Toyota Hiace GD vs Toyota Starlet
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 GD
2.8 GD 15-Seater 6MT
Diesel
6-Speed Manual
Current
UGX 225,000,000
ex-showroom
⛽ 12.5 km/l
VS
Toyota Starlet
1.5L Petrol AT DELUXE
Petrol
4-Speed Automatic
Current
UGX 98,000,000
ex-showroom
⚡ 77 kW
🔧 138 Nm
⛽ 12.5 km/l
Decision summary
Toyota Hiace GD vs Toyota Starlet: the short answer
Hiace GD and Starlet are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.
Starlet starts UGX 127,000,000 cheaper
Hiace GD from UGX 225,000,000 · Starlet from UGX 98,000,000
Five key differences
Exact selected derivatives| Specification | Hiace GD | Starlet |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Power | Hiace GDNot Officially Disclosed | Starlet77 kW @ 6000 rpm |
| Maximum Torque | Hiace GDNot Officially Disclosed | Starlet138 Nm @ 4400 rpm |
| Engine Size | Hiace GD2755 cc | Starlet1462 cc |
| Combined Fuel Economy | Hiace GD12.5 km/l | Starlet12.5 km/l |
| Ground Clearance | Hiace GD185 mm | Starlet150 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
Hiace GD
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
Starlet
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 GD
- 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
Starlet
- Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
Full Specs, Side by Side
| Spec | Hiace GD | Starlet |
|---|---|---|
| Model Introduced Year | 2023 | 2022 |
| Generation | Uganda 2.8-litre GD passenger-van family, distinct from the separately listed 2.5-litre Hiace variants. Public 14-seat and supplied 15-seat identities require separate build matching. | 1.5-litre Starlet revision introduced to Uganda in June 2023 |
| Facelift History | No local facelift confirmed | Uganda nameplate launch in February 2022; 1.5-litre engine and revised body introduced in June 2023 |
| Facelift Launched Since | Original current-generation version | 2023 |
| Facelift Version Ending | Current | Current |
| Body Style | Passenger van | Hatchback |
| Model Year | 2026 | 2023-on Uganda 1.5-litre range |
| Production Status | active | active |
| Segment | Light commercial passenger vehicle | Compact hatchback |
| Vehicle Type | Minibus | Passenger car |
| Spec | Hiace GD | Starlet |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 5915 mm | 3990 mm |
| Width | 1950 mm | 1745 mm |
| Height | 2280 mm | 1500 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3860 mm | 2520 mm |
| Ground Clearance (Default) | 185 mm | 150 mm |
| Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) | 170 mm | 130 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 l | 37 l |
| Boot/Cargo Space | 1000 l | 314 l |
| Kerb Weight | 2350 kg | 990 kg |
| Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) | 3500 kg | 1430 kg |
| Payload Capacity | 1150 kg | 440 kg |
| Towing Capacity | 750 kg | 750 kg |
| Seating Capacity | 15 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Rows | Not Officially Disclosed | 2 rows |
| Doors | Not Officially Disclosed | 5 doors |
| Minimum Turning Radius | 7.9 m | 5.1 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 GD and Starlet 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 GD 43 vs Starlet 35.
Efficiency index: Hiace GD 54 vs Starlet 52.
Safety-equipment index: Hiace GD 44 vs Starlet 85.
Practicality index: Hiace GD 81 vs Starlet 50.
Ownership-cover index: Hiace GD not separately scored vs Starlet 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 GD and Starlet image comparison
Open an image for its full canonical file or visit the model page for the complete vehicle record.
Toyota Hiace GD
View 8 more Hiace GD images
Toyota Starlet
View 8 more Starlet 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 GD leads by 0 points
Hiace GD and Starlet are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.
Evidence leader
55
/100
Lead
0
points
Data
57%
source coverage
55
#1
Evidence leader
Hiace GD
Performance
43
Efficiency
54
Safety
44
Practicality
81
Leads by 0 points
55
#2
Starlet
Performance
35
Efficiency
52
Safety
85
Practicality
50
Performance 24%
Safety 22%
Practicality 22%
Efficiency 17%
Ownership 15%
Category leaders
What moves the verdict
Performance
Hiace GD +8
Efficiency
Hiace GD +2
Safety
Starlet +41
Practicality
Hiace GD +31
Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.
Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader
Hiace GD
Performance
43/100
Efficiency
54/100
Safety
44/100
Practicality
81/100
Starlet
Performance
35/100
Efficiency
52/100
Safety
85/100
Practicality
50/100
What the evidence means
In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Hiace GD leads. However, Starlet 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 GD vs Starlet 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.