2026 Toyota Hiace Facelift Arrives with Enhanced Safety & New Features

While the Hiace gets a multitude of exterior and interior updates, the powertrain options have been carried over Global-spec Hiace moved into its 6th generation (H300) in 2019. But in Japan, Toyota continues to sell the older 5th-gen model (H200) that was launched in 2004. After nearly 22 years, the Hiace is finally set to receive some useful updates for the 2026 model year in Japan. Let’s check out the details. 2026 Toyota Hiace – What’s new? Japan-spec Toyota Hiace was last updated in 2013. At that time, the front fascia was refreshed, featuring updates to the grille, lighting elements and bumper. In 2026, the focus is more on adding new tech and features. As far as exteriors are concerned, the updates are limited to revised Bi-LED headlight signatures. Other than that, there are no other major exterior changes to the 2026 Toyota Hiace in Japan. Moving inside, one can notice updates such as an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 7-inch digital instrument cluster. Both of these are now offered as standard across all variants of the 2026 Hiace. The touchscreen can be used for navigation and accessing the panoramic view monitor feature. Base model gets more utility with features such as a new rear door stop function. In comparison, higher trims focus on enhancing comfort and convenience. For context, the Super GL variant of 2026 Hiace gets heated front seats as part of the standard equipment. Passenger safety has also improved with the 2026 Toyota Hiace. The updated model gets Toyota’s latest Safety Sense suite, which brings a comprehensive range of ADAS features. Key highlights include lane change assist, radar cruise control with curve speed control and road sign assist. The van also gets a more robust pre-crash safety system, featuring a wider range of crash avoidance capabilities. Customization options 2026 Hiace will continue to offer a wide range of optional upgrades and accessories. These include exterior styling kits as well as interior customizations from Modellista and GR Parts. A wide range of official Toyota accessories, covering both leisure and commercial needs, are also available. To demonstrate the customization options with the Hiace, Toyota has showcased some custom styles for the van. For example, the Overland is better suited for outdoor use, whereas the Active Cruiser is meant for surfing and marine sports. Similarly, the Cool Luxury is for highways, whereas Urban City is for daily commutes. Also available is the Craft Man, which is especially suited for construction workers. Same powertrains 2026 Toyota Hiace continues with the same powertrain options as available earlier. There’s a 2.0-litre petrol engine that generates 160 PS and 182 Nm of torque. Buyers can also go with the 2.8-litre diesel engine that generates 151 PS and 300 Nm of torque. Both engines are paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Both RWD and 4WD drivetrain options are offered with the Hiace. 2026 Hiace – Launch, pricing Toyota will launch the 2026 Hiace in Japan on 2nd February. Depending on their needs, buyers can choose from available options such as van, wagon and commuter formats. The base model is being offered at a starting price of JPY 2,860,000 (Rs 16.45 lakh). The top variant, Super GL Dark Prime II diesel, is available at JPY 4,683,800 (Rs 26.95 lakh). In the future, it is possible that Toyota could introduce a fully electric version of the Hiace. A concept version of the same was showcased at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show. However, Toyota has not provided any specific details about the launch timeline.