Nissan Leaf vs Toyota Hiace
Verdict
At RM168,888 for the Nissan Leaf and RM169,000 for the Toyota Hiace, the money is almost the same, but the job is not. The Leaf is a five-seat electric hatch with a 40.0 kWh battery, 270 km range and 7.9-second 0-100 km/h time, so it suits private daily use. The Hiace is a 10-seat diesel commercial vehicle, much bigger at 5,915 mm long and 2,280 mm tall, with 175 hp and 450 Nm. For Malaysia, this is passenger comfort versus moving people.
Pick the Nissan Leaf if you want a compact five-seat EV with 270 km range, RM100 annual road tax and stronger on-paper safety kit with auto emergency braking.
Pick the Toyota Hiace if you need 10 seats, diesel range from a 70-litre tank and the space of a full-size commercial vehicle.
Key differences
- Price: Nissan Leaf RM168,888; Toyota Hiace RM169,000
- Seating: Nissan Leaf 5 seats; Toyota Hiace 10 seats
- Powertrain: Nissan Leaf single electric motor, 40.0 kWh battery; Toyota Hiace 2,755 cc diesel, 70-litre tank
- Output: Nissan Leaf 148 hp; Toyota Hiace 175 hp and 450 Nm
- Size: Nissan Leaf 4,480 mm long, 1,540 mm tall; Toyota Hiace 5,915 mm long, 2,280 mm tall
- Road tax: Nissan Leaf RM100 a year; Toyota Hiace RM1,248 a year
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 168,888✓ | RM 169,000 |
| Body type | Hatchback | Commercial |
| Segment | C-Segment | Commercial |
| Seats | 5 | 10 |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Fuel | Electric | Diesel |
| Engine | Single motor | 2,755 cc |
| Power | 148 hp | 175 hp✓ |
| Torque | — | 450 Nm |
| Transmission | Single Ratio Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Driven wheels | Front Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance | ||
| 0–100 km/h | 7.9 s | — |
| Top speed | 155 km/h | — |
| Efficiency | ||
| Battery | 40.0 kWh | — |
| EV range | 270 km | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,480 mm | 5,915 mm |
| Width | 1,790 mm | 1,950 mm |
| Height | 1,540 mm | 2,280 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,690 mm | 3,860 mm |
| Boot space | 435 L | — |
| Fuel tank | — | 70 L |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 | 6 |
| Auto emergency braking | Yes | — |
| Ownership | ||
| Warranty | 3 | 5✓ |
| Road tax / year | RM 100✓ | RM 1,248 |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Leaf
- 270 km EV range from a 40.0 kWh battery
- 7.9-second 0-100 km/h time
- RM100 annual road tax
- Only 5 seats against the Hiace’s 10
- 3-year warranty versus 5 years
- 155 km/h top speed
Hiace
- 10-seat cabin
- 175 hp and 450 Nm diesel output
- 5-year warranty
- RM1,248 annual road tax
- Far larger body at 5,915 mm long and 2,280 mm tall
- Auto emergency braking not listed
Leaf vs Hiace FAQ
Is the Nissan Leaf or Toyota Hiace better?
The Nissan Leaf is better for private EV use; the Toyota Hiace is better for carrying people. The Leaf has 270 km range and five seats, while the Hiace has 10 seats, a 2,755 cc diesel engine and a 70-litre tank.
What is the price difference?
The Toyota Hiace costs RM112 more than the Nissan Leaf. The Leaf is RM168,888, while the Hiace is RM169,000.
Which is cheaper to tax each year?
The Nissan Leaf is much cheaper on annual road tax at RM100. The Toyota Hiace is RM1,248 a year, so the gap is RM1,148 annually.