The sight of a minibus might give some motorist a knot in their stomach but for most South Africans, the minibus represents their sole means of transport. One of the more, if not the most, popular vehicles in this segment is the Toyota Hiace Ses-Fikile. The Toyota minibus offer 16 seats including the driver and the “money counter” upfront.
Related: Nissan NV350 test drive: make sure to check these features out
The Hiace's main rival comes from Nissan in the form of an NV350 which not only offer the same amount seats but is also adorned with the South African flag on the exterior panels. The Toyota Hiace Ses-Fikile is offered in two derivatives, although similar in appearance, the one is fitted with a petrol motor while the other gets a diesel.
The figures
The diesel Hiace comes to market priced at R477 000 while the petrol variant is slightly more affordable at R450 200. Below we compare the two offerings to find out which is better.
| Toyota Hiace 2.5D-4D Ses-Fikile | Toyota Hiace 2.7 Ses-Fikile | |
| Engine | 2.5-litre, turbocharged, four-cylinder, diesel | 2.7-litre, four-cylinder, petrol |
| Power | 75 kW | 111 kW |
| Torque | 260 N.m | 241 N.m |
| Fuel Consumption | 9.9 L / 100 km | 14.3 L / 100 km |
| Fuel Range Average (70-litre tank) | 707 km | 490 km |
| CO2 Emissions | 266 g/km | 339 g/km |
| Warranty | 3-year / 100 000 km | 3-year / 100 000 km |
Verdict
The petrol variant is capable of 111 kW which allows it to get up to speed quicker but the diesel offering has more torque which will give it the advantage on inclines or during overtaking when fully occupied. The diesel is also notably more frugal than the petrol offering, which is a great advantage when considering that most of these vehicles will occupy the transport industry.
Taking into consideration that most of these vehicles will cover great distances over their lifetime, the diesel offering makes the most sense even with the price difference of R26 800. Being able to achieve more range with the same amount of fuel will save the owner money over the vehicle's ownership cycle and allow the vehicle to remain active on the road for longer stints.
If a taxi is broken and in for repairs, it is effectively costing money and not making money for the owner, this is why parts availability is also an important factor to consider when purchasing a minibus to be used for transport. Provided that not only does the Toyota Hiace Ses-Fikile share engine components with other popular models in Toyota's product portfolio but also locally manufactured means that parts will be easy to come by. Because of these factors, the Toyota Hiace 2.5D-4D Ses-Fikile is our winner.
Recommended next:
EXCLUSIVE! World’s most capable 4x4 minibus coming to SA!
Nissan NV350 vs Ford Tourneo Custom vs Hyundai H1: which one has the lowest running costs?
