Source type: Toyota Uganda / generation-matched Toyota data; user-supplied estimates for remaining fields
Toyota Coaster 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.
Toyota Coaster
Coaster 4.2L Diesel 30-Seater MT
Diesel
5-Speed Manual
Current
UGX 395,000,000
ex-showroom
⚡ 96 kW
🔧 285 Nm
⛽ 12.5 km/l
VS
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
Decision summary
Toyota Coaster vs Toyota Hiace/Commuter: the short answer
Coaster and Hiace/Commuter are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.
Hiace/Commuter starts UGX 205,400,000 cheaper
Coaster from UGX 395,000,000 · Hiace/Commuter from UGX 189,600,000
Five key differences
Exact selected derivatives| Specification | Coaster | Hiace/Commuter |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Power | Coaster96 kW @ 3800 rpm | Hiace/Commuter75 kW @ 3600 rpm |
| Maximum Torque | Coaster285 Nm @ 2200 rpm | Hiace/Commuter260 Nm @ 1600-2400 rpm |
| Engine Size | Coaster4164 cc | Hiace/Commuter2494 cc |
| Combined Fuel Economy | Coaster12.5 km/l | Hiace/Commuter12.5 km/l |
| Ground Clearance | Coaster180 mm | Hiace/Commuter195 mm |
Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.
Source type: Toyota Uganda/CFAO specifications; user-supplied estimates for remaining fields
What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)
Specification evidence leader
Coaster
Strengths
- More powerful engine output
- Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
- Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to:
Published Performance
Hiace/Commuter
Strengths
- Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
- Less powerful engine setup
- Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to:
Published Practicality
Which One's Right for You?
Coaster
- Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
- Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
Hiace/Commuter
- Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures
Full Specs, Side by Side
| Spec | Coaster | Hiace/Commuter |
|---|---|---|
| Model Introduced Year | 2024 | 2023 |
| Generation | Current Uganda-market generation | Current Uganda-market Hiace passenger-bus generation |
| Facelift History | Current Uganda-market version | No local facelift confirmed |
| Facelift Launched Since | 2024 | Original current-generation version |
| Facelift Version Ending | Current | Current |
| Body Style | Bus | Small bus |
| Model Year | 2026 | 2026 |
| Production Status | active | active |
| Segment | Bus segment | Passenger transport minibus |
| Vehicle Type | Bus | Passenger minibus |
| Spec | Coaster | Hiace/Commuter |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 6990 mm | 4700 mm |
| Width | 2275 mm | 1780 mm |
| Height | 2635 mm | 1980 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3935 mm | 2570 mm |
| Ground Clearance (Default) | 180 mm | 195 mm |
| Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) | 165 mm | 170 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 95 l | 70 l |
| Boot/Cargo Space | Not Officially Disclosed | 1000 l |
| Kerb Weight | 3350 kg | 1833.88 kg |
| Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) | 1500 kg | 3050 kg |
| Payload Capacity | 1500 kg | 1110 kg |
| Towing Capacity | 1500 kg | 750 kg |
| Seating Capacity | 30 seats | 15 seats |
| Number of Rows | 8 rows | Not Officially Disclosed |
| Doors | 5 doors | 4 doors |
| Minimum Turning Radius | 5.5 m | 5 m |
| Front Headroom | 1000 mm | Not Officially Disclosed |
| Rear Headroom | 960 mm | Not Officially Disclosed |
| Front Legroom | 1050 mm | Not Officially Disclosed |
| Rear Legroom | 850 mm | Not Officially Disclosed |
In depth: how these cars differ
This Coaster 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: Coaster 46 vs Hiace/Commuter 43.
Efficiency index: Coaster 54 vs Hiace/Commuter 54.
Safety-equipment index: Coaster 68 vs Hiace/Commuter 44.
Practicality index: Coaster 76 vs Hiace/Commuter 81.
Ownership-cover index: Coaster 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.
Model imagery
Coaster and Hiace/Commuter image comparison
Open an image for its full canonical file or visit the model page for the complete vehicle record.
Toyota Coaster
View 8 more Coaster images
Toyota Hiace/Commuter
View 8 more Hiace/Commuter images
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-index readout
Coaster leads by 6 points
Coaster and Hiace/Commuter are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.
Evidence leader
61
/100
Lead
6
points
Data
69%
source coverage
61
#1
Evidence leader
Coaster
Performance
46
Efficiency
54
Safety
68
Practicality
76
Leads by 6 points
55
#2
Hiace/Commuter
Performance
43
Efficiency
54
Safety
44
Practicality
81
Performance 24%
Safety 22%
Practicality 22%
Efficiency 17%
Ownership 15%
Category leaders
What moves the verdict
Performance
Coaster +3
Efficiency
Level
Safety
Coaster +24
Practicality
Hiace/Commuter +5
Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.
Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader
Coaster
Performance
46/100
Efficiency
54/100
Safety
68/100
Practicality
76/100
Hiace/Commuter
Performance
43/100
Efficiency
54/100
Safety
44/100
Practicality
81/100
What the evidence means
In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Coaster leads. However, Hiace/Commuter may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in Uganda.
Coaster 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.