Mazda Bongo Brawny 2019: A "Perfect Replica" of Toyota Hiace

For those of you who have traveled in the provinces, the Bongo truck might be a common sight, especially around Visayas and Mindanao. Maybe you would see it carrying produce or industrial tools and goods as it is usually seen in its flatbed truck configuration.

The Bongo brand which was initially released way back in 1966 extends more than just a truck especially in its home country of Japan where the Mazda Bongo also comes in a van version.

For a short time, the Bongo was discontinued for a time as Mazda as you may well know had decided to focus on economy cars instead.

>>> Related: MAZDA BONGO 2017 FOR SALE

Mazda Bongo Brawny 2019 really looks identical to the previous version of the Toyota Hiace

1. Mazda Bongo Brawny 2019: The look

According to the latest car news, Mazda has decided to revive the Bongo van model and in order to resurrect the said vehicle, Mazda has decided to borrow the well-loved and very popular Toyota Hiace van platform.

Regrettably, the now dubbed Mazda Bongo Brawny will only be available in Japan so if you really want a Mazda Badged, fifth-generation Hiace, you’re kinda out of luck. But for those of you curious out there, let’s take a closer look at the 2019 Mazda Bongo Brawny.

Bongo Brawny 2019 is intended to primarily carry cargo instead of passenger

Outside, the Bongo Brawny definitely looks like a Fifth Generation Hiace. From the overall shape, the character lines, the shape of the doors, the design of both the front and rear end down to the wheels, virtually everything is the same.

Well, except maybe for the badging which is now the Mazda logo of course. As such, people, especially those who are very familiar with the older version of the Toyota Hiace for sale might mistake the Bongo Brawny for the Toyota Van. 

>>> Related: Also check out Kia K2700 2018 for sale, another name for Kia Bongo

2. Mazda Bongo Brawny 2019: Interior 

As for the interior of the Bongo Brawny, the similarities with the 5^th Gen Hiace continues with the position of the shifter, the design of the steering wheel, and position of the air-conditioning vents and many others features.

What little difference there is though is with the Bongo Brawny’s gauges which looks different than that of the Hiace. Headroom and legroom for the passenger and driver and still excellent and stuff like cupholders and useful cargo bins are still present in the rebadged van.

The interior of the Mazda Bongo Brawny looks similar to the previous version of the Toyota Hiace, except some small details

The passenger cabin of the Mazda Bongo Brawny in comparison to the old Hiace is different as it has less seating capacity. As is turns out, the rebadged van is no longer intended to primarily to carry people but instead, it is redesigned to carry cargo instead.

The Bongo Brawny, in fact, can carry up to 1250kg while also carry three people inside with the third person on a foldable seat which looks like a bench just behind the front cabin. There are no foldable third and fourth rows.

>>> Widen your choice with our Cars van for sale list in the Philippines

3. Mazda Bongo Brawny 2019: Engine & Safety Features

The Mazda Bongo Brawny comes with either a 2.0 liter inline four petrol engine or a 2.8 liter inline four diesel engine. The petrol one is rated to produce up to 133 horsepower and 182 Nm of torque while the diesel engine can make up to 151 horsepower and 300 Nm of torque.

The Bongo Brawny as of now only comes with a 6-speed automatic transmission with either a regular RWD or 4WD.

Mazda Bongo Brawny 2019 produces up to 133 horsepower and 182 Nm of torque

As with many modern vehicles, the Bongo Brawny cargo van has a number of safety features like hill-start assist, stability control, and collision avoidance.

As mentioned before, the Mazda Bongo Brawny 2019 will only be available in Japan but if ever it will be be added to the Mazda Philippines new car lineup, it is of no doubt that many will take advantage of the vehicle’s convenient cargo capacity and widely known reliability. It is, after all, a Toyota underneath.

For more news, reviews and updated prices for the latest car models please stay posted here at Philkotse.com.