Honda Amaze vs Toyota Hiace

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

Honda Amaze in South Africa

Honda Amaze

1.2 Comfort CVT Petrol CVT Current
ZAR 289,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 66 kW 🔧 110 Nm ⛽ 18.2 km/l
VS
Toyota Hiace in South Africa

Toyota Hiace

2.5D Panel Van MT Diesel 5-Speed Manual Current
ZAR 680,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 75 kW 🔧 260 Nm ⛽ 11.8 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Honda Amaze vs Toyota Hiace: the short answer

Amaze and Hiace are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Amaze starts ZAR 426,000 cheaper Amaze from ZAR 254,900 · Hiace from ZAR 680,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Amaze Hiace
Maximum Power Amaze66 kW Hiace75 kW
Maximum Torque Amaze110 Nm Hiace260 Nm
Engine Size Amaze1199 cc Hiace2494 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Amaze18.2 km/l Hiace11.8 km/l
Ground Clearance Amaze170 mm Hiace175 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

Independent editorial assessment

Hagalu editorial ratings

When a variant is selected, its rating out of five applies only to that exact derivative; a model-range review is not inherited. Editorial ratings are separate from the Specification Evidence Index out of 100 and are not customer ratings.

Honda Amaze

1.2 Comfort CVT

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Toyota Hiace

2.5D Panel Van MT

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Not yet rated means a complete review is not published; it does not mean the vehicle scored zero. Read the rating methodology.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Amaze

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency
Specification evidence leader

Hiace

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

Amaze

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

Hiace

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Amaze Hiace
Model Introduced Year 2018 2019
Generation Based on Honda’s compact car platform optimized for affordability, efficiency, and ease of use H300 generation – front-engine layout replacing the previous cab-over design
Facelift History Introduced in South Africa as a practical entry sedan with minor updates over time in features and safety Current H300 generation launched in SA in 2019 – major redesign from rear-engine layout
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2019
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Sedan Van
Color Note White, Silver, Grey, Red, Blue White, Silver
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup Base grade in the South Africa lineup
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active active
Segment Sedan Van
Tare Mass Kg 954 kg 2080 kg
Vehicle Type Sedan Van
Spec Amaze Hiace
Length 3995 mm 5380 mm
Width 1695 mm 1880 mm
Height 1498 mm 2285 mm
Wheelbase 2470 mm 2985 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 170 mm 175 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 170 mm 125 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 35 l 70 l
Boot/Cargo Space 420 l 5200 l
Kerb Weight 954 kg 2080 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1380 kg 3500 kg
Payload Capacity 426 kg 1420 kg
Towing Capacity 900 kg 2000 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 2 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 1 rows
Doors 4 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 4.9 m 6.5 m
Front Headroom 990 mm 992 mm
Rear Headroom 920 mm Not Applicable
Front Legroom 770 mm 1032 mm
Rear Legroom 920 mm Not Applicable

In depth: how these cars differ

This Amaze and Hiace comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: Amaze 26 vs Hiace 37.

Efficiency index: Amaze 69 vs Hiace 48.

Safety-equipment index: Amaze 50 vs Hiace 44.

Practicality index: Amaze 56 vs Hiace 71.

Ownership-cover index: Amaze 43 vs Hiace 43.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

Hiace leads by 1 points

Amaze and Hiace are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 49 /100
Lead 1 points
Data 84% source coverage
49
#1 Evidence leader

Hiace

84% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Practicality 71 Check Performance 37
Performance 37
Efficiency 48
Safety 44
Practicality 71
Ownership 43
Leads by 1 points
48
#2

Amaze

86% source coverage 0 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 69 Check Performance 26
Performance 26
Efficiency 69
Safety 50
Practicality 56
Ownership 43
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Hiace +11 Efficiency Amaze +21 Safety Amaze +6 Practicality Hiace +15 Ownership Level

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Hiace

Performance 37/100
Efficiency 48/100
Safety 44/100
Practicality 71/100
Ownership 43/100

Amaze

Performance 26/100
Efficiency 69/100
Safety 50/100
Practicality 56/100
Ownership 43/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Toyota Hiace leads the specification evidence index with 49 pts vs 48 pts for Amaze

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Hiace leads. However, Amaze may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

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Amaze vs Hiace questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.