2008 Hyundai iMax & iLoad preview
January 3, 2008 by Matt Brogan
Hyundai just keep the punches coming. First the sensational i30, which has worked wonders for the once cheap and cheerful manufacturer’s image, now comes the i-series van which will continue to see the big H fight well above their weight in the ring of global dominance.
Set to rival both commercial and passenger vans in one king hit, the i-series vans will square up to the likes of Express, Hiace, Transit, Trafic, Tarago, Carnival and Viano.
Soon to arrive in Australia as either the eight-seat people mover (iMax) and commercial van (iLoad), the range can be extended to include nine, 11 and 12 seat configurations over its 5125mm frame (wheel base is 3200mm).
Available in manual or automatic, and powered by either 2.4 litre petrol (125kW & 223Nm) or 2.5 litre turbo diesel (125kW & 392Nm) the i-series come complete with 16-inch alloy wheels, MacPherson strut suspension (up front) and rear wheel drive.
Encompassing a raft of features including dual sliding doors, lift or twin-swing (barn type) rear doors (commercial only), reverse park assist, roof mounted rear ventilation and sliding rear side windows, the i-series will be available shortly through dealerships as well as making an appearance at Melbourne Motor Show in March.
Print it: 
Sidor:
I cannot remember the exact link but if you type Toyota in google & then find Toyotas UK web-site, you will then see their HiAce icon. Not sure though about “SBV”, but the site has all the specs & pictures to look at. Hope that helps Sidor.
Cheers !
has no one noticed how cheap the i-load looks inside? its cheap plastic! the tie down points in the rear dont allow you to put pallets in if you want to. the bench seat is pretty poor too. they’ve tried way too hard
iload is sooooooooooooooooo ugly, more korean crap……………
Because i got one hand in my pocket and the other hand striking a piano.
Thinking of selling my Mitsubishi Express WALKTHRU model (with the ‘nose’) and replace it with either iLoad, HiAce or Renault Traffic. I can get a HiAce 2008 Diesel Auto driveaway (fleet price) for $37000 from New Town Toyota Perth. BUT this model hasnt got the SBV (Note: In Europe and UK, they dont sell this Asian/Australian Model as they considered it dangerous, HiAce got the SBV model -open http://www.toyota.co.uk-for them; That’s mean Toyota dont give a shit about us down under, we can all crash and lose our legs). BUT when considering that the price different is only $2000 between a HiAce and iLoad, I might as well go with the crowd and get a HiAce (and insure my knees for a million bucks). Renault Traffic and Vito is nice, but I dont have the big bucks like you plumbers and electricians! So for a lowly courier (Australia Post Parcel Post) like me—-then I might as well keep my Express WalkThru.Alas!
I have just purchased a new I-load van after doing much research comparing specs, test drives and very importantly, price.
I will be first to say that any product bearing the toyota badge is brilliant and the build quality of my German built family car (BMW 3 series) is up there but when it came to my van i couldnt go past the I-Load.
In my eyes no vans are pretty but the I-load isnt ugly, the front lights grow on you,I am rapped so far, beautiful powerful diesel with flat torque curve and no turbo lag, good on fuel,great load space handling 8X4 sheets easy, i know other vans do also but my old mazda(econo equiv) didnt.
And 5 years warranty (160,000kms commercial)
Still rear wheel drive,a bit plasticy inside maybe but so are a lot of new cars including some Toyotas.
Had i not cared about value for money i admit i may have got a Merc to match my other german car but could not get close to seeing the benefits in the extra cost.
I hope i havent made a mistake buying korean but gut feel tells me not based hyundais history so far.
Excellent van,pleasure to drive as far as vans go,feels solid,miss the window in the left slider that my mazda had but have ordered a glass ex Korea to fit in door, not expensive either.Agree you wouldnt want to be a big guy in centre seat but not an issue for me.
One critisism tho,central keyless locking, one sideways button does both lock and unlock and unless you count the flashes of the lights its sometimes hard to know whether its locked or not.
I feel one will see a lot more i-loads on the road in the near future
Squiggler: Have you had an 8×4 sheet in the back? The iLoad brochure has back at 2375.
I’m 6′7 and can’t fit in the new Hiace. Leg is too tight between door and steering wheel, and the cabin is just too cramped!! The iLoad is very spacious by comparison.
Still looking around. The iLoad diesel specs are very 125km and 392Nm are very impressive. The build quality and safety aspect of the Express turns me off but the price is tempting.
its shitter than shit
Once Upon A Time on this website I praises iLoad, bought one, convinced a friend to buy one too, and convinced another buyer reading this forum. A friend who uses a HiAce advised me dont buy this Hyundai as sooner or later something ’small’ will fall apart and I said no way, Hyundai has changed. Well, as I am a courier for Australia Post which mean I have to open the door at least 1000 times a week the door latch broke and I have to open the window (and its 40ºC today in Perth)to unlock the door from the outside. And Hyundai took their sweet time to get the spare part from Sydney to Perth (ordered Tuesday and they must have send it through the Nullarbor) and wont arrive until Tuesday. So, iLoad has its good look (just like having a pretty wife but she got ‘headache’ all the time) but when this ’small’ thing happen to a major like door its DAMN ANNOYING. So DONT BUY iLoad its full of iShit!!!
After taking a ILOAD for a test trive, I traded in my vito 112 and got a new Iload rather than a new vito 115. Apart from saving over $20.000. I also get a 5 year warranty. Ive been a vito fan for years, had 3 of them including the new 120 v6. And honestly the Iload is a better vehicle than the 115 vito and not far behind the $65 grand v6 120 vito. Its so smooth and powerfull not to mention the service costs are a quarter of what mercedes charge..
Each to there own I guess, but I love the Iload, and If you compair the fnish between the 2 crew cab modles he Hyundai puts the vto crew cab to shame, as it comes with carpet,hoodliner and door trimming..ect ect
i bought an i load april last year not a great lot of room in the back drives great though. Servicing is quite expensive average 500 – 600 just did 60k service 650.00 + brakes need to be done genuine only 800 for pads and 300 for machine plus fitting had basic service done trading it in asap on different van. 100k service was told would be arround 2000 for timing and water pump. Was told when bought van it was cheap to service arround 300 – 380. ??????
lol. many hyundai haters are working in this site.
but, i can’t believe their claim.
Certainly, Hyundai is better quality than any GM, Holden vehicle.