Source type: Toyota Uganda/CFAO specifications; user-supplied estimates for remaining fields
Toyota Hiace/Commuter vs Isuzu N-Series
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 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
VS
Isuzu N-Series
NHR 55E Cab Chassis 5MT
Diesel
5-Speed Manual
Current
UGX 125,000,000
ex-showroom
⚡ 59 kW
🔧 175 Nm
⛽ 4.5 km/l
Decision summary
Toyota Hiace/Commuter vs Isuzu N-Series: the short answer
Hiace/Commuter and N-Series are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.
N-Series starts UGX 64,600,000 cheaper
Hiace/Commuter from UGX 189,600,000 · N-Series from UGX 125,000,000
Five key differences
Exact selected derivatives| Specification | Hiace/Commuter | N-Series |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Power | Hiace/Commuter75 kW @ 3600 rpm | N-Series59 kW @ 3600 rpm |
| Maximum Torque | Hiace/Commuter260 Nm @ 1600-2400 rpm | N-Series175 Nm @ 2000 rpm |
| Engine Size | Hiace/Commuter2494 cc | N-Series2771 cc |
| Combined Fuel Economy | Hiace/Commuter12.5 km/l | N-Series4.5 km/l |
| Ground Clearance | Hiace/Commuter195 mm | N-Series180 mm |
Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.
Source type: MAC Uganda / Isuzu East Africa
What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)
Specification evidence leader
Hiace/Commuter
Strengths
- More powerful engine output
- Better fuel efficiency
- Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
- Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to:
Published Performance
Published Efficiency
Published Practicality
N-Series
Strengths
- Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
- Less powerful engine setup
- Lower fuel efficiency
- Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to:
General Use
Which One's Right for You?
Hiace/Commuter
- Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
- Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
- Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures
N-Series
- Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
Full Specs, Side by Side
| Spec | Hiace/Commuter | N-Series |
|---|---|---|
| Model Introduced Year | 2023 | 2022 |
| Generation | Current Uganda-market Hiace passenger-bus generation | N-Series truck cab-chassis specification in MAC Uganda-linked Isuzu East Africa brochure; finished body specified separately |
| Facelift History | No local facelift confirmed | Current Uganda-listed generation; 2026 catalogue planning specification |
| Facelift Launched Since | Original current-generation version | 2024 |
| Facelift Version Ending | Current | Current |
| Body Style | Small bus | Cab Chassis |
| Model Year | 2026 | 2026 |
| Production Status | active | active |
| Segment | Passenger transport minibus | Light-duty commercial truck |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger minibus | Commercial truck chassis |
| Spec | Hiace/Commuter | N-Series |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4700 mm | 4590 mm |
| Width | 1780 mm | 1695 mm |
| Height | 1980 mm | 2095 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2570 mm | 2490 mm |
| Ground Clearance (Default) | 195 mm | 180 mm |
| Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) | 170 mm | Not Officially Disclosed |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 l | 75 l |
| Boot/Cargo Space | 1000 l | Not Applicable |
| Kerb Weight | 1833.88 kg | Not Officially Disclosed |
| Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) | 3050 kg | 7500 kg |
| Payload Capacity | 1110 kg | 4500 kg |
| Towing Capacity | 750 kg | 3500 kg |
| Seating Capacity | 15 seats | 3 seats |
| Number of Rows | Not Officially Disclosed | 1 rows |
| Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Minimum Turning Radius | 5 m | 6.1 m |
| Front Headroom | Not Officially Disclosed | 1030 mm |
| Rear Headroom | Not Officially Disclosed | Not Applicable |
| Front Legroom | Not Officially Disclosed | 1020 mm |
| Rear Legroom | Not Officially Disclosed | Not Applicable |
In depth: how these cars differ
This Hiace/Commuter and N-Series 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: Hiace/Commuter 43 vs N-Series 29.
Efficiency index: Hiace/Commuter 54 vs N-Series 26.
Safety-equipment index: Hiace/Commuter 44 vs N-Series 89.
Practicality index: Hiace/Commuter 81 vs N-Series 73.
Ownership-cover index: Hiace/Commuter not separately scored vs N-Series 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
Hiace/Commuter and N-Series image comparison
Open an image for its full canonical file or visit the model page for the complete vehicle record.
Toyota Hiace/Commuter
View 8 more Hiace/Commuter images
Isuzu N-Series
View 8 more N-Series 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
Hiace/Commuter leads by 0 points
Hiace/Commuter and N-Series are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.
Evidence leader
55
/100
Lead
0
points
Data
74%
source coverage
55
#1
Evidence leader
Hiace/Commuter
Performance
43
Efficiency
54
Safety
44
Practicality
81
Leads by 0 points
55
#2
N-Series
Performance
29
Efficiency
26
Safety
89
Practicality
73
Performance 24%
Safety 22%
Practicality 22%
Efficiency 17%
Ownership 15%
Category leaders
What moves the verdict
Performance
Hiace/Commuter +14
Efficiency
Hiace/Commuter +28
Safety
N-Series +45
Practicality
Hiace/Commuter +8
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
N-Series
Performance
29/100
Efficiency
26/100
Safety
89/100
Practicality
73/100
What the evidence means
In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Hiace/Commuter leads. However, N-Series may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in Uganda.
Related comparisons
Continue with closely related Uganda models and comparable body styles.
Hiace/Commuter vs N-Series 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.