Toyota Alphard vs Hiace Super Grandia Elite - The better buy

Vans were widely popular back in the day. Their flexibility and seating capacity made them the ultimate go-to. Nowadays, vans are still used as passenger cars and utility vehicles. Although most people seem to think they are nothing more than transporters.

Don’t get me wrong. We Filipinos love practicality above anything else. Otherwise, Toyota Hiace wouldn’t have lasted three decades in our country. But it certainly wouldn’t hurt to have stylish vans with high-end features. Toyota currently has two upmarket vans in their line-up – Toyota Alphard and Hiace Super Grandia Elite.

The Japanese automaker graced us with Toyota Hiace in 1990. Since then, several variants were introduced including the Hiace Grandia, Grandia Tourer, and Commuter Deluxe. Super Grandia Elite launched in 2019 as a range-topping variant and the latest addition to the line.

Alphard arrived late in the scene. Toyota Motors launched it in 2010 as a luxury van. While it will never be a household name like the Hiace, its sole variant is on a league of its own. In fact, it garnered enough attention to get a second-generation update.

Which is better: Alphard or Hiace Super Grandia Elite?

We had a good first impression on Super Grandia Elite. Unlike its Hiace siblings, it boasts top-of-the-line specs, albeit for a higher price tag. Then again, we were also impressed by the facelifted Alphard which launched in 2018 with superior features and garish styling.

To settle the score, here is an in-depth comparison of Toyota’s high-end vans.

Dimensions

No matter which angle you view it from, there is no mistaking that Super Grandia Elite is a beast. Compared to the Alphard, the flagship Hiace is significantly longer, wider, and taller – giving more room for your passengers.

Both vans have adequate ride heights, although the half-inch difference is too minimal to make any difference. Whether you’re driving the Hiace or the Alphard, you won’t be bumping into problems. You should be able to get past potholes and some rocky roads with relative ease.

One huge difference, however, is in cargo space. Due to its larger dimensions, Super Grandia Elite gives 58% more luggage space than the Alphard by default. With the seats folded down or modified, Elite Hiace can carry up to 6,000 liters in cargo versus 1,900 liters on the Alphard.

Exterior

Vans are usually just box-on-wheels, but not these two. Both Toyota vans exude an air of elegance.

Toyota Alphard is a little bit of everything – luxurious, sporty, and somewhat futuristic. Among its distinguishing features include chrome-wrapped headlights and a massive chrome grill with horizontal and vertical slats. Toyota’s logo is also nowhere in sight. Instead, the front fascia features a stylized emblem of the alpha, an ancient Greek letter to which it owes its name.

The new Super Grandia Elite isn’t as flashy. But compared to other Hiace vans it has an added touch of sophistication. The van takes its design cues from the Alphard without going overboard. For instance, while it gets an upmarket treatment, its curvy bumper and horizontal grill makes it no less different to the average van.

On paper, these vans have nearly identical features that you can hardly tell them apart. Toyota Alphard does have a high mount stop lamp and side mirror integrated turn signals as an advantage. Meanwhile, Super Grandia Elite gets built-in headlight cleaners.

Interior

If you want to know what it’s like to be on a private jet, now is your chance. This is especially true with the sunroof-bearing Alphard, although both vans have premium looking-cabins with leather seats, door trims, and steering wheels. They also provide quiet rides thanks to their exceptional NVH insulation.

Just make sure to pick the cabin-style seats for the full experience. Otherwise, you’ll have to sit on the rear bench. Not that it matters though, as both vehicles feel snug. Toyota Alphard specs sheet offers more comfort features for the front and rear passengers.

When it comes to seating space, Hiace Super Grandia Elite has an obvious advantage. The full-sized van has third-row seats which enable it to accommodate 10 passengers. Toyota Alphard is a smaller minivan, so it can only fit 7 people at a time in its two-row seats.

Another drawback of the Alphard is its dated technology. In spite of the built-in navigation, the lack of support for Android and Apple devices is simply unforgivable. We would have settled for six speakers if it meant having this feature.

Engine

A simple knowhow on engines will tell you that the Alphard is more powerful. After all, it runs on a V6 engine – a powerplant that is notoriously known for its exceptional performance.

You’re not wrong. Toyota Alphard cranks out more horsepower than the Hiace. However, to say that it’s more powerful is not completely accurate. It simply means that Alphard can accelerate faster. And by fast, we mean it can go from 0 to 100 kmph in just 8.9 seconds.

Super Grandia Elite generates more torque than the Alphard. This gives it the ability to carry more weight with the least amount of force. Torque is what makes the Hiace a workhorse and reliable people carrier.

Fuel economy of both vehicles isn’t great. But if you want to travel longer distances for less fuel, the Hiace does a better job. 

Safety 

Toyota Alphard and Toyota Hiace both passed the New Car Assessment Program with flying colors. Super Grandia Elite scored a perfect 5-star safety rating from the ASEAN NCAP. The Alphard survived a similar crash test which earned it 5 stars from the Japan NCAP.

The two vans are also equipped with Toyota Safety Sense, which include:

• A Pre-Collision System (PCS) that uses sensors and cameras to monitor the surroundings for a possible collision. In emergency situations, it applies automatic brakes to prevent accidents.
• Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) with Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) and Steering Assist (SA) adjusts the vans’ speeds and position and relation to other motorists.
• Automatic High Beam (AHB) which automatically adjusts the headlights’ brightness based on the driving condition.

Both vehicles are practically safe to drive in. But the Alphard has more safety specs to offer.

Price

Super Grandia Elite is not your average Hiace van. Sure, it has the same engine and 5-star safety rating as the rest of the line-up. But it doesn’t change the fact that it’s a top-spec variant.

In this respect, Hiace Elite lives up to its name by offering the most features in the range. It also has an upmarket design which further justifies the nearly Php 3 million price tag. Compared to the Alphard, it’s more fuel-efficient and has an entertainment system that is more suited to the times.

The new Toyota Alphard shares many features with the Super Grandia Elite. But like icing on the cake, it offers more on its plate. Setting aside its dated audio system, it has better specs and safety features overall.

So which do you choose?

If you want a premium utility vehicle with as many seats and cargo space as possible, but don’t want to sacrifice aesthetics for practicality, Super Grandia Elite is a solid option.

But if you prefer the style and don’t find the need for a larger van, the Alphard is a good choice.

Also read: Toyota Corolla Altis vs Honda Civic vs Mazda 3 - Which one to buy?