2018 Toyota Hiace Release Date and Price

The Toyota Hiace has forayed into the Philippine auto market since 2005. Combining Toyota’s long-standing reputation and its own great competence, it is understandable why the Hiace has topped the chart in commercial vehicles in the Philippines for its successful 12-year run.
In fact, the Hiace is so solid and consistent that it might not need any major changes since its first local debut, except for a new “heart” given two years ago. The seasoned van is now in its fifth generations and can be proud of itself for its current reign in local car market. So, what make the Hiace earn its success? Let’s find out the answer in this Toyota Hiace 2018 Review by adware-ters.blogspot.com. Since the current Toyota Hiace comes with numerous variants, our review will mainly focus on the mid-range Toyota Hiace Super Grandia 3.0 AT due to its essential features and reasonable price.

Toyota Hiace 2018 Philippines: Exterior

The all-new Toyota Hiace 2018 is a sheer wood measuring 5,380mm long. Being an 11-seater van, it is no doubt the Hiace will leave your MPV and minivan far behind when it comes to length. If you think this wood is monotonous and like a tour bus, perhaps you’re right but from a positive point of view, it looks pretty sleek and stunning with exquisite style and an elegant stance.

In detail, the front grille is ornamented with chrome and robust headlights, creating a simple but solid appearance at the front end. The front bumper is also reshaped to be stronger.

The side is distinguishable with window outline and 16-inch alloy wheels which are slightly redesigned.

Moving backwards, a dedicate design covers the rear car. A rare tweak standing out may be the taillights with some aerodynamic effects exposed at tiny fins.

Beholding this boxy and upright van for a while, many of you might still feel the Toyota Hiace 2018 exterior is nondescript and sometimes tedious. However, considering the main purpose of this iconic van and you will see all exterior details are sacrificing for the interior. From the low ground clearance for easier way to get in to wide sliding doors for a roomy space.

Toyota Hiace 2018 Philippines: Interior

Due to its main function of carrying people, the Toyota Hiace 2018 interior is surprisingly spacious. There are totally four seat rows which enable to accommodate the entire family of 11 members. It’s necessary to reaffirm that the large exterior design has done a great work at giving all passengers ample head- and legroom.

Strikingly, the Hiace is all about the rear occupants. The second row is given soft captain seats. At the same time, the third row is spoiled with a single seat on the left and a bench seat for two passengers on the right side. And similar to seats at the second row, cushions here are also soft, velvety and can be stretched out for comfort.

Normally, seating at the last row is a nightmare, but for the Toyota Hiace 2018 model, you will never endure that. There’s less legroom than the other rows, admittedly. Nonetheless, if you’re not too tall, you still feel good thanks to pleasant seat cushions.

Providing enough room for occupants is not as much as Toyota wants. The Japanese car manufacturer wishes for their customers’ utmost comfort, convenience and also, driving experience (although it’s not the highlight of the Hiace).

Correspondingly, the driver is provided with a commanding view of the road as well as a complete overview of the ride shown off on an average and real time fuel economy meter. Besides, the gear shift knob is also on hand which holds the gearbox assembly on the dashboard, creating more space for users at front, simultaneously, allowing occupants to get out from either side. Notably, the front windows come fitted with power switches – an upscale feature in a commercial vehicle like the Hiace. NEW RELEASE ~ 2020 Toyota Hiace First Drive

To a greater extent, passengers in the cabin are also kept cool owing to a powerful rear air conditioning system. In the meantime, a couple of monitors behind the front headrests will keep you entertained during long drives. As well as that, a great amount of storage inclusive of bottle receptacles, cup holders and a generous cargo space (up to 6,000 liters) are engineered to let you put and haul anything you want.

All in all, the Toyota Hiace is able to make the most demanding customers satisfied. Given that the storage of the fourth row receives some small work, we think our van will be impeccable. Frankly, seats at that row are hard to fold and lift. Thus, how about a spring loaded mechanism found in the Fortuner and Innova?

Toyota Hiace 2018 Philippines: Engine & Performance review

The Toyota Hiace Super Grandia is blessed with a 3.0-liter D4-D turbo diesel engine inheriting from the last Hilux and Fortuner, mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission. Sadly, in the Hiace, this engine is detuned, so it’s only capable of cranking out 136 hp at 3,400 rpm, which is 27 hp less than the what the previous Fortuner and Hilux could do. But compensating for the loss of power is an addition of 40 Nm, increasing the peak torque to 300 Nm at 2,400 rpm.

Generally, the engine allows the Grandia to hit 60 km/h with ease, and sustaining speeds can be done with your eyes closed or shut. Plus, the van will move faster, albeit hushed sounds. If a layer of sound insulation is set up, those noises could be deadened.

While on the road, to some degree, road imperfections will be fed straight to your body if you’re sitting on the front seats, moving backwards will make you feel better then. Honestly, we do not appreciate the Toyota Hiace 2018 performance on tough roads, yet regarding city driving, it is moderate.

On subject of fuel economy, the Hiace uses up 7.2 km/L around town and 12.3 km/L on highway roads. Doubtlessly, those figures are ideal for a large van.

2018 Audi Q7 Review

We think the Premium Plus is the one to get. This trim adds features like an upgraded sound system and blind-spot monitoring, but more importantly gives you access to more options. Buyers with heavy commutes will appreciate the Driver Assistance package and its suite of active driver aids. Those in extreme climates will want to consider the Cold or Warm Weather packages. Whatever your needs, the Q7 Premium Plus likely has a package to meet them. We like both engines, but keep in mind that the four-cylinder's advantage is a lower price tag more so than improved fuel economy.

The Audi Q7 is one of the top luxury crossovers in the midsize segment. It offers an appealing combo of performance, comfort, technology and value. Its well-built interior and advanced suite of semiautonomous driver-assistance features are also noteworthy.

The Q7 may be Audi's biggest SUV, but it's surprisingly nimble for its size, especially when equipped with the optional adaptive air suspension and four-wheel steering. Combine that with good visibility and willing engines and the Q7 is a pleasure to drive. And if you're not in the mood to drive, the Q7's optional driver aids will not only keep you in your lane, but they will also anticipate turns and adjust to local speed limits.

Beyond the impressive technology features, the Q7's interior is filled with high-quality materials and offers exceptional comfort. It's also extremely quiet and capable of smoothing out rough roads. The engines offer usable power and reasonable fuel economy thanks to this generation Q7's weight loss.

As much as we like the 2018 Audi Q7, its biggest weakness is cargo capacity. Both the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class and Volvo XC90 boast more space, along with appealing interiors. Prospective buyers might also want to look at the sporty and well-rounded Acura MDX and BMW X5. There are a lot of strong entries in this segment, but the Q7 is one of the best, whether in base trim or fully loaded.

trim levels & features

The 2018 Audi Q7 is available in three trim levels. The entry-level Premium trim comes with enough features to satisfy many buyers but has only limited access to optional upgrades. From there, the Premium Plus trim adds a few extras, and it can be more thoroughly upgraded and customized. Finally, the range-topping Prestige trim bundles quite a few features and has access to some exclusive options.

Two engines are available for the Q7. The base engine is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produces 252 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. It's only available in the Premium or Premium Plus trim levels. The upgraded supercharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder produces 333 horsepower and 325 lb-ft, and is offered in all three trims. Both engines are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive.

The Premium trim includes leather upholstery, heated eight-way power-adjustable front seats, three-zone climate control, keyless entry and start, and a panoramic sunroof. Standard technology features include a rearview camera, 7-inch color driver information display in the gauge cluster, and Audi's MMI user interface with a 7-inch central display, Bluetooth connectivity, two USB ports and a 10-speaker sound system.

Some active safety features are also included on the Premium trim. Audi Pre-Sense Basic with Pedestrian Detection, which takes steps to mitigate injury and damage in a collision, is standard. You also get front and rear parking sensors and a rearview camera along with a power-folding third-row bench, split-folding second row, auto-dimming rearview mirror, power rear liftgate, HomeLink garage door opener, heated power-folding side mirrors, and LED running lights and taillights.

Only two major packages are available for the Premium trim. The Cold Weather package adds heated rear seats and a heated steering wheel. The MMI Navigation Plus package adds navigation that allows you to search for locations with Google Voice Search, smartphone integration, and a handful of other connected features.

Moving up to the Premium Plus trim adds the MMI Navigation Plus package, along with an upgraded Bose sound system, an electric tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, blind-spot monitoring with Pre Sense Rear, auto-dimming exterior mirrors and interior LED accent lights.

The Premium Plus trim also has access to quite a few optional packages. The Driver Assistance package adds the entire menu of electronic driver aids, and the Vision package adds Audi's Virtual Cockpit, a 360-degree exterior camera and LED headlights. There's also the Warm Weather package, which adds four-zone climate control, seat ventilation and rear sunshade. The Ventilation package, meanwhile, adds seat ventilation and sunshades. Coming soon Audi Q7 Facelift 2019 Performance

The range-topping Prestige trim includes the Vision package and Warm Weather package, and also adds larger 20-inch wheels, a head-up display, and power-closing doors. Only the Prestige can be equipped with the Adaptive Chassis package, which adds four-wheel steering and an adaptive air suspension. There's also a night-vision system available along with a premium Bang & Olufsen sound system.

Notable stand-alone options that can be added to all trims include a trailering package and rear side-impact airbags.

trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our Full Test of the 2017 Audi Q7 Prestige (supercharged 3.0L V6 | 8-speed automatic | AWD).

2018 Audi A4 Review, Specs, Price

The midrange A4 Premium Plus trim builds on the already generous features list of the base Premium model, and its price is still pretty reasonable. This is the A4 version we'd want. You can get the Premium Plus with Audi's all-digital gauge cluster display in the Tech package and a Sport package with sportier suspension settings and front seats with larger bolsters. You might as well get all-wheel drive because it enhances the car's performance and gives you added traction in bad weather.

The 2018 Audi A4 delivers just about everything we expect from a small luxury sedan. There's quick acceleration, a comfortable ride, and the latest connectivity and navigation technologies. But the fact that it does it without overwhelming you makes it, at least for the time being, the car to get in the segment.

The A4 is a joy to drive, whether you're slicing your way through mountain switchbacks or just tackling your daily commute. On the inside, Audi's understated yet attractive interior design makes operating all of the many high-tech features easy, thanks to the intuitive MMI infotainment system and smartly placed physical buttons for more common functions. To top it off, the A4 also provides plenty of space and comfort for front and rear passengers, accommodating even taller adults in back.

Trust us, you'll want this car on your short list.

Notably, we picked the 2018 Audi A4 as one of Edmunds' Best AWD Sedans for this year.

trim levels & features

The 2017 Audi A4 is a small luxury sedan available in three main trim levels: Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige. A more fuel-efficient A4 Ultra subtrim is also available in conjunction with the Premium and Premium Plus trims. Under the hood is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (252 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque). The A4 Ultra's engine is less powerful (190 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque) but gets better fuel economy.

Front-wheel drive is standard, with all-wheel drive (called Quattro in Audi lingo) optional. A seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission comes with all A4s. A six-speed manual transmission is also available but only on all-wheel-drive A4s. The Ultra is offered only with front-wheel drive. Unless you really want maximum fuel economy, we'd suggest sticking with the regular A4 engine instead of the Ultra. You'll feel the power difference.

Standard feature highlights for the A4 Premium include 17-inch wheels, automatic xenon headlights, a forward collision mitigation system, adjustable drive settings (Audi's Drive Select), a sunroof, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, leather upholstery, heated power front seats, tri-zone climate control and folding rear seatbacks. Standard technology features include a rearview camera, Audi's MMI infotainment system with a 7-inch central display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, and a 10-speaker audio system with two USB ports.

The optional Convenience package adds auto-dimming and power-folding side mirrors, keyless ignition and entry, driver-seat memory settings and satellite radio.

Our favorite is the next step up, the Premium Plus. You get the Convenience package features as standard, along with 18-inch wheels, LED headlights, sporty (S line) exterior styling flourishes, front and rear parking sensors, and a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen surround-sound audio system. Audi's blind-spot and rear-facing crash mitigation system, Side Assist and Pre Sense Rear, is also standard.

ALSO SEE : 2019 Audi A5 Interior Picture

The main option for the Premium Plus is the Navigation and Telematics package. This gets you with Audi Connect online services (includes a 4G LTE connection and Wi-Fi), a digital instrument cluster (Virtual Cockpit) and an upgraded version of MMI with an enhanced 8.3-inch display, navigation, voice controls and fingertip-scrawl recognition.

Finally, there's the top-of-the-line A4 Prestige. It comes with all of the above as standard plus a head-up display, additional interior ambient lighting, a top-down parking camera system, lane departure warning and intervention, and upgraded interior trim.

Notable options packages include the Sport, Sport Plus, Cold Weather and Warm Weather packages.

trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our Full Test of the 2017 Audi A4 2.0T Prestige Quattro Sedan (turbo 2.0L inline-4 | 7-speed dual-clutch automatic | AWD).

NOTE: Since this test was conducted, the current A4 has received only minor feature revisions. Our findings remain applicable to this year's model.