Toyota Hiace vs Nissan Caravan- Full Comparison

Toyota Hiace and Nissan Caravan are among the top multipurpose Vans in the Kenyan market. You might be wondering which to pick, this article will help you with that. We are going to compare the specifications and capabilities of these two vehicles below so that by the end, you will be able to make an informed decision.

Toyota released Hiace in 1967 while Caravan was introduced by Nissan in 1973. Both of the vehicles are largely used for commercial purposes in Kenya, especially in the matatu business. While the Toyota Hiace is more expensive than the Nissan Caravan, it still remains on top and is more popular for reasons we will see below.

Toyota Hiace vs Nissan Caravan full comparison

Each of these vehicles has its own unique features. The best way to compare them is hence to look at the specs they come with head-on.

1. Toyota Hiace vs Toyota Caravan exterior

Both cars have a boxy shape, however, the Caravan has more curves.

Here is the exteriors comparison:

• Both cars have a high roof or standard  options
• In both vehicles, you will get 4/5 doors(two front/two or one back and the tailgate)
• The rear doors on both vans are sliding
• The ground clearance for Hiace is 7.3 inches while that of the Caravan is 6.7 inches. The recommended ground clearance on Kenyan roads is 6.5 inches
• In both cars, only higher trims have alloy rims and fog lights, the base trims do not have fog lights and come with steel rims

Also see: Toyota Noah Vs Toyota Voxy full comparison

2. Toyota Hiace vs Nissan Caravan interior

Both cars have a comfortable interior but the Nissan Caravan is more comfortable especially on the front seats.

Below are the interior specs of both vehicles:

• Both cars have a passenger capacity of up to 14 people
• The front seats of the Caravan are electric-powered while that of Hiace are manual
• The Caravan comes with an air conditioner even for the back seats
• In recent models of the cars, you find a rearview camera and a Navigation system
• Airbags are also fitted in both cars

As you can see from the above, both cars come with similar interior features and hence you won’t be trading off much if you decide to pick one over the other.

3. Toyota Hiace vs Toyota Caravan engines

Since there are both commercial vehicles, they come with powerful engines.

Here is the engine specs comparison:

• Toyota Hiace has engine capacity options of 2000cc, 2700cc or 3000cc, on the other hand, Nissan comes with engine capacity of either 2000cc petrol engine, 2500cc petrol engine or 2500cc diesel turbocharged engine
• For the Caravan, fuel consumption will range between 8km/l to 13km/l while the Hiace covers between 8km/l to 14km/l
• The engine power of the Hiace ranges between 133ps to 160ps, that of the Caravan is 147ps
• For a Hiace, you can choose between a Front Wheel Drive(FF) and All-Wheel Drive(AWD). The Caravan comes either as Rare Wheel Drive(FR) or All-Wheel Drive(AWD)
• In most Caravan models, you will find a 5-speed automatic transmission gear type. Hiace can have either a manual transmission or an automatic transmission
• Lastly, the tank capacity of Caravan is 65 liters while that of the Hiace is 70 liters

Caravan vs Hiace maintenance and reliability

Toyota cars are usually easy to maintain especially due to the availability of spare parts with ease. This is a similar case when it comes to Hiace. Nissan has over the year caught up but most mechanics do not understand Nissan cars well as they do for the Toyota ones.

When it comes to reliability, Hiace beats the Caravan, this might explain why it is more popular in Kenya. Nissan Caravan is associated with several problems, especially for the diesel engine. In fact, most people would advise you to buy the Hiace even though it has a higher purchase price since it will not have much maintenance cost like the Caravan.

Also see: Toyota Fielder vs Toyota Premio

Both cars have a good fuel economy, however, diesel engines are known to be more fuel economical than petrol ones. On the other hand, you will need to take good care of diesel engines to avoid frequent problems.

Both cars are good performers. It is however possible to get a Hiace with more power of about 160ps compared to the maximum of 147ps for the Caravan.

Above is a look at how the Toyota Hiace and the Nissan Caravan compare, we hope you found the article helpful. Cheers!!