Toyota Hiace road test reports and car reviews

Toyota Hiace 95 d4d 2007

I have had this van since 2007 it has done a very hard 117000 miles since being with me and it has never missed a beat. It has been serviced every 10,000 miles and has not broken down once. The engine is very strong it doesn’t do too bad with mpg either. Now for the bits I find let the van down a little: The noise from the outside when travelling at motorway speeds is quite loud and I sometimes find it difficult to hear the hands free for my mobile phone unless i slow down to 55 mph; The seats get little bit uncomfortable if on a very long journey as I liked to have my legs stretched and the rear of the seat tipped quite far back. If you don’t have any weight in the back when the roads are snowy or icy it tends to get a bit frisky or will struggle to manage even the slightest incline, which can be very frustrating. And finally I think it could do with a larger fuel tank as they only have a 60l capacity. All in all This has been a very reliable strong workhorse and I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone (With a set of snow chains handy). If maintained and serviced regulary you will end up with a very reliable van.

Toyota Hiace d4d 2002

I bought this van 8 years ago new and have had no problems whatsoever. I’ve done 100,000 miles and it’s as good now as the day it was made. I personally would not buy any other type of van. PERFECT.

Toyota Hiace 1997

I’ve had my powervan nearly 8 years - easy to service myself. The bodywork is unmarked, you won’t find many other vans as strong. The van in front is definailey a Toyota.

Toyota Hiace 2007

I owned two Vaxuhalls and have had no end of problems with them, then after a lot of reseach I decided to buy a Toyota Hiace. After nearly three years and 45,000 miles it has been faultless. Since buying mine I have met someone who has done 125,000 miles in his and he has never had a single problem, I dont understand why Hiaces aren’t more popular?

Toyota Hiace 2003

I have had this toyota 2003 model for 2 years now, have never had no problems and the only money I have ever spent on this van is servicing. A great work horse that never lets you down and great for pulling heavy loads and Very reliable. Now days when driving a van we expect what we get in a car and the new toyota does this. I am not trying to make this out to be the perfect van but if you want to go to work every day and want reliability choose a toyota hiace. Thanks.

Toyota Hiace 2.5 D4D 2004

I bought this van in July 2005, had been on the dealers forecourt for 6 months as a pre-registered vehicle since December 2004. I had never had a van before, so nothing to compare it against. My views are this: In 94,000 miles from new until I part exchanged it in March this year, it was serviced on schedule, and nothing, and I mean nothing, ever went wrong with it, not even a blown light-bulb!! The only modification I made to it was to supplement the horrible tinny speakers with some nice after-market boxed ones I placed under the seats. This was the GS-Extra version, so had aircon, but not heated mirrors etc. Fuel consumption was probably average only 25/27 mpg, but I don’t like to dawdle so could possibly achieve 30+ Possibly being in the market for a new van again, I have been looking at the reveiws/forums etc for other models. Certainly better looking models with higher spec are available, but this ugly duckling was a fantastic workhorse ! No, I have no connection with Toyota whatsoever, but my research has lead me to the conclusion that for reliability, there is no other choice than a Toyota Van, hope this helps some of you to make up your mind.

Responses to this review

I think it has sir, thanks - Steve Wilson from Essex

Toyota Hiace 280GS 2003

Over 300,000 miles and the most expensive thing I spent over servicing has been a suspension bush £90, wheel bearing £50, and windscreen excess of £80! Even has original clutch. AMAZING VEHICLE that owes me nothing - in fact every morning I go down on my knees in front of it and pay homage. Unfortunately, as a taxi it has to have two doors and new UK Hiace has only one. Even asked my dealer to get one posted from Japan but they won’t/can’t do it. I look at the 3-star rating of the other makes and blanche as I have to change it by local law after 8 years. It 25 years times it will still be going - probably around the jungle in Bolivia, painted a hundred colours with no windows and chickens on the roof - but it will still be going!

Toyota Hiace 2.4 D powervan 1996

I am the 3rd owner, bought it with 78k miles 8yrs ago. It now has 180k. I do basic servicing every year (filters, lubes and belts) when due. The only mechanical parts I’ve had to change are: glow plugs, water pump and starter motor... Wow what can I say? It’s been an absolute dream... however my dilema is that I need a bigger van... Toyota don’t do the size i require... so, can anyone help? Which manufacturer do I switch to? Gutted to leave toyota :(

Responses to this review

Get yourself a Renault Master. They are bullet proof. Comfortable and reliable - Shane Gallagher from Northern Ireland

Keep it, get a tow-bar - Paul Rugman from Gloucestershire

No, you should never buy a Renault or Opel van. I’ve just got rid of my Opel Vivaro. It was great to drive, had the perfect interior but very unreliable with tons of problems: Generator, breaks, turbo, steering, and only after 100,000 miles the whole gear shift needed to be changed costing me 1500 euros by replacing with used parts from ebay, new pars would have cost 4000 the dealer said. That is why I am thinking of buying Toyota. Reviews about Ford Transit are also pretty bad unfortunately. That’s my story - Alpar Benko from England

I would like to buy your old Toyota - Evans Onyeagwara from London

Toyota Hiace Commuter 2005

Hi, I am actually in Adelaide South Australia and put Ireland because Id like to go there one day... Anyway, I have had 2 Toyota Hiace Commuters, an 89 and a 95 model, total owning time about 8 years, the 89 model had 166,000 km and the only repair was a starter motor and normal services that I had done once each year... the 95 model had done 760,000 km and same story except no repairs just the yearly services, both vans NEVER broke down and I have now changed to a Mercedes Vito and it has broken down 3 times in 18 months, done about 260,000 km and cost me about 5000 dollars in repairs. I must be lucky but I am definitely changing back to a Toyota as soon as I can. Why wasn’t someone there to stop me from making this very expensive mistake buying a non Toyota van? It didn’t help being ripped off by the dealer when we bought the Vito, It was even from an Australian Mercedes van dealer and they were real F#%*@ so and so’s. Go Toyota!