2021 Toyota HiAce V6 petrol to be axed
Australia’s top-selling van range is about to undergo a minor revision, and the days are numbered for the powerful petrol V6.
The Toyota HiAce van range is about to lose the powerful V6 petrol option barely two years after going on sale.
The new-generation Toyota HiAce was introduced in 2019; the latest semi-bonneted design was the first complete overhaul of the iconic van in 15 years.
The petrol V6 version of the Toyota HiAce is understood to have represented less than 10 per cent of the sales mix, with more than 90 per cent of demand for the new model so far being driven by the 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder.
The Toyota HiAce powered by a petrol V6 was available with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission and sent drive to the rear wheels.
As the most powerful van in its class, Toyota even launched the vehicle at a test track and invited media to drift the new HiAce on a closed course.
However, those shenanigans will soon be a distant memory.
Toyota dealers have been advised that production of the Toyota HiAce V6 petrol is due to come to an end in the coming months, with the last batch arriving from June onwards. Remaining stock is expected to be exhausted by the end of the year.
The departure of the Toyota HiAce V6 follows the axing of V6 versions of the Toyota Camry sedan and, four years ago, the petrol V6 version of the current-generation Toyota HiLux.
Toyota is aiming to streamline its model range to avoid complexity and increase the chances of having the right mix of vehicles in stock.
Drive understands there are no changes to the 2.8-litre turbo diesel four-cylinder versions of the Toyota HiAce – which are also available with a choice of six-speed manual or six-speed auto transmissions.
Although the grille of the new-generation Toyota HiAce has a provision for a radar sensor – to enable radar cruise control – that option is yet to be added to the HiAce.
And the power of the Toyota HiAce’s 2.8-litre turbo diesel four-cylinder is understood to remain pegged at 130kW/450Nm (rather than receiving the Toyota HiLux’s upgraded 150kW/500Nm output).
Service intervals for the Toyota HiAce and Toyota HiLux remain at a relatively short six months or 10,000km (whichever comes first), even though most new passenger cars introduced by Toyota have been upgraded to 12-month/15,000km service intervals.
Toyota is yet to publicly confirm the axing of the HiAce V6 petrol, but dealers say they have been advised. Drive will update this story when more information becomes available.
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