While the HiAce offers standard double sliding doors at its size, it has only offered rear doors that lift up at the rear since the HiAce SBV was discontinued in 2003. That's not ideal if you need to back up to a raised loading dock, or want to load the van using a forklift.
The lack of warehouse doors has not been an obstacle to sales since the launch of the newest car. It was Australia's best-selling mid-size van in 2020 and 2021 and retained that title in 2022 with a market share of 37.9 percent.
It may not be sexy, but the HiAce remains a mainstay in the van world.
Out of the barn doors, there are no changes to the HiAce for 2023. It features turbo-diesel power as standard – the V6 was discontinued due to limited customer demand – and is available in any color as long as white.
Everything good since its launch remains good in 2023.
The HiAce range now starts at $46,360 before on-road costs for a liftback model with a manual transmission, jumping to $48,360 before on-roads for a liftback with an automatic transmission.
Choosing the Barn Door option adds $750 to the price tag, meaning our tester will set you back $49,110 before the trip.
That's on par with the Ford Transit Custom 340L LWB Auto ($52,390), Renault Trafic Pro LWB auto ($52,200), and Hyundai Staria Load Premium van ($51,240).
Price of Toyota HiAce 2023: van
Toyota HiAce LWB Van 6MT: $46,360
Toyota HiAce LWB Van 6AT: $48,360
Toyota HiAce LWB Panel Van 6AT: $48,360
Toyota HiAce LWB GL Van 6AT: $49,360
Toyota HiAce LWB 6AT Crew Van: $51,360
Toyota HiAce SLWB Van 6AT: $56,920
Barn door
Toyota HiAce LWB 6AT Barn Door Van: $49,110
Toyota HiAce LWB Van 6AT Barn Door Panel: $49,110
Toyota HiAce LWB GL Van 6AT Barn Door: $50,110
Toyota HiAce SLWB 6AT Barn Door Van: $57,670
Before we talk about passengers, let's talk about cargo space.
The LWB model tested here measures 5,265 mm long, 1,950 mm wide, and 1,990 mm high, with a wheelbase of 3,120 mm.
With a cargo hold that is 2530mm long, 1760mm wide (between the arches is 1268mm), and 1340mm high, the LWB has 6.2m 3 of space in its cargo hold, compared to 9.3m 3 in the SLWB.
Metal floors, wooden wall trim, and a lack of a cargo divider make the HiAce feel a bit bare, but it's worth noting that owners will soon be delving into accessory catalogs to get their van ready for whatever job they throw at it.
Access via the barn door is excellent, as you would expect. You'll have to use a manual kickstand to lock it into place properly at 90 degrees in tight spaces, but it will hold up when opened to a maximum of 180 degrees.
Even though it's a bit bare, the HiAce is a comfortable place to spend time. There's plenty of adjustment on the steering wheel, the seat slides far enough to accommodate long legs, and the seat cushion finds a balance between comfort and support.
Visibility through the windshield is good, but the stubby little bonnet is hard to see through making getting the van into tight spaces more difficult than on older models with vertical front ends. Of course, this time your feet are not in the crumple zone.
The stand-up dashboard is simple but has everything the average trader needs. There are three cupholders on the dashboard. There's a large storage bin between the seats here, which wasn't the case on the manual model we drove in 2020.
It has a usable flat top and rubber space for your feet. Not only does it allow you to store items, but it also provides a flat space for signing documents or handling documents while traveling.
Toyota's infotainment technology is serviceable but is gradually being replaced by systems with sharper graphics and quicker responses.
Factory satellite navigation is useful for drivers making deliveries outside the range of cellular reception.
Having Apple CarPlay and Android Auto addresses some of the infotainment system's shortcomings, although it's not wireless like it is on newer Toyota products.
It worked perfectly during our time in the car and offered much easier access to phone-quality entertainment, phone calls, and mapping.
What's under the hood?
The 2023 Toyota Hiace is powered by a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine producing 130kW of power and 450Nm of torque with the six-speed automatic transmission fitted to our tester.
Opting for a six-speed manual entry drops torque output to 420Nm.
The 2023 Toyota HiAce uses a claimed 8.2L/100km in LWB auto form, but we saw 11.2 liters per 100km in a week heavily skewed towards city driving.
The fuel tank holds 70 liters.
How does the Toyota Hiace drive?
The turbo-diesel engine in the HiAce is also shared with the HiLux ute and produces plenty of torque at low speeds.
Compared to the manual we drove in 2020, the automatic model has 30Nm more torque. It doesn't feel faster without a load, but every extra turn helps when you're carrying a heavy load.
Without a load, the HiAce drives easily. The automatic transmission shifts smoothly through the ratios, generally keeping revs below 3000rpm to save fuel and keep the cabin quiet.
There's a decent diesel clatter when you lean on the throttle, but it's very smooth and quiet when cruising. Even with a load inside it still feels strong, despite its weight of 2,200kg and the fact that the same engine in the HiLux returns 20kW and 50Nm.
However, where the HiLux ute lacks stop/start, it comes in the HiAce which is a win if you spend a lot of time at a standstill. It's easily turned off if you don't like it.
Our tester was bog standard, meaning there was no divider between the load space and the cabin. This means the cabin is very resonant, and all sounds from the normally muffled driveline can be heard right through to the floor.
This is not a problem for owners who install a cab divider, and road noise is still tolerable at 100km/h without a cab divider. My passengers and I were able to chat without raising our voices, and phone calls were still possible without much difficulty.
With a long wheelbase and wide track, the HiAce feels right on the road. It doesn't get knocked around by strong winds, and the steering is precise enough to inspire confidence through corners.
Combined with cruise control (although not adaptive), the stable feel means covering miles more happily than its predecessor could.
Unfortunately, the lane-keeping assistance is too much. Instead of steering you back between the white lines, it brakes when it detects you're drifting. It's simpler than the steering assist offered elsewhere in Toyota's lineup, and it feels very abrupt behind the wheel.
The bigger body of the new HiAce makes itself known in the city. The old model was easy to drive because the driver sat at the front. At 1950 mm wide, the new model is also 355 mm wider than the car it replaces.
With a widescreen display at the front, large rearview mirrors, and a strategic driving position, you can still take the HiAce across town with relative ease. The light steering makes maneuvering through side streets or narrow loading docks easy, and the reversing camera is good enough to be useful if you're trying to line up a trailer.
The turning circle is excellent, considering the size of the vehicle. You'd be surprised at how often a U-turn is enough when a three-point roll may be necessary.
What do you get?
All HiAce models can accommodate two passengers, except the Crew Van which can accommodate five people, and the Commuter which can accommodate 12 people.
New for the 2023 model year is a rear barn door option that replaces the single rear door with a pair of vertically split doors, which on LWB models feature dual rear wipers.
HiAce Highlights:
16-inch steel wheels
Full-size spare wheel
8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
Wired Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
Bluetooth
DAB+ digital radio
Satellite navigation
4.2-inch instrument cluster display screen
Front USB port
Cruise control
The steering wheel is leather accented
Driver-powered lumbar support
Is Toyota Hiace safe?
The last HiAce wasn't known for its crash safety, but the new HiAce has been launched to change that.
The vehicle received a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on tests conducted in 2019. The vehicle scored 94 percent for adult occupant protection, 88 percent for child occupant protection, 84 percent for vulnerable road user protection, and 77 percent for assistance safety.
Standard safety equipment includes:
Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
Pedestrian detection (day/night)
Cyclist detection (day)
Blind-spot monitoring
Lane departure warning
Lane still helps
Rear cross-traffic alert
Automatic high beam
Introduction to traffic signs
Reversing camera
Front and rear parking sensors
The majority of the 2023 Toyota Hiace range has seven airbags, apart from the LWB Crew Van which has nine airbags. Commuters have three.
The HiAce lineup also receives 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 collision “requiring intervention” or if an airbag deploys.
The e-call function can also be triggered manually via the SOS button in the cabin.
