Production Models

This edition of Car Review takes a close look at the Toyota Hiace Super Grandia Elite.

Filipinos have a love affair with vans.

Over the years, automakers have found success providing vans to families as well as traders and businessmen needing shuttles for passengers or cargo.

Then automakers began rolling out vans from merely utilitarian people carriers to more luxurious and comfortable rides for families, providing vans for the low to the high end of the market.

Toyota has the Hiace, a popular vehicle for providers of shuttle services, and for families.

It has also rolled out the Hiace Super Grandia Elite to cater to the market for higher end luxurious vans

The top-of-line Hiace projects is imposing in size at 5300 millimeters long, 1970 mm wide and 1990 mm tall, but nonetheless projects elegance and class.

It comes with a long wheelbase, at 3210mm, and clears the ground by a good 175mm.

The fascia of the Hiace Super Grandia Elite looks both classy and modern at the same time with a design that -like both profile and rear - should age well.

It is modern not only in design but also with exterior features and functions starting with the Bi-Beam LED headlamps with integrated turn signals and automatic leveling device.

The Super Grandia Elite also comes with LED front fog lamps, headlamp cleaner, rain-sensing wipers in front and intermittent wipers with mist in the rear, rear window defogger with timer, rear roof spoiler, and cool 17-inch alloy rims shod in 235/60R17 tires.

The large sliding doors on both sides of the Hiace Super Grandia are powered making ingress and egress so much more convenient, especially with Smart Key entry system integrated with the push button start.

The rear door also features an Auto Easy Closer function that makes loading luggage and other stuff also quite convenient.

The interior of the Super Grandia Elite matches the classy look and elegance of the outside with lots of leather for trim and wood for accents.

The cabin has room for 10 in seats ensconced in leather.

Up front the driver enjoys the comfort of a six-way power adjusting seat; the front passenger's just slides and reclines.

The best and most comfortable seats are in the row just behind the driver-power adjusting captain's chairs with ottoman.

Two more captain's chairs are behind those.

The rearmost bench seat can accommodate four passengers. It splits and folds 50:50 to accommodate more luggage and other stuff in the back.

All occupants in the van have use of cupholders or bottleholders within easy reach. Toyota counts 21 of these in the Super Grandia Elite.

Ambient interior lighting adjusts for color and brightness.

Other comfort and convenience features in the Super Grandia Elite include power speed-sensing doorlocks, power windows for driver and front seat passenger, outside rearview mirrors that power adjust and retract, 12-volt outlets, seven USB ports with six in the rear for charging devices, sun shades, electrochromatic rear view mirror, and automatic climate control with Nanoe technology that purifies the air and keep the cabin smelling fresh.

The infotainment system in the Super Grandia Elite feature a touchscreen display and plays CD/DVD/MP3/FLAC.

It comes with AUX port, Bluetooth, T-Link for both Apple and Android mobile phones, K2 technology and six speakers.

While most people employ drivers for vans for family like the Hiace, owners themselves can enjoy driving the Super Grandia Elite.

The driver's seat is quite comfortable and well-bolstered. Six-way power adjust and the steering wheel that tilts and telescopes make it easy to get the perfect driving position.

Wrapped in leather and with wood accents, the steering wheel provides good comfortable grip as well as very convenient buttons and switches for such functions as audio, phone, cruise control, multi-information display.

The expansive windshield and large windows provide a great view of traffic road conditions.

The Optitron gauge and 4.2 inch TFT display are perfectly placed and easy to read.

The leather-covered shift lever is mounted on the dash.

The Super Grandia Elite is powered by a 2.8-liter 1GD-FTV diesel engine that maxes out at 176 PS at 3500 rpm and 450 Newton-meters of torque from 1600 to 2400 rpm.

Mated to a six-speed automatic transmission that sends power and torque to the rear wheels, the engine is relatively smooth and quiet for a diesel-fuelled powertrain.

The 1990mm height means the Super Grandia Elite can park in most underground and multi-level parking lots.

It is also very maneuverable for a 5300mm-long van with a 3210mm-long wheelbase, owing perhaps to a relatively tight 5.5-meter minimum tire turning radius.

Variable power steering allows for light steering feel going slow, great when parking, but heavier and safer at speed.

The Super Grandia is surefooted on the road, riding on a suspension system that features McPherson struts in front and 4-link coil spring in the rear.

The brakes use ventilated discs on the front and rear wheels.

The Hiace Super Grandia Elite is equipped with Toyota Safety Sense, advanced safety technologies that include Pre-Collision System, Lane Departure Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control and Automatic High Beam.

Adaptive Cruise Control is particularly helpful in maintaining proper speed limits at tollways.

The Super Grandia comes standard with other driver assist and safety technologies that give driver confidence on the road.

These include Anti-Lock Brake System, Vehicle Stability Control with Brake ASsist, Hill Start Assist, as well as SRS airbags, 3-point seatbelts for all 10 occupants, Child Restraint System with Isofix and Tether Anchors, and Toyota Vehicle Security System.

Parking is also made easier with Clearance and Back Sonar as well as the Back Monitor integrated into the inside rear view mirror.

Is the Toyota Hiace Super Grandia Elite worth the more than 3 million peso price tag? It makes a pretty good case that it is.