hiace was produced from 1989 to 2004, and is one of the most popular representatives of this class of vehicle. The full-size minibus Toyota Hiace was available in passenger, cargo and cargo versions. Over the years, the car has been repeatedly updated - minor restyling was carried out regularly and affected the exterior and interior design, and the engine line (the working volume and power of diesel and gasoline engines were increased).

Speaking about equipment, relatively expensive in comparison with competitors HiAce for European market (as well as for Russian market) is not equipped with especially rich options, which are found on the Japanese market. In a classical look, even in a comfortable passenger version, it is enough simple trimming of interior panels and fabric upholstery of seats. However, the seats themselves are quite functional, comfortable for long trips. The driver's seat has a longitudinal adjustment and adjustment of the angle of the back, the steering column is adjustable in tilt angle, which allows to comfortably accommodate a person of any height. The design of the rear seats involves their removal to form a roomy luggage compartment. At the same time, HiAce offers quite a sufficient level of comfort: air conditioning, central locking and electric windows (although in the budget version - "knobs" on the doors). In the most comfortable modification the ceiling partition which separates the front driver's area from the interior, there is also an air conditioner control panel which allows the passengers to regulate the temperature inside the cabin.

One common powertrain option is the 3.0-liter 5L diesel engine, based on the previously widely used 2.8-liter 3L diesel. The 5L engine has a larger displacement and a special torque control valve (TCV). This valve is controlled by an electronic control unit (ECU) which receives signals from sensors measuring the temperature of the coolant, atmospheric pressure, engine speed and accelerator pedal stroke. Analysing all these data the ECU provides the right fuel input for maximum power (90 hp) and high fuel efficiency. The HiAce can also be equipped with 2RZ-E gasoline engine - 2.4-liter with an output of 120 hp. It is equipped with Toyota Hiace with 5-speed manual transmission.

The fourth generation of Toyota Hiace has an independent front torsion suspension with twin wishbones. The rear suspension is a dependent leaf spring. As standard, the car gets steel pressed-welded wheels with 195/75 R16 tires. Front brakes are ventilated discs (285 mm diameter), rear brakes are drum. Steering is rack and pinion with booster. The Hiace model range has a wheelbase of 2330 and 2590 mm. The all-wheel drive system in some modifications allows Hiace to move more confidently in difficult road conditions.

This generation for many years of production has been subjected to numerous changes, including those aimed at improving the safety of the model. The truck is gradually getting different electronic "helpers" and means of passive safety. Since 1996, the standard were ABS (Antilock Brake System), driver and front passenger airbags, child safety seat locks. Since 1999, the truck was equipped with seat belts with tensioners and load limiters.

Toyota Hiace is distinguished by high reliability and significant resource, laid in the construction of nodes and units. However, it should be taken into consideration that this model was in great demand from commercial enterprises, a significant number of them were operated as a route cab, so when choosing a used Hiace, it won't hurt to thoroughly check the technical condition.

The all-new Toyota Hiace was unveiled at a special car show in the Philippines in February 2019. In fact, the model is a full-fledged new sixth generation and is radically different from its predecessor. This generation was developed specifically with a view to the foreign market, or to be more precise, to the developing countries of the Third World like Latin America, Oceania, the Middle East and Asia. At home, the model will not be sold. In the show-rooms of domestic dealer centers it appeared in the middle of the summer of that year, but only in a single version. It will not be difficult to distinguish the novelty from the last generation. It received a different type of body, a proven over the years technical component, as well as advanced security systems. If we talk about the passive component, the car gets five stars in Euro NCAP crash-test. Moreover, advanced complex of active safety systems Toyota Safety Sense is offered. It is able to distinguish pedestrians and cyclists, and maintain the distance behind the car ahead in the speed range from 10 to 180 kilometers per hour. The lane-keeping system is able to distinguish not only the white and yellow stripes of the road marking but also to detect the road shoulder and edges. Among other things, the complex includes a camera capable of recognizing a wide range of road signs and duplicating them on the dashboard.

On the domestic market, the Toyota Hiace is only offered in one single version and is a cargo-passenger minivan with thirteen seats. It counts 5915 mm in length, 1950 mm in width, 2280 mm in height and 3860 mm between the wheelsets. Ground clearance in the curb counts about 185 millimeters. The sixth generation of the car is built on a completely new platform, which absorbed the ideology of the newest modular base TNGA. Because of this, the minivan received a half-bonneted layout, which allowed to increase the wheelbase and, as you can see on the diferent car cliparts, make the interior design much more spacious. In this specification, the model has a longitudinal layout of the power unit and a semiindependent suspension. Independent McPherson struts with anti-roll bar are located in the front, and the rear suspension is continuous axle with tie rods and leaf springs.

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

There is only one engine for Toyota Hiace. This is an in-line diesel four 2.8-liter engine with the index 1GD. It has an advanced turbocharging system with variable nozzle and CommonRail fuel supply. As the transmission is offered a classic five-speed manual variable transmission, the drive is exclusively rear. In this version, the minivan is able to reach 150 kilometers per hour and consumes about 8.7 liters of diesel fuel for every hundred kilometers of travel in the mixed cycle. Outside the domestic market, the car is equipped with a much more powerful gasoline unit and even automatic transmissions.

Van Toyota Hiace is equipped with a turbodiesel 2.8, rated at 150 hp. The model is offered in standard and truncated luxury versions.

It is a 13-seater minibus with a manual transmission. The basic configuration "Standard" has two airbags, climate control, additional heater and air conditioner for rear passengers, audio system and light sensor.

Toyota Hiace VIP

The minibus Toyota Hiace VIP has an automatic gearbox, nine-seater interior, modified body design and improved interior trim. This version can be driven with a "passenger" category "B" license.

The car in "Elegance" version is equipped with side airbags and safety curtains, multimedia system, electric drive of side sliding doors, keyless access, rain sensor, cruise control, alloy wheels and LED headlights. Toyota Hiace price in "Prestige Safety" configuration (leather trim, a set of active safety systems, parking sensors, rear-view camera).