Source type: Toyota Uganda/CFAO specifications; user-supplied estimates for remaining fields
Toyota Hiace Van 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 Van
HIACE PANEL VAN 2.5L DSL
Diesel
5-Speed Manual
Current
UGX 175,000,000
ex-showroom
⚡ 75 kW
🔧 260 Nm
⛽ 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 Van vs Toyota Starlet: the short answer
Hiace Van and Starlet are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.
Starlet starts UGX 77,000,000 cheaper
Hiace Van from UGX 175,000,000 · Starlet from UGX 98,000,000
Five key differences
Exact selected derivatives| Specification | Hiace Van | Starlet |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Power | Hiace Van75 kW @ 3600 rpm | Starlet77 kW @ 6000 rpm |
| Maximum Torque | Hiace Van260 Nm @ 1600-2400 rpm | Starlet138 Nm @ 4400 rpm |
| Engine Size | Hiace Van2494 cc | Starlet1462 cc |
| Combined Fuel Economy | Hiace Van12.5 km/l | Starlet12.5 km/l |
| Ground Clearance | Hiace Van195 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)
Hiace Van
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
Specification evidence leader
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 Van
- 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 Van | Starlet |
|---|---|---|
| Model Introduced Year | 2023 | 2022 |
| Generation | Current Uganda-market Hiace panel-van generation | 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 | Van | Hatchback |
| Model Year | 2026 | 2023-on Uganda 1.5-litre range |
| Production Status | active | active |
| Segment | Panel van | Compact hatchback |
| Vehicle Type | Light commercial van | Passenger car |
| Spec | Hiace Van | Starlet |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4695 mm | 3990 mm |
| Width | 1695 mm | 1745 mm |
| Height | 1980 mm | 1500 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2570 mm | 2520 mm |
| Ground Clearance (Default) | 195 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 | 1790 kg | 990 kg |
| Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) | 2800 kg | 1430 kg |
| Payload Capacity | 1010 kg | 440 kg |
| Towing Capacity | 750 kg | 750 kg |
| Seating Capacity | 3 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Rows | 1 rows | 2 rows |
| Doors | 4 doors | 5 doors |
| Minimum Turning Radius | 5 m | 5.1 m |
| Front Headroom | Not Officially Disclosed | Not Officially Disclosed |
| Rear Headroom | Not Applicable | Not Officially Disclosed |
| Front Legroom | Not Officially Disclosed | Not Officially Disclosed |
| Rear Legroom | Not Applicable | Not Officially Disclosed |
In depth: how these cars differ
This Hiace Van 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 Van 43 vs Starlet 35.
Efficiency index: Hiace Van 54 vs Starlet 52.
Safety-equipment index: Hiace Van 44 vs Starlet 85.
Practicality index: Hiace Van 68 vs Starlet 50.
Ownership-cover index: Hiace Van 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 Van and Starlet image comparison
Open an image for its full canonical file or visit the model page for the complete vehicle record.
Toyota Hiace Van
View 8 more Hiace Van 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
Starlet leads by 3 points
Hiace Van and Starlet are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.
Evidence leader
55
/100
Lead
3
points
Data
74%
source coverage
55
#1
Evidence leader
Starlet
Performance
35
Efficiency
52
Safety
85
Practicality
50
Leads by 3 points
52
#2
Hiace Van
Performance
43
Efficiency
54
Safety
44
Practicality
68
Performance 24%
Safety 22%
Practicality 22%
Efficiency 17%
Ownership 15%
Category leaders
What moves the verdict
Performance
Hiace Van +8
Efficiency
Hiace Van +2
Safety
Starlet +41
Practicality
Hiace Van +18
Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.
Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader
Starlet
Performance
35/100
Efficiency
52/100
Safety
85/100
Practicality
50/100
Hiace Van
Performance
43/100
Efficiency
54/100
Safety
44/100
Practicality
68/100
What the evidence means
In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Starlet leads. However, Hiace Van 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 Van 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.