Toyota South Africa Motors has opted to reintroduce the 14-seater version of the previous-generation Quantum under the Hiace nameplate.
The decision follows the arrival of the new Quantum earlier in 2019, with the local arm of the Japanese firm saying “demand still exists for a value-focused people mover”.
Thus, the previous generation 14-seater Quantum has been rebranded as a Hiace product and joins the Hiace Ses’Fikile 16-seater minibus under this naming convention.
Specifications are unchanged, with urge coming from Toyota’s 2,5-litre turbodiesel engine offering 75 kW and 260 N.m to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual transmission. It is priced at R571 900 (the new Quantum 14-seater is powered by the firm’s 2,8-litre oil-burner and is now priced at R635 000).
Toyota has opted for a “simplified” two-colour line-up comprising Ivory White and Quicksilver metallic. The firm says a key differentiator between the new-generation 14-seater Quantum and the revived Hiace version is that the latter remains classified as a light commercial vehicle and thus doesn’t require a code 10 license.
