Toyota Hiace 2020 Philippines Review: Piloting The Great Filipino Commuter

Let’s get one thing straight before we dive right into the Toyota Hiace model, I’ve said this countless of times before and at the risk of sounding too much like a broken record; Filipinos love to travel, and not just on simple road trips. We love traveling in large groups.

Particularly with our extended, nuclear families. If westerners’ dreams of the great American road trip involve riding alone into the sunset, we involve our kids, our moms (yes, plural!) and whoever we can tag along. Road trips are excursions and we flock onto tourist spots in droves.

If there was one vehicle to define Filipino Culture, its the Toyota Hiace

We can then realize why the Philippines was chosen as the venue for Toyota to hold its global launch of the 2020 Toyota Hiace. Apart from its home country, the Philippines is one of the biggest markets for the long-running van model, and sure enough, the Toyota Hiace is ubiquitous in the country.

From modes of mass transportation in the cities to school buses, “executive” people haulers, and even just the family car, this thing is everywhere. With the introduction of the 6^th generation Toyota Hiace for 2020, Toyota is poised to further dominate the market.

Read on our full-scale Toyota Hiace 2020 Philippines Review to get a deeper understanding of this popular passenger van.

There is no getting around how large the 2020 Toyota Hiace is. It does come in different configurations, though, say for example the mid-range GL Grand Tourer which is the largest in the family, measures in at is 5,915mm long, 1,950mm wide and 2,280mm tall. To give you an idea of how massive this, Toyota’s bulky SUV the Toyota FJ Cruiser dwarfed by the 2020 Toyota Hiace exterior in every aspect.

The 2020 Toyota Hiace is a box on wheels, but we love it

The designers of the Toyota Hiace exterior ditched the tried and tested traditional van shape for an edgier 2-box design giving it a more pronounced hood, keeping it in line with Toyota’s premium mini-van the Alphard. But while the Alphard makes a modest attempt at being sleek and aerodynamic, the Hiace throws all pretenses of such out the window.

Side and rear look of the new Toyota Hiace

When I say the design is edgy, sharp and boxy, it’s more like a large freezer on wheels. Not that such is a bad thing, I myself find it really appealing. I love mini-van designs such as the Toyota Alphard and the Honda Odyssey but there is something enticing about enveloping yourself in a large, cave of a vehicle.

Looking at it you just feel safe and comfortable, without even getting in it. I can tell you how those sharp, slightly raked headlamps, flanking that huge chrome grille adds a level of sophistication or how it unapologetically plays parallel straight lines on the body panel but I just want to lounge inside it. Only Toyota knows how to make a design this striking and outrageous but still feel awfully familiar and safe.

Spacious cargo for your family trip!

>>> For further reference, kindly check out our Toyota Hiace vs Nissan NV350 comparison to see which is the better commuter.

Inside, is where all the magic happens, and what magic it is! As earlier mentioned, Toyota is able to customize the 2020 Toyota Hiace interior depending on your model, and if we discuss all that we might never end this review. We’ll mainly focus on the upper trims, the GL Grand Tourer, and the Hiace to end all Hi-aces, the Super Grandia.

The Tourer can seat a total of 14 occupants in, let's say “relative” comfort. Seating configuration is 2-2-3-3-4. That’s right, 5 rows of seats, not unlike your high school classroom and the fifth-row guys are the ones receiving the penalty of “less” comfy seats. I’d say less comfy as the fifth row is mainly used for situations where you really need to use them. It easily folds up on the sides to reveal a massive cargo space, set them down and it sacrifices that particular amenity.

You can haul your entire Extended family and their pets with the 2020 Toyota Hiace

You also have the top of the line and ridiculously decadent Super Grandia it limits the number of seat rows to just 4 in a 2-2-2-4 configuration. That’s right, the 2^nd and 3^rd rows get their own sliding, tilting Ottoman Chairs for luxury you won't get this side of the Toyota Alphard. The rear-most seat is again foldable or you can take it out entirely for the ultimate form of motoring indulgence.

The front passengers for Toyota Hiace models get great seats too, but the matter of fact is it wouldn’t really matter to you does it? You chauffeured driven master of industry you, and yes that leather IS quilted, boss. Noise Vibration and Harshness levels are also left to the bare minimum. You wouldn’t want the noise of the outside world permeate your domain now, would you?

Inside the cabin, the new Hiace is equipped with standard interior features

>>> Widen your car search with our best cars for sale section.

We would be remiss, though, to omit the part about telling you how these drives. Yes, it drives well, it runs on Toyota’s ever-reliable 2.8-liter direct injection diesel engine that makes 176 hp and 450 Nm of torque at a very leisurely 1,600 to 2,400 RPM. And no this isn’t your usual truck-based suspension van.

Fully Independent Double Wishbone Suspension in the back with Macpherson struts up front with suspension parameters set to “boat-like” will make you think you’re floating on… well, your Yacht. You might not care about fuel economy but these days, everyone should.

The V6 engine under the hood of the new Hiace can make out of 176 hp and 450 Nm of torque

If you’re curious, according to tests, a fully laden Toyota Hiace 2020 gets around 7 to 8 km/l in the city and around 10 km/l on the highway which if you ask me isn’t that bad at all! Don’t expect spirited driving on the 2020 Toyota Hiace it was never meant for that unless of course, you count the supposed TRD Hiace, which it doesn’t!

The 2020 Toyota Hiace isn't sporty at all, and that's a good thing

Looking for other affordable Toyota models? Kindly refer to our Toyota cars for sale section with a ton of options from trusted dealers. 

What does count is the 2020 Toyota Hiace’s Hi-Tech (pun not intended) safety features as Toyota has blessed it with their proprietary Safety Sense technology which is suite of both active and passive safety features such as Lane-keep assist, forward collision mitigation warning, active cruise control and adaptive headlamps to make sure you have the safest ride possible.

This system works in unison with the standard system available in all trims such as an anti-lock braking system with electronic brake-force distribution, traction and stability control, hill start assists, cameras and parking sensors to help out with parking and multiple airbags that work with 3-point tension seatbelts and iso-fix harnesses. Driver assist features - Peace of mind, after all, should come as standard.

The 2020 Toyota Hilux has above class safety standards

Pricing for the 2020 Toyota Hiace starts at PHP 1,605,000 for the Commuter Deluxe trim which would most likely be their volume seller. It won’t come with all the niceties of the top trim level such as leather seats, Safety Sense, navigation or a sweet body kit but if you ask me it still looks great and much more expensive than it actually is.

Moving all the way up to line is the decadent Super Grandia Elite line which is you can have for Php 2,890,000. That has everything but the kitchen sink, but if you ask Toyota they could probably add that to your purchase as well.

>>> Check out  Toyota Hiace Philippines for sale with estimated monthly payments

There is a 2020 Toyota Hiace for every need and budget

>>> Visit the nearest Toyota Philippines dealerships for further details regarding latest promos, financing options, etc

It is easy to understand why the all-new Toyota Hiace 2020 is such a big deal for Toyota in the Philippines. It caters not only to our sensibilities but as well as our needs and our culture. It is everywhere because it crosses wealth and class boundaries as everyone from the lowly commuter as myself use them as mass transport conveyances as well as the upper crust of society as limousines.

I am this close to saying that the 2020 Toyota Hiace may as well be our national car, just this close.

Still the perfect choice in the market segment!

Interested in the 2020 Toyota Hiace? Head over to the nearest certified Toyota Dealers and get the best deal out of your next purchase! Follow Philkotse.com if you need to get your automotive itch scratched. We have news, reviews, comparisons and such so might as well join us in our conversation!