2021 Toyota Proace City 1.5D 100 Active Van [Smart Cargo]

Toyota's compact van, the Proace City, might just be the small LCV you forgot to add to your wish list. Jonathan Crouch sees how the improved version measures up.

Ten Second Review

Toyota has significantly upgraded its smallest LCV, the Proace City van, with a fresh look, a redesigned cabin and revised infotainment and connectivity. The electric version can now go further. There's now a Verso MPV variant. And the dealer network has become much better set up to sell vans. All good.

Background

There's a feeling of an all-new product about this updated Proace City, even though it's merely a facelift of a borrowed Stellantis Group LCV design that's been in Toyota showrooms since 2020. This is partly because the enhancement is substantial inside and out - and even brings a new model variant, the Verso MPV. And partly because this revised van's arrival coincided with widescale changes in the way that Toyota will sell LCVs in the UK. The brand is establishing 'Toyota Professional Centres' in existing dealerships, with dedicated maintenance spaces, highly trained staff and special website tools for business customers. And it's all complemented by the most comprehensive warranty in the LCV industry. Sounds promising.

Driving Experience

There are no mechanical changes to the diesel variants most customers will still choose. But there's a big update to the EV version, which now has a 55kWh battery capable of 205 miles between charges, 31 miles further than before. It uses a 134bhp electric motor. We'll focus here though, on the combustion model. Which as before uses a Stellantis-derived 1.5-litre diesel unit offered in 100 or 130hp forms and there's a choice between 6 speed manual or 8 speed automatic transmission. You get a 1.5-tonne towing capability that's un-bettered in the class. There's very little about the handling dynamics of this van that encourage you to push it on in any way at all. Instead, development priority has been given to the creation of a supple quality of ride - something daily drivers will probably appreciate rather more. The performance stats on offer will be quite sufficient for the daily needs of likely operators -the 100hp variant gets to 62mph in 11.5s en route to 107mph. Decent highway refinement should be possible thanks to the installation of a full-height bulkhead in this cab. Further peace of mind can come with the addition of the camera-driven safety kit that can be provided. This model's Stellantis-derived EMP2 platform enables short overhangs and a small turning circle for easy manoeuvring: the kerb to kerb turning radius is only 12.4m for the smaller 'Short' version.

Design and Build

There's quite a substantial makeover here, with a striking new frontal design which sets the tone for a contemporary update inside and out. The absence of upper grilles between the headlights creates a more sophisticated, distinctive appearance while the trapezoid-shaped lower grille reflects similar designs across the Toyota range. The look is accentuated by restyled headlamps, including full-LED options and alloy wheels on higher grades. And there's now a Verso people carrying MPV version too, which can seat up to seven. The van variant, as before, is offered in a choice of two body lengths, medium or long. And as usual in this class, there's a single roof height. The cabin has been enhanced with a smarter leather-trimmed steering wheel, a new digital instrument cluster and 10-inch touchscreen for the fully connected infotainment system, which includes built-in navigation. Otherwise, the sturdy, comfortable interior is much as before. As previously, you get a three-seater arrangement with a middle passenger seat backrest that folds down to create a desk top. The spec also includes a 'Smart Cargo system' - basically a flap in the bulkhead that allows longer items to be pushed through from the load area, increasing load length by 1.3m for things like ladders. With all versions, there is no lack of storage space in the cab: 16 storage points, according to Toyota, these including a 15-litre area in the centre console. Toyota knows that for business people today, a van often has to serve as a mobile office as well as a means of transport, so there are plenty of connectivity features too.

Market and Model

Don't expect prices to change too much over what Toyota was charging for this model before, which for the diesel variants sees ex-VAT pricing in the £23,500-£27,000 bracket. There's an entry-level 'Active'-spec short wheelbase derivative, but otherwise the choice is between 'Icon' and 'Sport' trim levels, with a choice of short or long body styles. All variants get the useful 'Smart Cargo' system with its folding passenger seat and built-in workstation. Toyota's portfolio of 'Safety Sense+' features comes as standard. The Proace City Electric is ex-VAT-priced from around £30,000 and only comes with 'Icon' trim. You can choose between short and long versions and select between 7 or 11kW on-board chargers. For the diesel, the equipment specification for the 'Active' model (which only comes with the shorter 'Medium' body length) includes a 10-inch multimedia touchscreen and digital driver's instrument cluster. Safety and assistance features include Automatic Emergency Braking with Forward Collision Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Road Sign Assist, Automatic High Beam and driver attention monitoring. An electric parking brake and rear parking sensors are also part of the standard package. The 'Icon' models (medium and long) introduce a navigation system, front fog lights, 16-inch wheels with full covers, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, power-folding mirrors with piano black casings, one-touch power windows, front parking sensors and a rear camera. The top 'Sport' versions add extra styling details to the 'Icon' specification, including body-coloured door handles, bumpers, side mouldings and sliding door rail, plus 16-inch alloy wheels.

Practicalities and Costs

The dimensions are perfectly in line with the segment and as you'd hope, don't vary with choice between combustion or electric powertrain. There's a length of 4,403mm for the 'medium' version ensuring an optimum effective usable length of 1.81m and a 3.8m3 capacity, sufficient to accommodate two Euro pallets. There are slide-opening side doors and twin side-hinged rear doors that open to 180 degrees. Plus the payload is up to one tonne in the diesel - or up to 800kg in the Electric. The 'long' body shape, which is 4,753mm long, provides even greater load capacity - 4.4m3. These figures include the extra versatility of the clever Smart Cargo feature (standard across the range). This uses a folding front passenger bench to add an extra 0.4m3, while also increasing the maximum load length by 1.3m. On the move in the diesel, an engine stop-start function supports fuel economy and lower emissions. Combined cycle fuel consumption is rated at about 47mpg, with around 144g/km of CO2. Maintenance schedules are up to 25,000 miles/two years. With the EV variant, driving range with this improved model has been increased to up to 205 miles, 31 miles further than the original model. When more energy is required, a 100kW DC fast-charging system can recharge the battery up to 80 per cent in around 30 minutes. All Proace City vans are covered by a comprehensive ten-year manufacturer's warranty (valid provided you service the car at a franchised Toyota dealership). The Electric version is additionally covered eight-year/100,000-mile warranty for battery degradation. Those dealerships by the way, are now designated as 'Toyota Professional Centres' and can offer dedicated vehicle maintenance areas and highly trained staff. Five years' roadside assistance is another contribution towards stress-free ownership, providing rapid help any time of the day or night, 365 days a year to get business moving again, or take the vehicle to the nearest Toyota workshop for repairs. Proace City residual values are expected to be strong, in line with those achieved by the Proace medium-duty van.

Summary

Even though in essence this Proace City isn't much different to the Vauxhall Combo, Peugeot Partner, Citroen Berlingo and Fiat Doblo models it shares its Stellantis design with, the way your business will buy it is quite a lot different thanks to the brand's 'Toyota Professional Centre' dealer upgrade. And the 10 year warranty you get with a Proace City is quite different to the one you'd get with an equivalent Vauxhall, Peugeot, Citroen or Fiat too. All of which reflects Toyota's desire for this little van to stand out, not only from its Stellantis cousins but also from key segment rivals like the Renault Kangoo, the Volkswagen Caddy and the Ford Transit Connect. If your company's still not quite ready for the full-electric version, the more affordable diesel variants offer a strong package. And after having sampled them and looked carefully at what's being offered here, you might well conclude that actually, all small vans aren't quite the same, even if at first glance they look it.