Renault Megane RS vs Toyota Hiace
Verdict
At RM279,888 against RM169,000, the Renault Megane RS is the driver’s car here: 276 hp, a manual gearbox, front-wheel drive and a 5.8-second 0-100 km/h time from its 1.8-litre petrol engine. The Toyota Hiace is a very different buy, with 10 seats, 450 Nm from a 2.8-litre diesel, rear-wheel drive and a much larger body. For a Malaysian buyer, this is less hatchback versus van than speed and engagement versus people-carrying capacity.
Pick the Renault Megane RS if you want the quicker, smaller five-seat car with 276 hp, a manual gearbox and a stated 255 km/h top speed.
Pick the Toyota Hiace if you need 10 seats, diesel torque, a 70-litre tank and a five-year warranty.
Key differences
- Price: Renault Megane RS RM279,888; Toyota Hiace RM169,000
- Seats: Renault Megane RS 5; Toyota Hiace 10
- Engine and fuel: Renault Megane RS 1,798 cc petrol; Toyota Hiace 2,755 cc diesel
- Power and torque: Renault Megane RS 276 hp and 390 Nm; Toyota Hiace 175 hp and 450 Nm
- Size: Renault Megane RS 4,364 mm long and 1,445 mm tall; Toyota Hiace 5,915 mm long and 2,280 mm tall
- Warranty and road tax: Renault Megane RS 3 years and RM279/year; Toyota Hiace 5 years and RM1,248/year
Megane RS
- 276 hp with a 5.8-second 0-100 km/h time
- Manual gearbox for keen drivers
- Lower annual road tax at RM279
- Costs RM110,888 more
- Only five seats
- Shorter three-year warranty
Hiace
- 10-seat cabin
- 450 Nm diesel torque
- Five-year warranty
- Only 175 hp versus the Renault’s 276 hp
- Much larger body to park and place
- Higher RM1,248 annual road tax
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 279,888 | RM 169,000✓ |
| Body type | Hatchback | Commercial |
| Segment | C-Segment | Commercial |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Injection and Dual Variable Valve Timing | 16-valve DOHC with Common-rail Direct Injection, Variable Geometry Turbocharger and Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | 1,798 cc | 2,755 cc |
| Horsepower | 276 hp✓ | 175 hp |
| Torque | 390 Nm | 450 Nm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline | Inline |
| Timing Type | Chain | Chain |
| Fuel | Petrol | Diesel |
| Bore | 79.7 mm | 92 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 9.2 | 15.6 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Manual | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 6-speed Manual | 6 Speed Sequential Automatic |
| Gears | 6 | 6 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Renault | Toyota |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 5.8 seconds | — |
| Rated Economy | 7.9 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 255 km/h | — |
| Co2 | 181 g/km | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,364 mm | 5,915 mm |
| Width | 1,875 mm | 1,950 mm |
| Height | 1,445 mm | 2,280 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,669 mm | 3,860 mm |
| Weight | 1,382 kg | 2,550 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 50 litres | 70 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 10 |
| Boot Space | 384 litres | — |
| Front Tyre | 245/35R19 | 235/65R16C |
| Rear Tyre | 245/35R19 | 235/65R16C |
| Factory Tyres | Bridgestone Potenza S001 | — |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | France (CBU) | Afghanistan (CBU) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Ladder-frame |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Leaf Spring |
| Front Wheels | 19" Interlagos Alloy | 16" Steel |
| Rear Wheels | 19" Interlagos Alloy | 16" Steel |
| Front Brakes | Ventilated Disc | Ventilated Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Solid Disc | Ventilated Disc |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Cup Suspension, Rear-wheel Steering, Torsen Limited-slip Differential | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Curtain | Driver and Passenger, Driver's Knee |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | — |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 10 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | — |
| ISOFIX | Available on Two Outer Rear Seats | — |
| Lane-keeping Assist | — | No |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | Tyre Pressure Monitoring System | — |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projectors | Halogen Reflector |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | Normal Bulb |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | — |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Manual Adjustment | Manual Adjustable |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | Manual recline |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Manual Air-con |
| Rear Air-con | Rear Vents | Rear Vents with Blower |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Rear, 2 Front USB | 1 Front |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 3 Rear | — |
| Audio | R-Link 2 Infotainment System with 8.7" Vertical Touchscreen and 8 Speakers | 7" Infotainment Touchscreen with 2 Speakers |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Two Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Manual Key |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Remote Control Activation |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | — |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | — |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | — |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | — |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Manual Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | — | 2 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | — |
| Instrument Cluster | Digital/Analogue | Backlit Analogue |
| Parking Brake | Handbrake | Handbrake |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 100,000 km | Unlimited✓ |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 3 years | 5 years✓ |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 279✓ | 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.
Megane RS vs Hiace FAQ
Is the Renault Megane RS or Toyota Hiace better?
The Renault Megane RS is better for performance, with 276 hp and 0-100 km/h in 5.8 seconds. The Toyota Hiace is better for carrying people, with 10 seats and a much larger body.
What is the price difference?
The Toyota Hiace is RM110,888 cheaper. The Renault Megane RS is the costlier car, but it brings the stronger power figure, manual gearbox and stated performance numbers.
Which has more torque and practicality?
The Toyota Hiace has more torque at 450 Nm versus 390 Nm, plus 10 seats against five. It also has a 70-litre fuel tank, compared with the Renault Megane RS’ 50-litre tank.