Toyota Proace (2013 – 2016) Review

Toyota Proace (2013 – 2016) At A Glance

4/5

+Hiace replacement gets twin sliding side doors, well equipped as standard including Bluetooth, very refined and comfortable on the motorway, good driving position.

-Based on the Citroen Dispatch and has same fiddly stereo and some below par interior plastics.

Replacing the dependable Hiace, the Proace is Toyota's new medium van and if it looks familiar that's because it's a rebadged version of the Citroen Dispatch and Peugeot Expert. These are two of the best vans around so it makes sense for Toyota to use its this as the base for its new panel van. Toyota, Peugeot and Citroen have worked together before of course, the result being the Aygo, 107 and C1.

The Proace is a neat looking design and there's a good choice of variants with two heights and lengths plus the option of a crew cab van which seats up to six people. The standard length van offers impressive space with a load capacity of 5m3 and eight anchor points set into the floor.

There are three engine options - a 1.6-litre diesel with 90PS and 180Nm of torque or two versions of the excellent 2.0-litre diesel, one with 128PS and the more powerful with 163PS. The 1.6-litre engine has a five-speed manual while the 2.0-litre engines come with a six-speed gearbox. All engines are Euro V compliant.

There's just one specification level in the Proace and it comes with a high level of equipment. Standard features include twin sliding side doors, front fog lights, heated electric door mirrors, electric windows, Bluetooth, central locking and air conditioning.

The cabin is decent quality, although there are a few let downs like the fiddly stereo and some questionable plastics, but overall it's comfortable and feels well screwed together. Features like the height adjustable driver's seat and a steering column that adjusts for both height and reach mean the driving position is spot on. Another reason to choose the Toyota is the fact it comes with a five-year 100,000 mile pan-European warranty as standard.

Ask Honest John

What's the best trickle charger?

"My Toyota Proace is not used very often resulting in the battery draining down. Will a solar powered trickle charger keep the battery topped up? I am considering a model with EOPD plug as i understand this will charge the battery without having to connect crocodile clips to the car battery, leaving the bonnet open. Will this work? What model and power of solar panel would you recommend?"
A trickle charger is an ideal solution for a car that is left for long periods. We would recommend the CTEK MXS charger which we reviewed here: https://kit.honestjohn.co.uk/reviews/review-ctek-battery-charger-mxs-50/ We have not tested a solar charger that connects via your OBD port, so we cannot say for certain how effective they are, but a solar charger would avoid the need to have the charger plugged into the mains.
Answered by David Ross

What used van do you recommend for £8000?

"I'm looking at buying a Toyota Proace, Peugeot Expert or Citroen Dispatch (around three years old). It’s for my business, but will also need to tow my caravan. Is the 2.0-litre Proace the better option due to its weight and five-year warranty? I have about £8000 to spend."
They are effectively all the same van, so prioritise condition and history over the badge. That means a fully documented service record and wallet of receipts to show any work that's been done. It's also important to note that the previous-generation Toyota Proace was only ever sold with a three-year warranty; the five-year cover was introduced with the 2016 van: https://vans.honestjohn.co.uk/van-reviews/toyota/proace-2016/ That said, a good 2.0-litre Proace/Expert/Dispatch will suit your business needs, but opt for the more powerful 160PS version if you're planning to tow on a regular basis. For all of our used van buying tips, see: https://vans.honestjohn.co.uk/how-to-buy-and-sell/top-10-tips-to-buying-a-used-van/
Answered by Dan Powell
More Questions

What does a Toyota Proace (2013 – 2016) cost?