A little something about the hiAce

First Generation (H10)

In the late 1960s, Toyota Auto Body, a Toyota subcontracting company, led the development of the HiAce as a small van with a one-box design, similar to European ones at the time, but, according to former Toyota senior employee Akira Kawahara, something unseen in the Japanese industry.^[6]

Introduced in 1967, the HiAce was offered as a cab over pick-up, delivery van, and a stretched commuter vehicle. It was also called the HiAce Commercial in camper van configuration. It was brought to market two years after the introduction of the Nissan Homy, acquired by Nissan when they assumed operations of the Prince Motor Company. A few engines of different sizes were available upon introduction, ranging from the 70 PS (51 kW) 1.35 to a 83 PS (61 kW) 1.6-liter version.^[4][5] In 1975, the 1.8-litre 16R engine was added. The HiAce was available with a heater, considered a luxury item at the time.

The HiAce was primarily designed as a commuter vehicle, able to transport up to 8 people. With this goal in consideration, the HiAce exterior dimensions and engine displacement were in compliance with Japanese Government regulations so as to encourage sales, and accommodate the most passengers by utilizing a cabover body style, with the engine installed underneath and between the front passengers. It was a smaller alternative to the larger Toyota Coaster minibus, and was introduced to Japan after the 1950 Volkswagen Transporter, and the 1961 Chevrolet Greenbrier cabover vans. It was introduced in the same year as the much smaller Toyota MiniAce, which was based on the Toyota Publica, a predecessor to the Toyota Corolla.

Toyota HiAce series H10 truck

This type of 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 and to Southeast Asia where they are used as public transport vehicles.

Fourth generation (H100)

The fourth generation model appeared in mid 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 fourth-generation vehicles, ranging from 2.0-litre petrol engines to 3.0-litre turbodiesel 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.

The facelifted fourth-generation HiAce was launched in May 1994. The HiAce received a facelift again during 1997 and once more in 2002.

In the Philippines, the HiAce was first sold in August 1990 with a diesel engine, getting revamped in October 1994. It was revamped again in May 1997 for sale as both a business vehicle and as a family vehicle. The HiAce was first then comes in two variants; the business-oriented 15-seater and the family van-oriented 13-seater. In March 1999, the HiAce 3.0 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 September 2000, the top-of-the-line 3.0 inline-4 diesel HiAce Super Grandia was launched. All came with a standard 5-speed manual transmission. These variants were all sold until June 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 August 2002 to June 2003.

RegiusAce

The HiAce was rebadged with a luxury orientation, called the Toyota RegiusAce. It was introduced in August 1999 with different versions called the Regius HiAce and Regius Touring HiAce sold at Toyopet and Vista dealerships. The RegiusAce uses a cab-over layout, meaning that front seat passengers sit on top of the front axle and the 1TR-FE engine is located underneath the floor and between the front passengers.

When the Vista sales network was replaced by the NETZ sales network, the Regius Ace was sold exclusively at the Netz Store. The first generation H100 series was manufactured between 1999 and 2004.

The HiAce (H100) also remains popular in China, where it is still produced by Jinbei Motors, King Long Motors, and Foton Motor Company amongst others. These are exported to several markets, including Chile, and are also assembled in both Egypt (by Bavarian Auto Group) and Sri Lanka (as the Micro MPV J).^[29] Common engines found in Chinese HiAce variants are the 2.0 and 2.2-litre (491Q-ME) petrol engines and the 2.8-litre diesel engine. A Chinese variant of the 2.4 L 2RZ-E engine is also available known as the 4RB2. The Isuzu 4JB1 engine and other engine names such as the V19, 4G20C and the 4G22 are available in China as well as 2.5 and 2.7-litre diesel engines. As of 2019, the 2006 variant is still available for purchase with the 4G20, 4G21 and V19 petrol engines available as standard.^[30]

In Belarus, the MAZ-182 model is made based on the King Long Haise before it was phased out of production due to lack of interest with plans to eventually localize production.^[31][32] The first models (MAZ-181010 and MAZ-182010) were made in December 2010 before it was dropped in 2012, with surviving models found either being used for MAZ personnel or in the streets, some of them as ambulances.^[31][33] The models were publicly displayed in 2011.^[34]

Granvia, HiAce Regius, Grand HiAce, Touring HiAce (XH10, XH20)

Sold in the Japanese market between 1995 and 2002, the Granvia is a semi-bonneted van, with the front wheels positioned in front of the front seats for better safety. Available with seven- and eight-seater configurations and in rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, it is based on the regular HiAce. Because of tighter safety regulations, this model replaced the mid-engined HiAce in Europe and several other markets. The engines for Granvia are either a 2.4 L or 3.0 L diesel, or 2.7- and 3.4 L petrol. The Granvia spawned into the upmarket multi-purpose vehicles the HiAce Regius, the Grand HiAce and the Touring HiAce. The Granvia, Grand HiAce, and Touring HiAce are upmarket passenger vans only.

In Europe, the Granvia-based HiAce sold from 1995 was usually equipped with the 2494 cc 2KD diesel engine in a variety of versions, with or without turbocharging. The HiAce underwent a facelift in 2006, with bigger "jewel-style" headlights, and continued to be built in this form until 2012, replaced by the Toyota ProAce.

In Australia, the Granvia was sold as the HiAce SBV, alongside the fourth generation HiAce, and both were replaced by the new fifth generation model. The HiAce SBV sold in Australia (from 1996 to 2003) was designated RCH12R (short wheelbase) and RCH22R (long wheelbase) and was available only with 2.4-litre 2RZ-E petrol engine developing 88 kW at 4800 rpm and 200 Nm at 3600 rpm and five-speed manual transmission. The smaller SBV TownAce was powered by a 1.8-litre petrol engine.

They are also very popular in New Zealand, imported as used vehicles from Japan. The 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel is especially favoured as its enormous torque but not so impressive power output are ideally suited to the hilly conditions in a country with an overall 100 km/h speed limit. Many of these vehicles are in commercial passenger service.

The Grand HiAce was based on the HiAce Powervan. Sales of the Grand HiAce started in Japan in 1999. Engines available were a 3.4-liter petrol and a 3.0-liter turbodiesel. This type was sold in Japan only until 2002. In Taiwan, the Granvia was badged HiAce Solemio.

The semi-bonneted HiAce was sold in Norway and was the best selling van for many years until early 2012, when it was withdrawn from most European markets as it could not be made to pass the Euro 5 emissions rules

Fifth generation (H200)

The fifth generation HiAce became available for sale in late 2004 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 of the HiAce, the gear lever has been moved to the dashboard to enable easier movement in the cabin. Transmission choices range from a five-speed manual and four-speed automatic.

Most models use a four-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 3,000 cc D-4D turbodiesel engine. Two of these engines are available in Malaysia, the 2.5 L turbodiesel, offered in a choice of panel van or window van; and the 2.7 L petrol, that comes only in the window van option. At least some general export market HiAces are powered by the 5L-E 3000 cc diesel engine.

In Japan, Toyota's internet-enhanced GPS and vehicle telematics service called G-Book was made available as an option on all trim packages for both private and commercial uses.

The fifth generation HiAce was launched in the Philippines on 13 June 2005, with D-4D variants; The 15-seater Commuter and the 13-seater GL Grandia, both with manual transmission. In March 2006, the new top-of-the-line 11-Seater HiAce Super Grandia was launched, being the first ever HiAce in the Philippines with a standard automatic transmission. In 2015, the 10-seater Super Grandia LXV was added in lineup, based on the GL Grandia trim, the LXV is only offered with an automatic transmission and receives 15-inch alloy wheels, updated rear seats, higher roof (campervan) and a high end audio system. The GL Grandia and Super Grandia LXV variants were sold until April 2019 and the Super Grandia variant was sold until August 2019.

The 2.5 and subsequent 3.0-litre turbodiesel KD engines have a maximum power output of 80 kW (109 PS; 107 hp) at 3400 rpm and 106 kW (144 PS; 142 hp) at 3400 rpm and maximum torque of 260 N⋅m (192 lb⋅ft) at 1600–2600 rpm and 300 N⋅m (221 lb⋅ft) at 1200–3200 rpm respectively.^[72][73] The 2.0 L and 2.7 L TR petrol engines have a maximum output of 100 kW (136 PS; 134 hp) at 5600 rpm and 118 kW (160 PS; 158 hp) at 5200 rpm respectively and a maximum torque of 182 N⋅m (134 lb⋅ft) and 243 N⋅m (179 lb⋅ft); both being achieved at 4000 rpm. In November 2017, the Japanese market Hiace Van and RegiusAce came fitted with the 2.8 L 1GD-FTV engine mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission generating a power output of 111 kW (151 PS; 149 hp) at 3600 rpm and 300 N⋅m (221 lb⋅ft) of torque from 1000 to 3400 rpm. This supplanted the 1KD-FTV.^[74]

On Japan's list of the most commonly stolen vehicles, as of November 2008, the HiAce resides in the first place. 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 more sophisticated theft deterrent systems.^[75]

As of April 2020, the H200 series is still being sold alongside the H300 in New Zealand. Also in Japan and in the Philippines as the Commuter variant only, even though the H300 series has been released in other countries.^[76][77]

RegiusAce[edit]

The second generation of the RegiusAce was completely restyled. Transmission choices are a 5-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed automatic, with the gearshift lever integrated into the instrument panel so as to allow front seat passengers access to the rear of the vehicle from the inside. A moderate restyle was completed November 2005.

Mazda Bongo Brawny[edit]

Mazda rebadged the H200 as the 2019 Bongo Brawny delivery van. Unlike the other Bongos, this is meant for commercial purposes. It is offered in DX and GL trims.

The Brawny is equipped with collision avoidance package as standard with forward collision warning with automatic braking, automatic high beam, and lane departure warning

Sixth generation (H300)

The sixth generation HiAce made its global debut on 18 February 2019 in the Philippines. It uses a front hood/bonnet arrangement instead of a cab-over design, hence a departure from the design language of its predecessors. Its development was led by Toyota chief engineer Takuo Ishikawa.

The sixth generation HiAce is available in two engine options: a turbocharged 2.8 L 1GD-FTV inline-four diesel engine or a naturally aspirated 3.5 L 7GR-FKS V6 petrol engine.

Markets

Australia

The sixth generation HiAce was released in Australia on 28 May 2019 and is offered in five grades: LWB Van, LWB Crew Van, SLWB Van, SLWB Commuter and Commuter GL. The 3.5L V6 engine option is only available on LWB & SLWB grades.

Indonesia

The sixth generation HiAce is sold in Indonesia as the HiAce Premio (based on long/high roof body), which was introduced at the 27th Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show in July 2019.

Philippines

The sixth generation HiAce is offered in 5 trim levels: Commuter Deluxe, GL Grandia, GL Grandia Tourer, Super Grandia and Super Grandia Elite. The Super Grandia trims are sold as the Granvia/Majesty in other markets. All trim levels are powered by the 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine mated to either a 6-speed manual or automatic transmissions.

Mexico

The sixth generation HiAce was released in the Mexican market in late August 2019.

GranAce/Granvia/Majesty/HiAce Super Grandia/HiAce VIP

A more luxurious passenger version of the HiAce, called Granvia, was released on 21 May 2019 and is sold in Taiwan and Australia (replacing the Tarago). The Granvia was also released in Thailand as the Majesty on 16 August 2019, replacing the Ventury, followed by the HiAce Super Grandia in the Philippines on 19 August 2019. It is also sold in Japan as the GranAce (Japanese: トヨタ・グランエース, Toyota Guran'ēsu), which was announced on 8 October 2019 and unveiled at the 46th Tokyo Motor Show through October to November 2019. It went on sale on 16 December 2019. The Granvia was launched in the United Arab Emirates on 10 October 2019 and is powered by the 3.5-litre V6 engine. It was also introduced in Russia as the HiAce VIP on 25 October 2019.