Verdict
At RM123,000, the Toyota Hiace costs RM28,000 more than the RM95,000 Toyota Veloz, yet they serve very different Malaysian jobs. The Hiace is a two-seat commercial vehicle with a 2.5-litre diesel producing 260 Nm, five-speed manual and all-wheel drive; its RM835 annual road tax suits neither family duty nor light running costs. The seven-seat Veloz has a 1.5-litre petrol CVT, 137-litre boot and RM120 road tax. Its 105 hp only narrowly beats the Hiace’s 101 hp, but the Veloz brings six airbags, stability control and Toyota Safety Sense.
Pick the Toyota Hiace if you need a two-seat commercial vehicle with 260 Nm of diesel torque, a 70-litre tank and all-wheel drive.
Pick the Toyota Veloz if you need seven seats, CVT ease, far lower RM120 road tax and substantially stronger active and passive safety equipment.
Key differences
- Price: Toyota Hiace RM123,000; Toyota Veloz RM95,000.
- Seats: Toyota Hiace 2; Toyota Veloz 7.
- Torque: Toyota Hiace 260 Nm; Toyota Veloz 138 Nm.
- Transmission: Toyota Hiace five-speed manual; Toyota Veloz D-CVT automatic.
- Annual road tax: Toyota Hiace RM835; Toyota Veloz RM120.
- Safety: Toyota Hiace 2 airbags and no stability control; Toyota Veloz 6 airbags and stability control.
Hiace
- 260 Nm from a 2,494 cc turbo-diesel
- All-wheel drive and five-speed manual
- 70-litre fuel tank
- Only two seats versus the Veloz’s seven
- No stability control, autonomous braking or blind spot information system
- RM835 annual road tax versus RM120
Veloz
- Seven seats with flexible 60:40 middle and 50:50 last-row seating
- Six airbags, stability control and TSS pre-collision braking
- 9.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- 138 Nm is 122 Nm down on the Hiace
- 43-litre fuel tank is 27 litres smaller than the Hiace’s
- Front-wheel drive rather than all-wheel drive
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM123,000 | RM95,000✓ |
| Body type | Commercial | MPV |
| Segment | Commercial | B-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM835 | RM120✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Common-rail Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing | 2NR-VE, 16-valve DOHC, Naturally Aspirated with Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | 2,494 cc | 1,496 cc |
| Horsepower | 101 hp | 105 hp✓ |
| Torque | 260 Nm✓ | 138 Nm |
| Fuel | Diesel | Petrol |
| Bore | 92 mm | 72.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 18.5 | 11.5 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Manual | CVT Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 5 Speed Manual | D-CVT with Power Mode |
| Gears | 5 | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Aisin | Akashi Kikai |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,695 mm | 4,475 mm |
| Width | 1,695 mm | 1,750 mm |
| Height | 2,285 mm | 1,700 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,570 mm | 2,750 mm |
| Weight | 1,890 kg | 1,185 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 70 litres | 43 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 2 | 7 |
| Boot Space | — | 137 litres |
| Front Tyre | 195R15C | 205/50R17 |
| Rear Tyre | 195R15C | 205/50R17 |
| Spare Tyre | Full-size 15" Steel | Full-size 17" Alloy |
| Factory Tyres | — | Toyo Proxes CR1 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Thailand (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Leaf Spring | Torsion Beam |
| Front Wheels | 15" Steel | 17" Two-tone Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 15" Steel | 17" Two-tone Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Hydraulic Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | Higher suspension |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| ANCAP | 4 stars — With 2 airbags and no stability control | — |
| ASEAN NCAP | — | 5 stars |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | — | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | — | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | — | Manual for rear doors |
| Seat Belts | 2 Three-point | 7 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | — | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | — | Available on Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | — | Yes, TSS Pre-collision Braking (4-120 km/h) with Pedestrian Detection |
| Lane-keeping Assist | — | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | — | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | — | Front and Second Row Seats |
| Safety Notes | — | Front Departure Alert, Pedal Misoperation Control, Rear Cross Traffic Alert |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Halogen Reflector | LED Reflector with Matrix Adaptive Driving Beam |
| Taillamps | Normal Bulb | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | — | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | — | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Manual Adjustable | Manual Adjustable |
| Rear Seats | — | 60:40 Split-folding Middle Row with One-touch Tumble, Manual Sliding and Recline, Armrest, 50:50 Split-folding Last Row |
| Front Air-con | Manual Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control System |
| Rear Air-con | Rear Vents with Blower | Rear Vents with Adjustable Blower |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front | 1 Front, 1 Front USB, 2 Rear USB for Second Row |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | — | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | Radio CD/MP3 Player with 4 Speakers | 9.0" Touchscreen Infotainment System with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, USB and 6 Speakers |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Two Windows, Driver's Side Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch | Four Windows, Driver's Side Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch |
| Engine Start | Manual Key | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Remote Control Activation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | — | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | — | Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go and Steering Assist |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | — | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | — | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | — | Remote Control Activation |
| Parking Sensor Front | — | 2 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 2 Sensors | 2 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | — | Yes, With 360 Degree Camera |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | — | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | — | ✓ |
| Navigation | — | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | — | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | — | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | — | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | — | Auto Brake Hold |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 100,000 km | Unlimited✓ |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 3 years | 5 years✓ |
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.
Used Hiace & Veloz for sale
Hiace vs Veloz FAQ
Is the Toyota Hiace or Toyota Veloz better?
The Veloz is better for passenger transport: it seats seven, has a CVT, six airbags, stability control and Toyota Safety Sense. Choose the Hiace for commercial work needing its 260 Nm diesel, all-wheel drive and two-seat layout.
What is the price difference?
The Toyota Hiace costs RM28,000 more than the Toyota Veloz. Its annual road tax is also RM715 higher, at RM835 versus RM120.
Which has better safety equipment?
The Toyota Veloz is decisively better equipped: six airbags, stability control, blind spot information, rear cross traffic alert and pre-collision braking. The Hiace has driver and passenger airbags, ABS/EBD and no stability control.