smart #3 vs Toyota Hiace
Verdict
At RM175,000 versus RM169,000, the smart #3 asks RM6,000 more but plays a totally different game: a 5-seat electric SUV with 268 hp, rear-wheel drive, 5.8-second 0-100 km/h performance and 325 km of EV range. The Toyota Hiace is not trying to match that pace. It is a 10-seat commercial diesel with a 2,755 cc engine, 450 Nm, a 70-litre tank and a huge 5,915 mm body. For private use, the smart is the sharper fit; for moving people, the Hiace is the tool.
Pick the smart #3 if you want an electric SUV with strong acceleration, lower annual road tax and five-seat family use.
Pick the Toyota Hiace if you need 10 seats, diesel range from a 70-litre tank and commercial-vehicle practicality.
Key differences
- Price: smart #3 RM175,000; Toyota Hiace RM169,000
- Seats: smart #3 5; Toyota Hiace 10
- Powertrain: smart #3 single electric motor; Toyota Hiace 2,755 cc diesel engine
- Power: smart #3 268 hp; Toyota Hiace 175 hp
- Size: smart #3 4,400 mm long; Toyota Hiace 5,915 mm long
- Road tax/year: smart #3 RM260; Toyota Hiace RM1,248
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 175,000 | RM 169,000✓ |
| Body type | SUV | Commercial |
| Segment | C-Segment | Commercial |
| Seats | 5 | 10 |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Fuel | Electric | Diesel |
| Engine | Single motor | 2,755 cc |
| Power | 268 hp✓ | 175 hp |
| Torque | — | 450 Nm |
| Transmission | Single Ratio Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Driven wheels | Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance | ||
| 0–100 km/h | 5.8 s | — |
| Top speed | 180 km/h | — |
| Efficiency | ||
| Battery | 49.0 kWh | — |
| EV range | 325 km | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,400 mm | 5,915 mm |
| Width | 1,844 mm | 1,950 mm |
| Height | 1,556 mm | 2,280 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,785 mm | 3,860 mm |
| Boot space | 370 L | — |
| Fuel tank | — | 70 L |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 7✓ | 6 |
| Auto emergency braking | Yes | — |
| Ownership | ||
| Warranty | 4 | 5✓ |
| Road tax / year | RM 260✓ | 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.
#3
- 268 hp and 5.8-second 0-100 km/h pace
- 325 km EV range from a 49.0 kWh battery
- RM260 annual road tax
- Only 5 seats beside the Hiace’s 10
- 370-litre boot is modest against a van body
- Warranty is 4 years, not 5
Hiace
- Seats 10 occupants
- 450 Nm from the 2,755 cc diesel engine
- 5-year warranty
- RM1,248 annual road tax
- Much larger body at 5,915 mm long and 2,280 mm tall
- No 0-100 km/h or top speed figure listed
#3 vs Hiace FAQ
Is the smart #3 or Toyota Hiace better?
For private family use, the smart #3 is better: it is quicker, electric and cheaper to tax. For carrying people, the Toyota Hiace wins because it has 10 seats instead of five.
What is the price difference?
The smart #3 is RM6,000 dearer than the Toyota Hiace.
Which one has more space for passengers?
The Toyota Hiace has more passenger capacity with 10 seats. The smart #3 has five seats, so it suits normal family use rather than shuttle or crew transport.