Toyota defends HiAce price hike

The new 2019 Toyota HiAce is finally here, the all-new platform offering enhanced safety, handling, performance and technology – along with a significant price rise.

Pricing for the new sixth-generation HiAce has risen by, on average, just under $4000 over its predecessor. However, at the national HiAce media launch – held recently at Toyota's new Centre of Excellence in Altona, Melbourne – senior Toyota executives were quick to downplay the hike, instead emphasising the HiAce's favourable whole-of-life costs.

According to Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia's Vice President, Sales & Marketing, the gains made in areas like fuel economy combined with the HiAce's strong resale value add up to a very competitive offering over the longer term.

"When you look at the mix of sales of HiAce, traditionally there's a very high level of fleet and or/business ownership, so therefore rather than looking at a recommended retail price position, we look very much at whole-of-life position," he said.

"So that's fuel efficiency, resale value, and in fact if you look at our calculations on whole-of-life cost over four years, I think it is, the weekly payment increases by $4. We think we have a very compelling whole-of-life cost that will appeal to fleet owners."

Toyota Australia says fleet sales account for 75 per cent of all HiAces sold. The nameplate dominates the Australian mid-size van (2.5 to 3.5 tonne GVM) and mini-bus (under 20 seat) segments. At the close of 2018 the model achieved a 33.9 per cent market share of the mid-size van market here, along with a stranglehold of 86.3 per cent of the mini-bus niche.

Toyota Australia's Senior Manager – Product Planning & Pricing, Bernard Nadal, said HiAce customers typically prioritise any prospective model's total cost of ownership over its outright purchase price.

"Our customers who buy these vans are, we feel, less sensitive to the absolute price point but more focussed on the total life cost of ownership, and we've got a great plan in place about how to minimise any cost increase on a dollar per week basis," he said.

Mr Nadal said the brand's 'Guaranteed Future Value' scheme would also, for many, help override concerns regarding the rise.

"For a buyer in New South Wales who goes through Toyota Access on a 48-month plan, we will be cheaper than a competitor in the order of $35 per week," he said.

The new HiAce sees the old cab-over-engine format make way for a semi-bonneted design, increasing most of the platform's key dimensions but also ushering in a range of benefits, such as ease of cab access, improved driver ergonomics and safety, and better maintenance access, enhanced sound insulation and improved on-road dynamics.

New too is the drivetrain, with a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel (up to 130kW/450Nm) and a 3.5-litre petrol V6 (207kW/351Nm) replacing the predecessor's 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel and 2.7-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. Power continues to be fed to the rear wheels, now via a choice of a new six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.

The new HiAce range spans a total of nine variants and two wheelbases: long wheelbase (LWB) and super long wheelbase (SLWB). The model is offered in Van, Crew Van and Commuter (mini-bus) guises.

The new HiAce line-up has increased by $2880 for the SLWB Van (diesel/auto) up to $5020 more for the LWB Crew Van (diesel/auto), while the range flagship – the SLWB Commuter GL – sees pricing top out at $70,140 plus on-road costs.