Toyota India will launch the HiAce 10-seater van in mid-2015. It will be available only for commercial purposes and will be priced upwards of Rs. 40 lakhs.
The Toyota Hiace is a very comfort-oriented van and it was displayed at the 2014 Auto Expo. Later on, the Japanese auto giant went on to showcase the van at the SIAM Bus and Special Vehicle Show in Delhi too. The HiAce is going to be launched in India and according to reports, it will cost more than Rs. 40 lakhs. N Raja, VP and Director of Marketing and Sales, Toyota India, stated that the vehicle will be fully loaded and hence the high price tag will be justified. Also, the HiAce will be launched as a CBU initially and only later will CKD assembly start.
The Toyota HiAce is no looker. It looks just like how a van is supposed to look. The front of the vehicle is a bit too bulky. The van has a seating capacity for 10 people and because of this, it won’t be possible for buyers to register it as a private vehicle. However, the HiAce will most likely be a hit with commercial users, especially fleet buyers which also includes five star hotels. The Toyota HiAce comes with basic features like power steering, power windows, music system with CD and USB support, rear defogger, rear view camera, ABS and dual-front airbags.
Powering the Toyota HiAce is the same 3.0-litre diesel engine that does duty on the Fortuner SUV. The engine is mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission. In other countries, the HiAce is a popular choice as a commercial vehicle and it is also available in cargo variants. The HiAce is also a popular choice at international airports. Looking at how the Innova has spoiled its users with the great amount of comfort it offers, Toyota should seriously consider launching a variant of the HiAce that could be registered as a private vehicle. Meanwhile, the 10-seater Toyota HiAce will be launched in mid-2015.
Source – AutocarIndia.com