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2008 Toyota Hiace reviews

Toyota Hiace reviews by year of make: 1953  1990  1994  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008  2009  2010  2011  Read all reviews

Paul Wilson, Lancashire

Toyota Hiace 300 95hp 2008

5 star review

 

I bought my van 18 months old with 43k miles from a Toyota dealer who had used it from new as their parts delivery van. I had it lined and insulated to soundproof it and then shelved it myself. I am a self employed builder and have only driven it 8,000m in 2 years but I love it. I bought it after reading other reviews here at the time and poor reviews on Transits, Vivaro’s and VW etc. I also spoke to several owners who all had much praise for their vans. I have only had one problem which was a sticking brake cylinder due to water ingress/corrosion which my brother fixed for me. Yes they are basic but I believe they are the best van on the road. I need the long wheelbase and can get in 8’ x 4’ sheets of ply & plasterboard etc, 3m lengths of pipe & timber on an angle and even my 2.5m triple extension ladders (The SWB wont do that). The 95hp engine is plenty powerful enough and I have a 1.3 GVW trailer it tows easily. Fuel consumption averages 27/28 mpg. The best I got was 33mpg when empty and before I had it lined and insulated etc. and the worst mpg was 23 in winter but short journeys and some towing etc. I always have it full of tools and equipment. The biggest fault is it doesn’t like the snow. I couldn’t move in the deep snow the last couple of winters. However, I am very pleased and intend to keep the van for many years to come.

I bought my van 18 months old with 43k miles from a Toyota dealer who had used it from new as their parts delivery van. I had it lined and insulated to soundproof it and then shelved it myself. I am a self employed builder and have only driven it 8,000m in 2 years but I love it. I bought it after reading other reviews here at the time and poor reviews on Transits, Vivaro’s and VW etc. I also spoke to several owners who all had much praise for their vans. I have only had one problem, which was a sticking brake cylinder due to water ingress/corrosion, which my brother fixed for me. Yes they are basic but I believe they are the best van on the road. I need the long wheelbase and can get in 8’ x 4’ sheets of ply & plasterboard etc, 3m lengths of pipe & timber on an angle and even my 2.5m triple extension ladders (The SWB wont do that). The 95hp engine is plenty powerful enough and I have a 1.3 GVW trailer it tows easily. Fuel consumption averages 27/28 mpg. The best I got was 33mpg when empty and before I had it lined and insulated etc. and the worst mpg was 23 in winter but short journeys and some towing etc. I always have it full of tools and equipment. The biggest fault is it doesn’t like the snow. I couldn’t move in the deep snow the last couple of winters. However, I am very pleased and intend to keep the van for many years to come.

 

Submitted: 22/12/2011 10:19:55

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Andy Singh, Scotland

Toyota Hiace 2008

5 star review

I’m now on my third Hiace. I get 40mpg and it drives and handles like a car. My previous Hiace was a 1997 2.4d with 280k on the clock, which was scrapped because it needed new parts that would have cost £250. I got £350 from the scrappy! The engine was still pulling at 90mph. Having tried the lot I would bet £100million that no country can beat the Japanese in build quality.

Submitted: 14/12/2011 10:01:27

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Ray Kellet, Lancashire

Toyota Hiace 120 300 2008

5 star review

Third Hiace I’ve had, the dogs for me. Ok basic, but all you need. Starts every time, minus 15 last year, no problem. I had a petrol Hiace 1989 , sold it with 189000 on clock, met chap who bought it some years later (about 4 years) it had 253000 on the clock and was still running well. Really, no bull! VW Merc and the rest don’t compare.

Submitted: 16/05/2011 10:41:13

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Fred Philips, Yorkshire

Toyota Hiace SWB 2008

5 star review

Having read the reports on this site about the problems with rusty Mercs, the new Transits, and the problems the rest of the vans that you all have reported; I have bought a 08 just in waranty Toyota Hiace. Took it to main dealer for free 2hr check up before it turns 60K and 3yrs. Came out with glowing colours. I drive like the old man that I am and it returns 42mpg !!!! That’s tank top up to top up. No motorways or long journeys not loaded up. Will report any problems But thanks you all for your comments helped me decide.

Submitted: 01/03/2011 19:41:41

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Richard , Australia

Toyota Hiace 2008

1 star review

Since day 1 the clutch has been too aggresive, unless my gear changes are spot on it slips or grabs badly. I have done 62,000 km now and find I have to feather out the clutch or I have the rear of the van hopping down the road. l have driven for over 35 years and have never experienced anything like that. Reversing is a waste of time, any slight incline and the clutch starts burning, that has happened from day 1. I have reported it several times to my dealership and have been told that it is fine. I don’t bother now, the time I spent with the van in to be fixed cost me more than replacing the clutch. The ride is too rough, the Sydney roads are not the best, but at the end of the day I can’t wait to get out of it. I have the petrol motor, great power at high revs, hopeless at low revs. I carry a few hunrded kilos and with a hill start it is struggling. I try keeping it in a straight line at 100 kph with a slight side wind, no way. With wind gusts it is dangerous, being blown all over the road. The rear diff puts all the power to one wheel too readily. Going around a roundabout in wet weather you have to crawl otherwise the rear wheel is spinning; you guessed it. I think this is a poor vehicle, well made but dreadful to drive. l have had Land Cruisers and earlier Hiace’s but this current bodied Hiace is rubbish.

Submitted: 22/06/2010 14:34:18

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Marc Binnie, Angus (Forfarshire)

Toyota Hiace All models since 1996 2008

5 star review

I’ve worked in the Toyota dealer network for over 10 years now, recently coming away from that to try other things, I’ve run and worked on many of these vans, some with more miles than the enterprise, more hits than the Beatles but still they keep going!! in 10 years I’ve seen one gearbox bearing fail, 2 injection pumps fail, a handful of water pumps, a few vacuum hoses, one coil spring and one exhaust silencer bracket break. most of these failed under warranty. the Hiace can sometimes be a bit sluggish when loaded up, and fuel economy isn’t great. one bad point on these vans is the top arms, the upper ball joint wears, and depending on where the MOT is done it will fail, repair bill is about £600 quid, but only usually needs done once in around 130k miles, a remarkably van, tried and tested and just as tough as a Hilux!

Submitted: 24/09/2008 10:38:44

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