With thousand of South African families heading out of the urban jungle and heading for campsights and holiday resorts around the country, we thought we’d haul out a comparative test of two of the greatest people carriers this country has ever seen, the legendary Hi-Ace and timeless Microbus.
Conducted in May 1979, the comparative test pitted the two strongest minibuses of the era against one another in an exercise that was quite difficult to call. The Volkswagen was a tried and tested favourite that made do with a rear-engined layout, while the Toyota’s motor lied under the front seats and boasted a slightly more functional cabin, as well as more power. Despite this, the 100 kg lighter Microbus held its own in the performance stakes.
The Hi-Ace became Grandmaster of the South African taxi industry (there are many models still serving the South African masses), while the second-generation Microbus became a classic – though not as much sought-after as the very first generation.
