LDV D90 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.

LDV D90 in South Africa

LDV D90

D90 Flagship Diesel 8-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 899,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 160 kW 🔧 500 Nm ⛽ 10.99 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

LDV D90 vs Toyota Hiace: the short answer

D90 has a large lead in Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index over Hiace.

Hiace starts ZAR 219,000 cheaper D90 from ZAR 899,900 · Hiace from ZAR 680,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification D90 Hiace
Maximum Power D90160 kW @ 4000 rpm Hiace75 kW
Maximum Torque D90500 Nm @ 1500-2400 rpm Hiace260 Nm
Engine Size D901996 cc Hiace2494 cc
Combined Fuel Economy D9010.99 km/l Hiace11.8 km/l
Ground Clearance D90210 mm Hiace175 mm

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

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

D90

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

Hiace

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

Which One's Right for You?

D90

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Hiace

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec D90 Hiace
Model Introduced Year 2025 2019
Generation Current South African D90 generation. H300 generation – front-engine layout replacing the previous cab-over design
Facelift History No later South African facelift is published. Current H300 generation launched in SA in 2019 – major redesign from rear-engine layout
Facelift Launched Since 2025 2019
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Seven-seat large SUV Van
Model Year 2025 2026
Production Status active active
Segment SUV Van
Vehicle Type SUV Van
Color Note - White, Silver
Dealer Stock Note - Base grade in the South Africa lineup
Tare Mass Kg - 2080 kg
Spec D90 Hiace
Length 5046 mm 5380 mm
Width 2016 mm 1880 mm
Height 1876 mm 2285 mm
Wheelbase 2950 mm 2985 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 210 mm 175 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) Not Officially Disclosed 125 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity Not Officially Disclosed 70 l
Boot/Cargo Space 343 l 5200 l
Kerb Weight 2370 kg 2080 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 3100 kg 3500 kg
Payload Capacity 730 kg 1420 kg
Towing Capacity 3100 kg 2000 kg
Seating Capacity 7 seats 2 seats
Number of Rows 3 rows 1 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 6.45 m 6.5 m
Front Headroom 1010 mm 992 mm
Rear Headroom 990 mm Not Applicable
Front Legroom 1050 mm 1032 mm
Rear Legroom 950 mm Not Applicable

In depth: how these cars differ

This D90 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: D90 82 vs Hiace 37.

Efficiency index: D90 45 vs Hiace 48.

Safety-equipment index: D90 93 vs Hiace 44.

Practicality index: D90 78 vs Hiace 71.

Ownership-cover index: D90 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.

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

D90 leads by 27 points

D90 has a large lead in Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index over Hiace.

Evidence leader 76 /100
Lead 27 points
Data 68% source coverage
76
#1 Evidence leader

D90

68% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 93 Check Efficiency 45
Performance 82
Efficiency 45
Safety 93
Practicality 78
Leads by 27 points
49
#2

Hiace

84% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Practicality 71 Check Performance 37
Performance 37
Efficiency 48
Safety 44
Practicality 71
Ownership 43
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance D90 +45 Efficiency Hiace +3 Safety D90 +49 Practicality D90 +7

Large difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

D90

Performance 82/100
Efficiency 45/100
Safety 93/100
Practicality 78/100

Hiace

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

What the evidence means

Evidence index LDV D90 leads the specification evidence index with 76 pts vs 49 pts for Hiace

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, D90 leads. However, Hiace may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

D90 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.