Volkswagen Caddy Cargo vs Toyota Hiace

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Volkswagen Caddy Cargo in South Africa

Volkswagen Caddy Cargo

Maxi Cargo 2.0 TDI Manual Diesel Current
ZAR 646,650 ex-showroom
⚡ 81 kW 🔧 300 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

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Caddy Cargo
Fuel Economy Caddy Cargo
🛡 Safety Caddy Cargo
📦 Practicality Hiace
🔑 Ownership Not enough comparable data
Caddy Cargo starts ZAR 214,200 cheaper Caddy Cargo from ZAR 466,700 · Hiace from ZAR 680,900

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec Caddy Cargo Hiace
Maximum Power 81 kW 75 kW
Maximum Torque 300 Nm 260 Nm
Engine Size 1968 cc 2494 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 18.2 km/l 11.8 km/l
Ground Clearance 144 mm 175 mm
Boot / Load Bay 3900 l 5200 l
Airbags Front airbags 2
Kerb Weight 1706 kg 2080 kg
Seating Capacity 2 seats 2 seats
Warranty 3 years / 120 000 km 3 years / 100 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Caddy Cargo holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over Hiace.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Caddy Cargo +7 pts
Efficiency Caddy Cargo +24 pts
Safety Caddy Cargo +44 pts
Practicality Hiace +5 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Catalogue-index leader

Caddy Cargo

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency

Hiace

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

Which One's Right for You?

Caddy Cargo

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

Hiace

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Caddy Cargo Hiace
Model Introduced Year Current local generation year not confirmed 2019
Generation Current South African Caddy Cargo listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data. H300 generation – front-engine layout replacing the previous cab-over design
Facelift History Model-year updates can affect trim, wheels, screens, safety equipment and colours. Use the latest South African price list when checking a specific vehicle. 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 Van Van
Color Note Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering. White, Silver
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup Base grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note 4x2 configuration for the local line-up -
Model Year Current 2026
Production Status published published
Segment Van Van
Tare Mass Kg 1706 kg 2080 kg
Vehicle Type Van Van
Spec Caddy Cargo Hiace
Length 4853 mm 5380 mm
Width 1855 mm 1880 mm
Height 1823 mm 2285 mm
Wheelbase 2970 mm 2985 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 144 mm 175 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 50 l 70 l
Boot/Cargo Space 3900 l 5200 l
Kerb Weight 1706 kg 2080 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2350 kg 3500 kg
Payload Capacity 644 kg -
Towing Capacity 1500 kg 2000 kg
Seating Capacity 2 seats 2 seats
Doors 4 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 12.1 m 6.5 m

Source-backed Catalogue Index

A transparent specification index shown only when every vehicle clears the minimum comparable-data threshold.

Weighted / 100
Catalogue-index readout

Caddy Cargo leads by 18 points

Caddy Cargo holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over Hiace.

Index leader 65 /100
Lead 18 points
Data 55% source coverage
65
#1 Index leader

Caddy Cargo

55% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 88 Check Performance 44
Performance 44
Efficiency 72
Safety 88
Practicality 60
Leads by 18 points
47
#2

Hiace

81% source coverage 0 strong categories
Best at Practicality 65 Check Performance 37
Performance 37
Efficiency 48
Safety 44
Practicality 65
Ownership 43
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Caddy Cargo +7 Efficiency Caddy Cargo +24 Safety Caddy Cargo +44 Practicality Hiace +5

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

Caddy Cargo

Performance 44/100
Efficiency 72/100
Safety 88/100
Practicality 60/100

Hiace

Performance 37/100
Efficiency 48/100
Safety 44/100
Practicality 65/100
Ownership 43/100

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 Volkswagen Caddy Cargo leads the catalogue index with 65 pts vs 47 pts for Hiace

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, Caddy Cargo leads. However, Hiace may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives 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.

Hagalu does not publish a guaranteed resale winner. Depreciation depends on age, mileage, condition, derivative, colour, supply and demand. Compare several current used-market listings and obtain trade-in valuations for equivalent examples before relying on a resale estimate.

Check the exact derivatives for drive type, ground clearance, tyres, approach and departure angles, wading depth and low-range gearing where officially disclosed. SUV styling or all-wheel drive alone does not prove that a vehicle is suitable for demanding off-road use.

Calculate each exact derivative using your monthly distance and a current fuel or electricity price, then add finance, insurance, scheduled service, tyres and licence costs. Hagalu does not claim a fixed monthly saving without those buyer-specific inputs.

It is worth more only when the exact price difference buys equipment, space, performance or ownership cover that matters to you. Compare like-for-like lifecycle states and derivatives; a current offer and a historical last-listed price are not directly equivalent.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

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

Performance index: Caddy Cargo 44 vs Hiace 37.

Efficiency index: Caddy Cargo 72 vs Hiace 48.

Safety-equipment index: Caddy Cargo 88 vs Hiace 44.

Practicality index: Caddy Cargo 60 vs Hiace 65.

Ownership-cover index: Caddy Cargo not separately scored 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.