Toyota tweaks HiAce

TOYOTA has released an upgraded HiAce van range with a more powerful yet more economical diesel engine, ABS brakes as standard across the range and a bunch of interior and exterior cosmetic updates.

However, while the entry-level LWB 2.7-litre petrol manual version of Australia’s most popular van is now priced $650 lower at $33,890, it misses out on the 25 per cent peak power output offered by the 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine fitted to other models, which go up in price.

The recalibrated 1KD-FTV diesel engine available in the HiAce Long Wheelbase (LWB), Super-Long Wheelbase (SLWB) and Commuter Bus now delivers 100kW (up from 80kw) at 3400rpm and 300Nm of torque (up from 286Nm) from 1200rpm.

Matched with a taller final drive ratio (3.727:1 versus 3.909:1) to make use of the extra engine performance, the diesel HiAce is now up to seven per cent more efficient.

The HiAce 3.0 TD LWB manual now returns ADR 81/02 fuel consumption of 8.0L/100km and emits 210g/km of CO2 (previously 8.6L/100km and 225g/km), but is also $350 more expensive at $37,690.

At the top end of the range, the SLWB Commuter Bus is $350 more expensive in petrol guise ($52,940 manual) and $1150 pricier as a diesel ($56,540 manual), while both the SLWB petrol and diesel vans are $350 more expensive at a respective $39,890 and $42,690 (manual).

The HiAce Commuter Bus also comes with the new option of an Auto Door closer for the side sliding door, priced at $900.

All HiAces come with a new front bumper, grille and headlights, while the interior trim colour changes from grey to dark grey, the instrument dials are updated and, on automatic models, there’s a fresh gearshift bezel.

Sales of the HiAce, which recently passed the quarter-million sales mark in Australia, are down more than five per cent so far in 2010, as Hyundai’s iLoad (up 85 per cent) and Volkswagen’s Transporter (up 36 per cent) experience a popularity boom.

The HiAce’s share of Australia’s commercial van market has slipped to 32.9 per cent this year, while 26.5 per cent of all vans sold were iLoads – up from 14.4 per cent to September 2009.

2011 Toyota HiAce pricing:
2.7 petrol LWB van	$33,890
2.7 petrol LWB van (a)	$36,390
3.0 diesel LWB van	$37,690
3.0 diesel LWB van (a)	$40,190
2.7 petrol SLWB van	$39,890
2.7 petrol SLWB van (a)	$42,390
3.0 diesel SLWB van	$42,690
3.0 diesel SLWB van (a)	$45,190
2.7 petrol SLWB bus	$52,940
2.7 petrol SLWB bus (a)	$55,440
3.0 diesel SLWB bus	$56,540
3.0 dieselSLWB bus (a)	$59,040