Toyota’s new Hiace will be available in emerging markets but not the US, Europe or Japan
Toyota has unveiled the new, specially designed for emerging markets, Hiace in Philippines, in two bodystyles and a range of interior layouts to cover the needs of both professional and personal users.
The new generation Toyota Hiace features a longer (+570mm) and wider body (+255mm) than its predecessor, as well as a longer wheelbase (+640mm) in its base spec.
Based on a revised platform, “based on the design ideas of the TNGA” according to Toyota, the new Hiace is more rigid and offers better comfort, quietness and safety than the model it replaces.
The range includes the option between Normal/Standard Roof and Long/High Roof, as well as multiple interior layouts that can carry up to 17 people in ‘Commuter’ spec. Van versions provide enough storage space for pallets from any country or region while safety equipment includes the Toyota Safety Sense bundle of active driver assistance systems as standard, with Toyota expecting performance “equivalent to five stars in the Euro NCAP” .
Toyota plans to launch the new Hiace first in Philippines and then gradually introduce it in other countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Oceania, Mexico and Latin America. The current generation Hiace model will continue to be sold in Japan as-is, with Toyota citing “different local market conditions”.
Customers of the new generation Toyota Hiace will get to choose between a 2.8-liter 1GD diesel engine and the 3.5-liter 7GR petrol engine, with both manual and automatic transmissions.
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