Suzuki Across vs Toyota Hiace/Commuter

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

Suzuki Across in Uganda

Suzuki Across

ACROSS GLX SUN ROOF 6AT MHV 2WD 1462cc Petrol Mild Hybrid 6-Speed Automatic Current
UGX 126,000,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 77 kW 🔧 137 Nm ⛽ 16.0 km/l
VS
Toyota Hiace/Commuter in Uganda

Toyota Hiace/Commuter

Hiace Bus 2.5L 15-Seats MT DLX Diesel 5-Speed Manual Current
UGX 189,600,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 75 kW 🔧 260 Nm ⛽ 12.5 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Suzuki Across vs Toyota Hiace/Commuter: the short answer

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

Across starts UGX 63,600,000 cheaper Across from UGX 126,000,000 · Hiace/Commuter from UGX 189,600,000

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Across Hiace/Commuter
Maximum Power Across77 kW @ 6000 rpm Hiace/Commuter75 kW @ 3600 rpm
Maximum Torque Across136.8 Nm Hiace/Commuter260 Nm @ 1600-2400 rpm
Engine Size Across1462 cc Hiace/Commuter2494 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Across16.0 km/l Hiace/Commuter12.5 km/l
Ground Clearance Across210 mm Hiace/Commuter195 mm

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

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Across

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

Hiace/Commuter

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

Which One's Right for You?

Across

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

Hiace/Commuter

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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Across Hiace/Commuter
Model Introduced Year 2023 2023
Generation Current Uganda-market generation Current Uganda-market Hiace passenger-bus generation
Facelift History Current-generation specification No local facelift confirmed
Facelift Launched Since 2023 Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV Small bus
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active active
Segment Passenger vehicle Passenger transport minibus
Vehicle Type Passenger car Passenger minibus
Spec Across Hiace/Commuter
Length 4360 mm 4700 mm
Width 1795 mm 1780 mm
Height 1655 mm 1980 mm
Wheelbase 2600 mm 2570 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 210 mm 195 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 150 mm 170 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 45 l 70 l
Boot/Cargo Space 373 l 1000 l
Kerb Weight 1250 kg 1833.88 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1710 kg 3050 kg
Payload Capacity Not Officially Disclosed 1110 kg
Towing Capacity 1200 kg 750 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 15 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows Not Officially Disclosed
Doors 5 doors 4 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.4 m 5 m
Front Headroom 1000 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Headroom Not Officially Disclosed Not Officially Disclosed
Front Legroom 1020 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Legroom 860 mm Not Officially Disclosed

In depth: how these cars differ

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

Performance index: Across 32 vs Hiace/Commuter 43.

Efficiency index: Across 68 vs Hiace/Commuter 54.

Safety-equipment index: Across 38 vs Hiace/Commuter 44.

Practicality index: Across 61 vs Hiace/Commuter 81.

Ownership-cover index: Across not separately scored vs Hiace/Commuter not separately scored.

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/Commuter leads by 7 points

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

Evidence leader 55 /100
Lead 7 points
Data 74% source coverage
55
#1 Evidence leader

Hiace/Commuter

74% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Practicality 81 Check Performance 43
Performance 43
Efficiency 54
Safety 44
Practicality 81
Leads by 7 points
48
#2

Across

78% source coverage 0 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 68 Check Performance 32
Performance 32
Efficiency 68
Safety 38
Practicality 61
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Hiace/Commuter +11 Efficiency Across +14 Safety Hiace/Commuter +6 Practicality Hiace/Commuter +20

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Hiace/Commuter

Performance 43/100
Efficiency 54/100
Safety 44/100
Practicality 81/100

Across

Performance 32/100
Efficiency 68/100
Safety 38/100
Practicality 61/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Toyota Hiace/Commuter leads the specification evidence index with 55 pts vs 48 pts for Across

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

Across vs Hiace/Commuter questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in Uganda 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.