JDM Traditional Japanese Car Toyota Hiace
Toyota Hiace is a cab-over type minivan. The current model is the 5th generation and has a long history of over 50 years.
The Hiace appeared as a smaller version of the commercial truck Toyoace, and a minivan type was also available as one of its body variations.
The Hiace is also known as a working car, and is in high demand as a base for specially equipped vehicles such as jumbo taxis, minibusses, ambulances, and welfare vehicles. For general users, it is also used for various purposes such as campers, motorcycles, bicycles, carts and other transporters. The origin of the name of Hiace is a compound word of "High" and "Ace" meaning "luxury" and "superior" in English.
The 1st generation Hiace, which appeared in 1967, had a body size of 4305mm long, 1690mm wide and 1890mm high, which was close to a small car except for the height. The exterior, unlike commercial vehicles of the time, where straight lines were the norm, adopted body panels that used many flowing curved surfaces, and was called a sophisticated design that blends well with the city. The engines were initially only 1.3-liter and 1.5-liter gasoline engines that were also installed in the Corona of the same period.
In 1971, it was also adopted as the base of an ambulance, and the "Toyota Ambulance", which is the origin of the current HIMEDIC, was born. Until then, ambulances were based on Crown station wagons, which limited the interior space, but with the Hiace minivan, the interior space was greatly improved. Currently, minivan type ambulances are the mainstream.
The 2nd generation Hiace appeared in 1977. As for the exterior, the early model had round headlights and a front mask similar to that of the 0 Series Shinkansen, so it is also known as the "Shinkansen Hiace."
The 3rd generation, which appeared in 1982, has changed significantly as a luxury recreational vehicle. The upper grade was designed for users who are highly oriented toward luxury cars, such as setting a luxurious two-tone body color and equipping it with a large bumper. Two types of engines were available: a newly developed 2-liter gasoline engine and a 2.2-liter diesel engine.
The 4th generation Hiace appeared in 1989, with a lineup of vans for commercial vehicles and wagons for passenger vehicles. The "Super Custom Limited" was the highest grade wagon, and was described in the catalog as "another top-class car from Toyota". This car was equipped with many world-first equipment that would not be ashamed of a luxury car. It was the first equipment to be installed in a wagon, such as a power easy access system and an electric sliding door.
In 2004, the 5th generation Hiace appeared and was called the 200 series. The luxury one-box market had already shifted to luxury minivans, and that position had shifted to Alphard and Vellfire, so the 5th generation model again became a model mainly for commercial vehicles.
The exterior is long and super long, the vehicle width is standard and wide, and the roof shape is standard, middle roof, and high roof, and the vehicle is large. The engines were 2-liter and 2.7-liter gasoline engines and 3-liter diesel engines, all automatic cars, and a 5-speed manual car was available for some grades.
In 2014, the automatic car changed from 4th to 6th gear, enabling fuel efficiency and smooth driving. In addition, parking support brakes (front and rear obstacles) are standard equipment on all models, and safety functions are also substantial.
The working car Hiace will continue to evolve.
The Hiace appeared as a smaller version of the commercial truck Toyoace, and a minivan type was also available as one of its body variations.
The Hiace is also known as a working car, and is in high demand as a base for specially equipped vehicles such as jumbo taxis, minibusses, ambulances, and welfare vehicles. For general users, it is also used for various purposes such as campers, motorcycles, bicycles, carts and other transporters. The origin of the name of Hiace is a compound word of "High" and "Ace" meaning "luxury" and "superior" in English.
The 1st generation Hiace, which appeared in 1967, had a body size of 4305mm long, 1690mm wide and 1890mm high, which was close to a small car except for the height. The exterior, unlike commercial vehicles of the time, where straight lines were the norm, adopted body panels that used many flowing curved surfaces, and was called a sophisticated design that blends well with the city. The engines were initially only 1.3-liter and 1.5-liter gasoline engines that were also installed in the Corona of the same period.
In 1971, it was also adopted as the base of an ambulance, and the "Toyota Ambulance", which is the origin of the current HIMEDIC, was born. Until then, ambulances were based on Crown station wagons, which limited the interior space, but with the Hiace minivan, the interior space was greatly improved. Currently, minivan type ambulances are the mainstream.
The 2nd generation Hiace appeared in 1977. As for the exterior, the early model had round headlights and a front mask similar to that of the 0 Series Shinkansen, so it is also known as the "Shinkansen Hiace."
The 3rd generation, which appeared in 1982, has changed significantly as a luxury recreational vehicle. The upper grade was designed for users who are highly oriented toward luxury cars, such as setting a luxurious two-tone body color and equipping it with a large bumper. Two types of engines were available: a newly developed 2-liter gasoline engine and a 2.2-liter diesel engine.
The 4th generation Hiace appeared in 1989, with a lineup of vans for commercial vehicles and wagons for passenger vehicles. The "Super Custom Limited" was the highest grade wagon, and was described in the catalog as "another top-class car from Toyota". This car was equipped with many world-first equipment that would not be ashamed of a luxury car. It was the first equipment to be installed in a wagon, such as a power easy access system and an electric sliding door.
In 2004, the 5th generation Hiace appeared and was called the 200 series. The luxury one-box market had already shifted to luxury minivans, and that position had shifted to Alphard and Vellfire, so the 5th generation model again became a model mainly for commercial vehicles.
The exterior is long and super long, the vehicle width is standard and wide, and the roof shape is standard, middle roof, and high roof, and the vehicle is large. The engines were 2-liter and 2.7-liter gasoline engines and 3-liter diesel engines, all automatic cars, and a 5-speed manual car was available for some grades.
In 2014, the automatic car changed from 4th to 6th gear, enabling fuel efficiency and smooth driving. In addition, parking support brakes (front and rear obstacles) are standard equipment on all models, and safety functions are also substantial.
The working car Hiace will continue to evolve.