Toyota Hiace vs Volkswagen Golf GTI
Verdict
This is a use-case fight more than a normal car comparison. The Toyota Hiace costs RM169,000 and gives a Malaysian buyer 10 seats, rear-wheel drive, a 2.8-litre diesel with 450 Nm and a 70-litre tank. The Volkswagen Golf GTI is RM244,012, seats five and trades space for pace: 261 hp, 0-100 km/h in 5.9 seconds, 250 km/h and a wet dual-clutch gearbox. The Hiace is cheaper to buy but costlier to tax at RM1,248 a year; the GTI’s road tax is RM372.
Pick the Toyota Hiace if you need 10 seats, a huge body and diesel torque for people-carrying duties.
Pick the Volkswagen Golf GTI if you want five-seat practicality with 261 hp, 5.9-second acceleration and listed AEB.
Key differences
- Price: Toyota Hiace RM169,000; Volkswagen Golf GTI RM244,012
- Seats: Toyota Hiace 10; Volkswagen Golf GTI 5
- Power and torque: Toyota Hiace 175 hp/450 Nm; Volkswagen Golf GTI 261 hp/370 Nm
- Size: Toyota Hiace 5,915 mm long/2,280 mm tall; Volkswagen Golf GTI 4,289 mm long/1,437 mm tall
- Safety kit: Toyota Hiace 6 airbags/AEB not listed; Volkswagen Golf GTI 7 airbags/AEB Yes
- Road tax: Toyota Hiace RM1,248 a year; Volkswagen Golf GTI RM372 a year
Hiace
- 10 seats
- 450 Nm diesel torque
- 5-year warranty
- RM1,248 annual road tax
- AEB not listed
- Much taller and longer than the GTI
Golf GTI
- 261 hp and 5.9-second 0-100 km/h
- 7 airbags plus AEB
- Lower RM372 annual road tax
- RM75,012 dearer to buy
- Only 5 seats
- 2-year warranty
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 169,000✓ | RM 244,012 |
| Body type | Commercial | Hatchback |
| Segment | Commercial | C-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC with Common-rail Direct Injection, Variable Geometry Turbocharger and Variable Valve Timing | 16-valve DOHC with direct fuel injection, turbocharger and variable intake valve timing |
| Capacity | 2,755 cc | 1,984 cc |
| Horsepower | 175 hp | 261 hp✓ |
| Torque | 450 Nm✓ | 370 Nm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline | Inline |
| Timing Type | Chain | Chain |
| Fuel | Diesel | Petrol |
| Bore | 92 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 15.6 | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) |
| Transmission Name | 6 Speed Sequential Automatic | 7-Speed DSG |
| Gears | 6 | 7 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Toyota | — |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | — | 5.9 seconds |
| Top Speed | — | 250 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,915 mm | 4,289 mm |
| Width | 1,950 mm | 1,789 mm |
| Height | 2,280 mm | 1,437 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,860 mm | 2,631 mm |
| Weight | 2,550 kg | — |
| Fuel Tank | 70 litres | 50 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 5 |
| Seats | 10 | 5 |
| Boot Space | — | 350 litres |
| Front Tyre | 235/65R16C | 225/40R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 235/65R16C | 225/40R18 |
| Spare Tyre | — | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | — | Bridgestone Potenza S001 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Afghanistan (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Chassis | Ladder-frame | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Leaf Spring | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 16" Steel | 18" Richmond Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 16" Steel | 18" Richmond Alloys |
| Front Brakes | Ventilated Disc | Ventilated Discs |
| Rear Brakes | Ventilated Disc | Solid Discs |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC), Electronic Differential Lock (XDS) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Driver's Knee | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Front Center Airbag |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | — | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 10 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | — | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | — | Available for two outer rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | — | Yes, with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection |
| Lane-keeping Assist | No | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | — | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Halogen Reflector | IQ.Light Matrix LED Projector |
| Taillamps | Normal Bulb | Full LED with Sequential Indicators |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | — | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Manual Adjustable | Power Adjustable Driver's Seat with 3-person Memory, Manual Adjustable Passenger Seat |
| Rear Seats | Manual recline | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Manual Air-con | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear Vents with Blower | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 Front USB-C, 2 Rear USB-C |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | — | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | 7" Infotainment Touchscreen with 2 Speakers | 12.9" Digital Cockpit Pro with Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, 9-speaker Harman Kardon Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Two Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch | Four Windows, 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 | — | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | — | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | — | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | — |
| Paddle Shift | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | — | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Manual Operation | Remote Control Activation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 2 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | — | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | — | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | — | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Backlit Analogue | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Handbrake | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years✓ | 2 years |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 1,248 | RM 372✓ |
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.
Hiace vs Golf GTI FAQ
Is the Toyota Hiace or Volkswagen Golf GTI better?
The Hiace is better for carrying people, with 10 seats and a 70-litre diesel tank. The Golf GTI is better for performance, with 261 hp, 0-100 km/h in 5.9 seconds and a 250 km/h top speed.
What is the price difference?
The Volkswagen Golf GTI costs RM75,012 more than the Toyota Hiace. The Hiace is RM169,000, while the Golf GTI is RM244,012.
Which is cheaper to tax every year?
The Volkswagen Golf GTI is cheaper to tax at RM372 a year. The Toyota Hiace costs RM1,248 a year, so the annual road tax gap is RM876.