Toyota Hiace

The Toyota Hiace is a motor vehicle produced by the Japanese manufacturer Toyota. First launched in 1967, the Hiace has since been available in a wide range of configurations, including minivan (MPV) and minibus, van, pick-up, taxi, ambulance and motorhome. Its traditional competitors are the Volkswagen Transporter and Nissan Homy.

First generation

Introduced in 1967, the Hiace was offered as cab-over pick-up, delivery van, and commuter vehicle. It was also called the Hiace Commercial in camper van configuration.

The Hiace is a rare model these days mostly because of weather wear and rust. Hiace vans originally sold on the European market have largely been exported to Africa where they are used as public transport vehicles.

Second generation

The new Hiace of 1977 featured a more streamlined cab with single headlights. In addition to the petrol engine, a 2.2 litre diesel engine was offered in certain markets. New for the "20-40 series" Hiace was a double-cab pick-up, super-long-wheelbase van, and a high-roof Commuter.

After the third generation was released in 1982, certain variants of the second generation continued to be manufactured for several years.

Third generation

A new Hiace van was launched in 1982, with the Hiace pickup truck coming later. The cab design was common to the bigger Toyoace light truck, though it had different frontal styling.

The van's model number contains various wheelbase specification information: 50 series vans have short wheelbases, 60 series have long, and 70 series have super long. The pick-up trucks are 80 and 90-series. The Toyota Mobile Lounge, displayed at the 1987 Tokyo Motor Show, is based on the Hiace high-roof Commuter. While the van and Commuter were redesigned in 1989, the pick-up lasted until mid-1990s. This was the last Hiace pick-up.

Fourth generation

The fourth generation model appeared in 1989 and was available in standard wheelbase and long wheelbase variants; a Grand Cabin; standard wheelbase and long wheelbase van; long wheelbase and super long wheelbase high roof van. The latter shares a body design with the Commuter, which is a 15 seat minibus.

A range of engines were available in the 4th generation vehicles, ranging from 2 litre petrol engines to 3 litre turbo diesel engines. Most versions are rear-wheel drive, but part time or full time four-wheel drive versions were sold depending on specification level and market. The base model is typically the DX. Upmarket versions included CD, GL, and super GL models.

In the Philippines, the Hiace was first sold in 1995 with a diesel engine, getting revamped in 1997 as it went from business status to family van status. In 1999, the Hiace Grandia and 2.0 GL gasoline Hiace variants were launched, as well as the Hiace Commuter, a Hiace meant for business, and the Hiace was facelifted again in that year. In early 2001, the top-of-the-line 3.0 diesel Hiace Super Grandia was launched. All came with a standard 5-speed manual transmission. These variants were all sold until early 2005, with the next generation being launched in June of that same year. A special edition Hiace Super Grandia J (Japan edition) was also sold together with the RAV4 J and Revo J from 2002-2003.

Granvia / Hiace SBV / "European" Hiace

Launched for Japanese market only in 1995, the Granvia is a semi-bonneted van, with the front wheels positioned in front of the front seats for better safety. The engine for Granvia is either a 2.4 L or 3.0 L diesel, or 3.4 L petrol. The Granvia spawned into the upmarket multi-purpose vehicles the Hiace Regius, the Grand Hiace and the Touring Hiace. In Australia, the Granvia was sold as the Hiace SBV with a 1.8L 7K-E motor, alongside the fourth generation Hiace, and both were replaced by the new fifth Generation Hiace.

The Granvia, Grand Hiace, and Touring Hiace are upmarket passenger vans only.

The Hiace SBV sold in Australia (from 1999 to 2005) was designated RCH22R and was available only with 2.4 litre 2RZ-E petrol engine developing 88 Kw @ 4800 rpm and 200 Nm @ 3600 rpm and 5 speed manual transmission. The smaller SBV Townace was powered by a 1.8 litre petrol engine.

LiteAce, launched in 1985

The Hiace was launched in the United Kingdom in 1983 and was based on the Space Cruiser MPV. Engines available were a 1.8 L or 2.0 L petrol and a 2.0 L diesel.

The European Hiace van was introduced in 1995 with a 2.4 litre normally aspirated diesel or 2.7 petrol engine. In 2000 a 2.5 L "D-4D" engine, offering 88 bhp (66 kW) or 102 bhp (76 kW), was offered (shared with Dyna and Hilux models). In 2006, the power outputs were increased to 95 bhp (70 kilowatts) and 117 bhp (82 kW) respectively with the introduction of a new face-lifted model. Short- and long-wheelbase models were available, with the choice of a single or double rear doors. Double sliding doors were also an option, as was a high roof. It is estimated there are over 365,000 Hiace vehicles on the road across Europe and around 15,000 new Hiace models are sold every year.

Fifth generation

The fifth generation Hiace appeared in 2005 as a wide long-wheelbase wagon, wide super-long-wheelbase high-roof "Grand Cabin", long-wheelbase van, long-wheelbase high-roof van and a wide super-long-wheelbase high-roof van. In this generation the gear stick has been moved to the dash-board to enable easier movement in the cabin. Five speed manual and four speed automatic transmissions are available.

All of the models use a 4-cylinder DOHC engine, in a variety of forms, a 1TR-FE 2000 cc or 2TR-FE 2700 cc petrol engine or a 2KD-FTV 2500 cc or 1KD-FTV 3000 cc D-4D turbo diesel engine.

Two of these engines are available in Malaysia, the 2.5 L turbo diesel, offered in a choice of panel van or window van; and the 2.7 L petrol, that comes only in the window van option.

The fifth generation Hiace was launched in the Philippines on June 13, 2005, with D-4D variants, 2.5 diesel and GL Grandia, both with manual transmission. In 2006, the new top-of-the-line Hiace Super Grandia was launched, being the first ever Hiace in the Philippines with a standard automatic transmission.

The 2.5 and 3.0 litre turbo diesel engines have a maximum output of 75 kW at 3600 rpm and 80 kW at 3000 rpm respectively and maximum torque of 260 Nm at 1600-2400 rpm and 286Nm at 1200-1600 rpm respectively. The 2.7 L petrol engine has a maximum output of 111 kW at 4800 rpm and a maximum torque of 241 Nm at 3800 rpm.

Currently on Japan's list of the most commonly stolen vehicles the Hiace currently resides at #1. Because of a lack of a theft immobilizer, it is fairly easy to steal a Hiace, as opposed to much more valuable SUVs and sports cars, which have very technical theft deterent systems.

Hiace are also popular forms of transportation used by members of the entertainment business in Hong Kong.

In popular culture

The pre-facelift fourth-generation Hiace appears regularly as a civilian vehicle in the video game The Getaway.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} "Toyota Vehicle Identification Manual", Toyota Motor Corporation, Overseas Parts Department, Catalog No.97913-84, 1984, Japan
2. ^ http://www.jiangnanauto.com/product_en.asp?action=productList&AlbumClass=1 JiangNan JNQ6495
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f} "TOYOTA HIACE KDH200R LWB". www.carsales.com.au. http://www.carsales.com.au/car-research/details.aspx?Model=HIACE&__Nne=20&__N=4294962861%204294962534%20281&seot=20&silo=1005&Make=TOYOTA&Cr=0&__sid=10FAEAD77EFD&R=cs20050311.08:19:23&__Ns=pCar_YearMade_Int32%7C1%7C%7CpCar_Make_String%7C0%7C%7CpCar_Model_String%7C0&__No=20&trecs=60. Retrieved January 17, 2007.
4. ^ ^{a b c d e f} "TOYOTA HIACE TRH201R LWB". www.carsales.com.au. http://www.carsales.com.au/car-research/details.aspx?Model=HIACE&__Nne=20&__sid=10FAEAD77EFD&seot=20&__N=4294962861%204294962534%20281&silo=1005&Make=TOYOTA&Cr=0&trecs=60&R=cs20061120.09:12:02&__Ns=pCar_YearMade_Int32%7C1%7C%7CpCar_Make_String%7C0%7C%7CpCar_Model_String%7C0&__No=0. Retrieved January 17, 2007.

External links

• Hiace Super Custom Owners Forum
• Official Toyota Hiace site - UK (English)
• Toyota worldwide website
• South African Dept. of Transport - Taxi Transformation
• Hiace recalls
• Estima Motoring Community - including a dedicated Hiace Section
• Newlander Coachbuilt Campers built on Hiace
• (French) Toyota Hiace, from Toyota Tunisia

Categories: Toyota vehicles | Buses | Minivans | Vans | Pickup trucks