AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

Toyota widens its arket

14th December 1995
Page 16
Page 16, 14th December 1995 — Toyota widens its arket
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

by Toby Clark • Toyota's new Hiace Power Van could be the first full-sized panel van from Japan to provide a real threat to the European market leaders. Designed primarily for Europe, and a complete departure from the previous Hiace, the Power Van has a bizarre name but it's attractive, reasonably priced and targeted squarely at the owner-driver market.

The new Hiace remains rearwheel driven, but it gets a semiforward-control cab—like the Transit and most European models—and its live-axle rear suspension is replaced by a fully independent trailing arm/coil spring setup. The diesel engine is carried over from the previous model, the power rating increased marginally from 76hp to 78hp (58kW), The petrol alternative is much more powerful, producing 115hp (851(W); both engines are longitudinally mounted at the front. A drag coefficient (Cd) of just 0.35 should lead to good fuel consumption figures.

The new Hiace is barely larger than the old short-wheelbase model (the Hiace Compact, still available until stocks run out), but it has more loadspace and a payload. In fact, the claimed 1,225kg payload for the diesel model is class-leading. The load floor is low, the single nearside sliding door is large and there is space between the wheelarches to load a Europallet. However, a tailgate is the only door option. It opens to two positions, but that might not be enough for fork-lift users. Twin rear doors are not currently offered but are being considered.

A high-roof model will be made available, with a GRP roofed cap made by Truckman.

Safety is now a big issue in van design, and one of the reasons that Japanese-style forward-control vans are disappearing—they will not meet forthcoming impact legislation. The Power Van's layout is reassuring, and seat-belt pre-tensioners, anti-submarining seats, side-door impact bars and head restraints are standard.

Also standard is power steering, central locking, a dual passenger seat, a radio/cassette unit and (in the diesel) twin batteries for easy cold starting. But UK models will not get the antilock braking and twin airbags available in other markets, or a full bulkhead. Toyota (GB) expects many Power Van buyers to be existing Hiace owners, but in an expanding market more than 4,000 could be sold in 1996. The new Hiace is built in Japan, so UK sales are likely to be limited by import quotas. A Portuguese factory building the previous model will start producing the Power Van next year but there are no plans for export.

riving impressions

The new Hiace is immediately attractive from the outside; the inside is grey, in the style of all Japanese vans, but comfortable and well laid-out. There is substantial intrusion into the passenger footweIl, as if the missing airbag were there, but the driving position is good and the mirrors are fine.

All the controls are light the steering perhaps too light for some users and the front disc brakes are sharp. Handling is reasonably neutral, and the ride is excellent. The independent suspension works well unladen; we were not able to drive it with a load on board.

The van seems undergeared.

On A-roads and

motor

ways we were always looking for a sixth gear, so it may be best suited to town work. But it was stable in a crosswind, unlike its predecessor.

The Hiace Power Van has a lot going for it, and will be an obvious choice for many tradesmen and merchants, In fact, its three-year/60,000-mile warranty may be tempting to many daily hire fleets.

This van will make European manufacturers think hard— especially as the quota system is due to be abandoned in 1999.

Tags

People: Toby Clark

comments powered by Disqus