2025 Toyota HiAce review

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The best-selling mid-sized van in Australia doesn't need an introduction – it's a reliable choice in its class, and it's driven by a well-known nameplate.

Note: This is a revised version of a review we originally published back in July 2024 – not too much has changed in the past six months, apart from some minor price alterations.

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has been around for a fair dinkum long time, but this barn door version of the popular commercial van has made a comeback after being gone for almost 20 years. It's a ripper, adding some extra functionality to the already versatile Toyota van lineup.

While unchanged for 2025, the vehicle still sports a turbo-diesel drivetrain and can be had in any colour you desire, provided it's French Vanilla.

It's a proven formula, and Toyota's stuck to it. You know what they say – if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

What is the cost of a Toyota HiAce?

The HiAce van is available with a choice of either a single flip-up tailgate or two hinged barn doors, for an additional $750.

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What's the interior of the Toyota HiAce like?

It's a trade van with considerable dimensions, and the inside matches what it's meant to be.

Fair dinkum, the cargo hold's looking a bit sparse due to the metal floor and wood panelling, but just check out the room you've got in there – 6.2 cubic metres of space that's good to go.

There's no upholstery or trim to worry about getting damaged when you're loading and unloading the HiAce, but you can always add some if you want to.

Fair dinkum, owners will probably be delving into the accessories catalogue to give the van a makeover that suits their needs, and Toyota's got a crackin' good range of goodies like an all-weather cargo liner, various cargo barriers, and canvas seat covers.

That makes the HiAce a versatile utility workhorse.

Down the centre of the HiAce's cargo area, there are six big deal eyelets positioned at the front, middle, and back parts of it. You can use these as hard-to-move attachment points for things like pallets so they don't slide into the back of the seats and get broken.

We loaded a full-size dirt bike onto the van for a weekend adventure. The vehicle handled the bike with ease using the tie-down points. As the van can carry a 1075kg payload, the 103kg bike was nothing to worry about.

The capacious floor space in the van will easily accommodate an additional one or two bikes if you get a bit creative with your arrangement, however, the extra space we had allowed us to chuck in a sizeable gear bag, tools, and other gear with heaps of room to spare.

You should know that there wasn't a heap of room between the ceiling and the bike's handlebars, so you had to duck down to pop it in and out. Once it was in, there weren't any fitment issues at all.

Including barn doors on our tester made the process a piece of cake, as access is as easy as you like when they're flung open their full 180-degree span.

They'll happily swing open all the way, but if you've only got need for a half-width opening you'll have to put a strap on each door. The struts are sturdy, and they slide neatly out of the way when not required.

If you need to get into the van from either side, full-height sliders have been included on the whole range. There are also side steps behind each door, but they take up some room in the cargo area up front.

Step inside the front of the HiAce and you'll find a driver's area that's more comfortable than you'd anticipate.

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In line with the van's functional design, the cabin is a bit stripped-back, but the seats are quite comfy, there's heaps of space all around, and it's fitted out with sturdy hard plastic and protective rubber floor mats.

Fair dinkum, the climate control's just like the old Prado's from the late 2000s – you can turn it on and off with a few clicks of the buttons and a twist of the dials. There are heaps of physical controls for the infotainment system and a few extra driver assist features, but the blank buttons scattered around in this HiAce don't really jump out at ya.

The only two screens are for entertainment and information about the vehicle, with the vehicle info screen stuck between the two analogue gauges on the instrument cluster. It shows menus that you can scroll through using the buttons on the steering wheel.

The only real drawback (and it's a small one) is the infotainment system, which is showing its age. You'll just have to remember you can only use Apple CarPlay and Android Auto by plugging your phone into the solitary USB-A port, located underneath the gear selector.

It's still good enough for the average HiAce owner, and the inclusion of built-in satnav is a ripper. At least with age comes heaps of time to sort out teething issues, and the whole system worked like a charm during our week with the car.

In other areas of the vehicle, there are practical storage options available, such as the large glovebox and centre console bin, as well as five cupholders in total – three on the dashboard and two on the back of the centre console.

There are two big, flat areas in the middle of the cabin that are ideal for keeping documents and gear handy when you're on the move. Everything's been thought out sensibly and fits in with what you'd expect in a work van.

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What’s under the bonnet?

The HiAce comes with a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine. Most of the models have a six-speed auto transmission, with a six-speed manual as an option for the base model.

Our fuel economy was only about 2.0 litres less efficient than what Toyota claimed, even though we mostly drove on the highway during our week with the van.

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How does the Toyota HiAce perform on the road?

Our tester was a run-of-the-mill HiAce with no extras, so it was like driving around in a bare-bones vehicle, stripped of anything additional.

Fair dinkum, the roomy cargo area with its metal floor, metal walls, and timber panelling can be a bit echoey when you're moving, and it lets road and drivetrain noise seep inside.

Fair dinkum, it's a bit silly to expect this van to be any different, really. It's been built for a specific job and it does it spot on just the way it is.

The on-road experience has been improved even more than in previous models. In older versions, passengers used to be situated directly over the noisy engine compartment. That's no longer the case, as the engine has been shifted forward and relocated below a small bonnet.

That bonnet also means the HiAce is now safer than it's ever been, as there's a heap of metal between your knees and what you might crash into. It does come at the cost of front visibility when navigating tight spots, but I reckon that's of no big deal if it means you're more likely to survive a collision.

Angled visibility is compromised in this HiAce model, as a lack of windows on the sliding doors means you can't see over your shoulder if you want to do a shoulder check. It does come with a blind-spot monitoring system as standard, but it can be a bit unnerving to rely solely on that feature when changing lanes on the motorway.

Rear windows are included in the Crew Van and Commuter variants, but they're set up for carrying passengers, not like the regular LWB van which is all about shifting gear.

Without all the interior extras and extra glass, our test vehicle is one of the lightest versions across the whole HiAce range. That means its turbo-diesel engine has no trouble getting up to speed.

This thing produces heaps of torque right from low revs, and it won't complain if you've got to take off in a hurry.

Give it a bit of gas at a standstill and you'll notice how it takes off quickly, especially when it's no weight in the back. Even when it's carrying a load, it doesn't dawdle – it just yanks through the rev range.

The HiAce shares its turbo-charger diesel motor with the HiLux ute however it's got a useful engine stop/start feature which helps to conserve fuel if you're stuck in traffic for any period of time. If you don't want to bother with that, there's a button underneath the climate controls to turn it off.

Driving in the HiAce is quite pleasant, as the engine and transmission set-up is silky smooth for a commercial van.

The six-speed gearbox lets you have plenty of options at low speeds, and it also helps the engine chug along at low revs when you're driving on the highway – both of these things save fuel and reduce the rumble of the diesel engine coming into the cabin.

This four-wheeler's big wheelbase and wide stance gives it a stable feel on the road, which combined with its solid and direct steering makes it easy to drive. If you're used to a standard car, you won't take long to get comfortable behind the wheel of the HiAce.

In addition to the blind-spot monitoring function, it includes large side mirrors and rear windows on its barn doors for added visibility. Though it doesn't have adaptive cruise control, the standard cruise function makes it a piece of pie to cruise along on the highway.

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There's a holding-centre strip system to stop you from leaving your lane, but instead of giving you a gentle nudge back on course, it'll grab your attention by hitting the brakes. It's not the end of the world, but it can catch you out, especially if you're on a narrow regional road and need to dodge something like a pothole.

To top it all off, the HiAce is surprisingly easy to handle, with light steering at low speeds and that high driving position making it a cinch to squeeze into tight spots.

It's got a strong turning radius, and the reversing camera makes it a breeze to squeeze into a parking space or hook up to a trailer. All things considered, it’s as suitable for the task as you could reasonably hope for.

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What do you get?

There's a HiAce model that can fit two people, however, some others can hold five or 12 passengers inside.

While opting for the barn doors is a bit more expensive, you do get better access to the HiAce’s cargo area and a rear wiper for each door on the longer models.

* Optional Equipment: push-button central locking and cruise control

• 16-inch steel wheels
• Full-size spare wheel
• 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• (No paraphrasing is required, as it is a proper noun and product names, please let me know if I can assist with anything else)
• Bluetooth
• DAB+ digital radio
• Satellite navigation
• 4.2-inch dashboard display screen
• Front USB port
• Cruise control
• Leather-accented steering wheel
• Driver powered lumbar support

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Is the new Toyota HiAce a safe vehicle?

The HiAce achieved a 5-star ANCAP safety rating following safety assessments undertaken in 2019.

It also achieved a Gold collision avoidance rating (77 per cent) as part of ANCAP's commercial van safety comparison in 2020.

Standard safety equipment includes:

• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane departure warning
• Lane keep assist
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Automatic high-beam
• Traffic sign recognition
• Reversing camera
• Front and rear sensors

Most of the HiAce range, including our model under review, have seven airbags. The exceptions are the LWB Crew Van, which comes equipped with nine, and the Commuter, which is fitted with three.

The range acquired Toyota Connected Services in 2022, which comprises a 24/7 Emergency Call Centre function that conveys the vehicle's location in the event of a crash.

That feature will trigger if the vehicle is involved in a crash "that requires assistance", or if an airbag deploys. It can also be activated manually through an SOS button located on the cabin's ceiling.

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How much does a Toyota HiAce cost to run?

Similar to the rest of the Toyota range, the HiAce comes with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

That warranty runs for seven years on the drivetrain if you get your HiAce serviced properly and through a Toyota dealer.

Servicing at a fixed price applies to the first six service visits, which need to be done every six months or 10,000 kilometres, whichever comes first.

Those service intervals might be a bit too brief for those who rely on the HiAce for work duties, but at least they wear well on the hip pocket at $260 each.

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Chance to Scoop the Toyota HiAce

Fair dinkum, as you'd expect from the Toyota name, the HiAce is a cracking good pick for a work van.

There are heaps of different versions and body styles to suit your individual needs, and if that's not enough, there are heaps of ways to customise through the accessory catalogues.

Even without all the frills, the HiAce does a good job of keeping the driver comfortable and providing room for all sorts of gear in the back. It may not be dressed up in this trim level, but its practicality is beyond dispute.

The inclusion of barn doors can be an extra advantage. If you're intended to be using loading docks or having cargo lifted in with a forklift, it's a straightforward choice for easy access.

The trade van HiAce works especially well in its specific Panel Van model too, as you don't have to stress about getting the interior second-hand during commercial use.

The beauty of the HiAce lineup is its massive range of options, making it a good bet that you'll find a model to suit your needs and preferences.

Combined with the highly capable range-standard turbo[diesel] engine, Toyota’s van mainstay will almost certainly have you sorted in one way or another.

A good thing would be an updated infotainment system, but you wouldn't be far off if you're someone who likes leaving your phone connected to CarPlay or Android Auto. It also needs longer service periods, as less time at the dealership means less disruption to work.

Fair dinkum, regardless of what you're lookin' for in a delivery van, the HiAce should still be at the top of your shopping list.

Interested in buying a Toyota HiAce? Get in contact with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers here

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