It's arrival allows Toyota to re-enter a segment of the market in which they haven't been able to compete at full strength for some time, and which accounted for over 2,000 sales last year, equal to 30 percent of the commercial vehicle market here. This sector is currently dominated by Ford and Volkswagen.
As the Toyota Hiace sold 113 units last year, Proace has a big legacy to live up to. It's aimed mostly at tradesmen - carpenters, electricians, for deliveries, construction workers or for the manager of a fleet, providing a work office, or as a meeting room.
Five versions are offered - a 1.6 SWB GL, 2.0 SWB GX, 2.0 LWB GX, 2.0 LWB GX Hi-Roof and a 2.0 LWB GX Crew Cab. The volume seller is expected to be the 2.0 LWB 128bhp GX spec. At €22,250 it underprices all the competition.
The LWB GX is 5,143mm in length, 1,895mm wide and 1,980mm high. Payload is 1,160kg; towing capacity is 2 tons. The 1.6D-4D, with 5-speed manual transmission, returns a combined fuel consumption of 6.7 L/100kms while the 2.0D-4D 128bhp with a 6-speed gearbox and a healthy 320Nm of torque, returns 6.4 L/100km. Tank capacity is 80 litres.
Standard features on the entry level GL spec include VSC, Daytime Running Lights, driver's airbag, a full bulkhead with window, front foglamps, dual sliding doors, double locking, tilt and telescopic steering, power windows, a multi information display and cupholders.
Prices range from €20,450 for the 1.6 SWB GL spec, the 2.0 SWB GX is another €1,300 (€21,750); the 2.0 LWB GX is priced from €22,250, the LWB GX Hi-Roof comes in at €23,750 and the Crew Cab at €28,750.
