Large and luxurious

There were not that many HiAce trim levels to choose from when I was growing up, but Toyota PH changed all that when they launched the sixth-generation model in 2020. There are now five variants starting with the basic Hiace all the way to the Super Grandia Elite, which I had the pleasure of driving for a week.

A lot has happened to its body since the redesign. One of the starkest changes is the new bonnet where the engine is. Yes, this model now has a proper nose, a large grille with chrome accents, slim bi-beam auto-leveling LED headlamps, and LED fog lamps at the bottom. The sides are practically devoid of shape save for the character line, while the rear brings up the flat and large tailgate with a rear roof spoiler and combo taillamps. Its two-tone body color is called Luxury Pearl Toning and costs more than the other hues.

The squarish body and the rhinoplasty make it look more sophisticated, like a supersized mommy van, which makes it stand out on the road even if you see so many out there due to its popularity. I find the placement of the shark’s fin antenna (on the right side of the roof) a bit odd, as a middle position would have been congruous with the whole setup. Also, it would be great if the tailgate had an easy-close or power feature because it is not easily accessible to smaller folks and could be heavy to close for some.

Like all top-of-the-line Toyotas, this model has a smart key. Reach for the door handle, and all doors unlock. Touch the stripe on the handle to lock.

Compared to its predecessor, this cabin is bigger and more luxurious, which is pretty evident by the large center console between the two front seats. There are soft-touch surfaces all over the cockpit, including the door panels and wood accents on the multi-function steering wheel, dashboard, console top shelf, and the armrests of the four captain’s seats. As a range-topping trim level, it has leather upholstery, and the ones on the captain’s seats are quilted for better fit, finish, and feel. The second row is the place to be for VIPs. The seats are power-adjustable, slide forward and aft (for easier access to the third and fourth row), and have a retractable ottoman. All rows have air vents on the center and sides of the ceiling, depending on where you are seated.

It is not the ideal variant if you want to seat as many people as possible because of the two rows of captain’s seats, and if you have cargo, you will seat a lot less as the rear seats need to fold to accommodate luggage. But if you want to make a select few feel extra special, this is the model to get. Both side doors open electronically and can even be controlled from the driver’s seat, so all they need to do is stand up and walk off.

Some of the stuff that needs work includes the outdated infotainment touchscreen with Bluetooth but does not have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Also, the hooks to clip the folded rear seats are weak and fall off, which prevented me from putting up the rear seats.

The drive going to the rear wheels comes from a 2.8-liter diesel engine with 176-PS and 450-Nm of torque. Power is managed by a six-speed automatic transmission. It is particularly light for such a large vehicle, although the variable power steering is weighted enough to get a good feel of its size and heft. It accelerates quickly and picks up the pace without much effort. Staying at 100 km/h does not require much, so the engine revs at under 2,000 RPM. Fuel economy is 10.3 km/l in mixed driving conditions and occupancy, which says a lot about the efficiency of this Toyota engine. Ride comfort is not as good as the posher Alphard, and I expected a bit more for a P3.173 million van. The four-link coil spring rear suspension is stiff and lands with a thud when the vehicle is unladen. Noise, vibration, and harshness suppression are excellent, and so is its handling. It feels more SUV-like, although I still had to take it easy around corners to reduce body roll.

The Hiace Super Grandia Elite is a major leap forward for the nameplate, but it still has room for improvement. In its current state, its large and luxurious body satisfies the demands of the van market and continues to be the leading model versus rivals in the segment.