Source type: Toyota Uganda/CFAO specifications; user-supplied estimates for remaining fields
Toyota Hiace/Commuter vs Toyota RAV4
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
Decision summary
Toyota Hiace/Commuter vs Toyota RAV4: the short answer
RAV4 has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Hiace/Commuter remains close.
Hiace/Commuter starts UGX 20,400,000 cheaper
Hiace/Commuter from UGX 189,600,000 · RAV4 from UGX 210,000,000
Five key differences
Exact selected derivatives| Specification | Hiace/Commuter | RAV4 |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Power | Hiace/Commuter75 kW @ 3600 rpm | RAV4Not Officially Disclosed |
| Maximum Torque | Hiace/Commuter260 Nm @ 1600-2400 rpm | RAV4Not Officially Disclosed |
| Engine Size | Hiace/Commuter2494 cc | RAV41987 cc |
| Combined Fuel Economy | Hiace/Commuter12.5 km/l | RAV412.5 km/l |
| Ground Clearance | Hiace/Commuter195 mm | RAV4190 mm |
Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.
Source type: Toyota Uganda/CFAO model information; user-supplied AWD configuration and estimates require exact-grade confirmation
What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)
Hiace/Commuter
Strengths
- Better fuel efficiency
- Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
- Less powerful engine setup
- Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to:
Published Efficiency
Published Practicality
Specification evidence leader
RAV4
Strengths
- More powerful engine output
- Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
- Lower fuel efficiency
- Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to:
Published Performance
Which One's Right for You?
Hiace/Commuter
- Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
- Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures
RAV4
- Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
- Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
Full Specs, Side by Side
| Spec | Hiace/Commuter | RAV4 |
|---|---|---|
| Model Introduced Year | 2023 | 2023 |
| Generation | Current Uganda-market Hiace passenger-bus generation | Uganda petrol RAV4 listing, kept separate from RAV4 HEV and used-import specifications. Exact supplied model year and equipment grade remain important. |
| Facelift History | No local facelift confirmed | No local facelift confirmed |
| Facelift Launched Since | Original current-generation version | Original current-generation version |
| Facelift Version Ending | Current | Current |
| Body Style | Small bus | SUV |
| Model Year | 2026 | 2026 |
| Production Status | active | active |
| Segment | Passenger transport minibus | Family SUV |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger minibus | Passenger SUV |
| Spec | Hiace/Commuter | RAV4 |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4700 mm | 4600 mm |
| Width | 1780 mm | 1855 mm |
| Height | 1980 mm | 1685 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2570 mm | 2690 mm |
| Ground Clearance (Default) | 195 mm | 190 mm |
| Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) | 170 mm | 175 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 l | 55 l |
| Boot/Cargo Space | 1000 l | 580 l |
| Kerb Weight | 1833.88 kg | 1570 kg |
| Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) | 3050 kg | 2150 kg |
| Payload Capacity | 1110 kg | 580 kg |
| Towing Capacity | 750 kg | 750 kg |
| Seating Capacity | 15 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Rows | Not Officially Disclosed | 2 rows |
| Doors | 4 doors | 5 doors |
| Minimum Turning Radius | 5 m | 5.5 m |
| Front Headroom | Not Officially Disclosed | Not Officially Disclosed |
| Rear Headroom | Not Officially Disclosed | Not Officially Disclosed |
| Front Legroom | Not Officially Disclosed | Not Officially Disclosed |
| Rear Legroom | Not Officially Disclosed | Not Officially Disclosed |
In depth: how these cars differ
This Hiace/Commuter and RAV4 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 RAV4 55.
Efficiency index: Hiace/Commuter 54 vs RAV4 52.
Safety-equipment index: Hiace/Commuter 44 vs RAV4 95.
Practicality index: Hiace/Commuter 81 vs RAV4 65.
Ownership-cover index: Hiace/Commuter not separately scored vs RAV4 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 RAV4 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
Toyota RAV4
View 8 more RAV4 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
RAV4 leads by 12 points
RAV4 has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Hiace/Commuter remains close.
Evidence leader
67
/100
Lead
12
points
Data
57%
source coverage
67
#1
Evidence leader
RAV4
Performance
55
Efficiency
52
Safety
95
Practicality
65
Leads by 12 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
RAV4 +12
Efficiency
Hiace/Commuter +2
Safety
RAV4 +51
Practicality
Hiace/Commuter +16
Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.
Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader
RAV4
Performance
55/100
Efficiency
52/100
Safety
95/100
Practicality
65/100
Hiace/Commuter
Performance
43/100
Efficiency
54/100
Safety
44/100
Practicality
81/100
What the evidence means
In Hagalu's specification evidence index, RAV4 leads. However, Hiace/Commuter 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 RAV4 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.