Toyota HIACE SLWB 2024 Review

In Malaysia's business vehicle market, the demand for 10-seater luxury MPVs has remained consistently strong. Corporate clients need models that balance brand reliability and passenger comfort, while family users prefer spacious options for group travel. The 2024 Toyota HIACE SLWB, as a popular contender in this segment, enters the market with reliable diesel power output, the spacious benefits of an extended wheelbase, and targeted configuration upgrades. Our core objective during this test drive is to evaluate its actual performance in daily business receptions and long-distance family travel scenarios to determine if it truly lives up to its "Luxury" positioning.

From an exterior standpoint, the 2024 HIACE SLWB maintains the classic square design of Toyota MPVs, with simple and clean lines devoid of overly intricate designs. The front features a large trapezoidal grille, accented with chrome trims, connected to the halogen headlights on either side. While it doesn't adopt the sharp designs currently in trend, it exudes a strong business feel with high recognition. The extended wheelbase (3860mm) on the side of the vehicle is a standout feature, with a straight waistline running from the front to the rear end. The sliding side door design makes it convenient for rear passengers to get in and out—especially practical for a 10-seater model. The rear portion maintains a minimalist style, with vertically arranged tail lights and rear fog lights, coupled with the square tailgate design, embodying the steady demeanor of a business MPV. In terms of lighting, the standard daytime running lights and front and rear fog lights provide decent visibility under Malaysia's variable weather conditions.

Opening the door to enter the interior, the overall style leans towards functionalism, with a dark interior paired with silver trims. The materials primarily consist of hard plastic, but the joints and finishes are relatively well-executed. The central control layout is clear, with the 7-inch central touchscreen positioned centrally. Although the screen is not very large, its operation is simple and easy to use. The front seats feature 6-way manual adjustment, allowing the driver to quickly find a comfortable position; the front passenger and second-row seats offer 4-way adjustment. The rear seats are equipped with adjustable backrests and headrests, ensuring that every passenger in the 10-seat layout has independent headroom. As for features, the multi-functional steering wheel, MID multi-functional dashboard, and 220V/230V power outlets are all standard equipment, particularly the rear-seat power outlets, which are highly convenient for business passengers working on the go or family users charging their devices. However, the front air conditioning is manually adjustable, and there are only two speakers, leaving some room for improvement in terms of luxury details.

Space is one of the core strengths of the HIACE SLWB. With a length of 5915mm and a wheelbase of 3860mm, the 10-seat layout ensures that each row offers sufficient legroom for adult passengers—passengers who are 175cm tall can sit in the last row with about a fist's width of space between their knees and the seat in front. In terms of storage, the front door panels are equipped with cup holders and storage slots, and there is a small storage compartment below the center console. Even with all 10 seats occupied, the trunk can still accommodate three 20-inch suitcases, and folding down the last row of seats allows for further expansion of the storage space.

In terms of power, the 2.8T diesel engine provides a maximum power of 177PS and a maximum torque of 450N·m, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. During daily driving, power output is smooth during start-up, without the typical "jerkiness" often associated with diesel vehicles. Upon acceleration to 60 km/h, the torque becomes more apparent, and stepping hard on the accelerator during overtaking sees the transmission shift gears responsively with smooth power transition. However, when fully loaded with 10 passengers and luggage, sufficient distance needs to be reserved for highway overtaking. The standard driving mode is adequate for city roads and highways, with light steering that makes it easy to handle, even for female drivers.

The chassis part adopts MacPherson independent suspension for both the front and rear. When driving on flat urban roads, the vehicle body stability is good; when passing speed bumps or bumpy roads, the suspension can filter out most of the minor vibrations, but rear passengers can still feel slight jolts. At high speeds, wind noise and diesel engine noise are within acceptable limits, but when the speed exceeds 100km/h, wind noise slightly increases. Regarding fuel consumption, the measured fuel consumption under mixed road conditions is about 9.5L/100km, which is slightly higher than the official figure of 8.2L, but considering the vehicle weight and fully loaded scenarios, this result is still reasonable. The braking system features front and rear ventilated discs, with a linear braking response, and the vehicle maintains a stable posture during emergency braking.

In conclusion, the core advantages of the 2024 Toyota HIACE SLWB lie in its spacious 10-seat capacity, stable diesel power output, and practical business configurations. Compared to competitors in the same class (such as the Nissan NV350), its brand reliability and resale value are more competitive. However, in terms of interior luxury details and entertainment configurations, it is not as strong as some emerging MPV players. This vehicle is more suitable for corporate business receptions, large families frequently traveling with multiple people, or individual operators needing to handle both passenger and light cargo transport. Overall, the HIACE SLWB is a "practical" MPV. It does not feature fancy designs, but it meets the core needs of its target users in terms of space, power, and reliability.