TESTERS' CHOICE TOYOTA NIACE D
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• Panel vans below 3.0 tonnes represent a valuable market sector, and we have representatives in our shortlist from three of the leading contenders: two Ford Transits, a Leyland Daf 200, and a Renault Trafic. The dark horse comes in the form of the recently revised Toyota Hiace, which we tested in diesel form, while the one non-runner was Bedford's unconvincing Midi 4X4.
The scoring in this group was exceptionally close, with only the smallest of margins separating the vehicle ranked fifth from the runner-up.
It is therefore not significant that the two Fords were placed behind the other contenders, with the petrol-engined Transit 120L just ahead of the dieselpowered Transit 80. We still rate the market leader very highly, and the new MT75 five-speed gearbox featured in both test vehicles certainly proved a worthwhile addition.
However, despite their considerable fleet and driver appeal, the variants tested didn't score that highly on productivity, with the diesel let down by its modest payload, and the petrol by its disappointing fuel consumption. Ford's pricing is also a touch on the expensive side.
We rated the Leyland Daf 200 2.5t very much on a par with the Transits in most respects, and while its appearance might be more dated, its payload performance and economy are up to scratch. The 200 finally scored over the Fords in its innovative use of two-stage injection in its DI diesel engine, producing a definite improvement in refinement levels.
Much was expected of the revised Renault Trafic T1400D, which was launched this year, but we found that old faults had been left largely unchanged. To the excellent low loading height, large volume and excellent value has been added a stronger 2.5-litre diesel; unfortunately, the noisy and uncomfortable cab remains, as does the mediocre fuel consumption.
This brings us to the testers' choice which, to our surprise as much as anybody else's, is the new Toyota Hiace diesel. We are not great fans of the forward-control layout used in the middleweight Japanese vans or of their modest road behaviour, and they tend to be narrower than European products, but in the final analysis Hiace's formidable productivity demanded first place — it carried a 1,155kg payload round our test route at an average of 9.61it/100km (29.3mpg).
When this performance is combined with an attractive and efficient cabin, a practical load area and thoughtful detailing, the Hiace emerges as a worthy winner — the first for a Japanese vehicle.