Toyota ProAce City Van Review
The Toyota ProAce City Van at a glance
After receiving countless ‘Van of the Year’ awards within its category, we thought it only right to review this Toyota ProAce City van to see if it really does live up to its name.
The mid-sized Toyota Proace has been on the market since 2016 and in 2020, it was joined by this smaller model, the Toyota Proace City. Identical beneath the branding, this van offers a comfortable driving experience and a class-leading payload.
The Proace City is available in L1 and L2 body lengths, both in a single roof height. They offer cargo volumes of 3.3 and 3.9 cubic metres respectively and a payload of up to one tonne is available.
Toyota believes that it has the best spec available for potential buyers at this price, and is targeting sole traders and small to medium-sized enterprises rather than big fleet businesses.
The Toyota ProAce City Van is available on Van Sales UK at £199 + VAT.
Keep reading to hear our thoughts on the engines and specs and interior design of this popular city van.
Engines and Spec
The Proace City launched with a choice of two trim levels, Active and Icon, and with a small engine range consisting of 75hp and 100hp of the same 1.5-litre turbodiesel.
With the 75hp version’s reduced torque and power, plus a lower payload, it’s easy to see why most will want to opt for the more powerful engine. However, for those after the lowest possible cost of purchase or perhaps without particularly weighty needs, it should do the job just fine.
The 100hp engine, meanwhile, has enough power for comfortable motorway cruising and getting away from the lights without being delayed. It’s very smooth.
Once up to speed the Toyota Proace City is quite refined for a van. It’s reasonably quiet, and it handles well, thanks to the fact the front part of the chassis is sourced from the PSA Group’s passenger car range.
The suspension is a little unsettled when unladen, but that’s sure to settle with some weight in the back, while the view out helps you to position the van on the road with ease. Light steering helps with low-speed manoeuvring, as do the front and rear parking sensors and reversing camera.
Keep reading to hear our thoughts on the interior design of the Toyota ProAce City van.
Interior
The Proace City uses the same cabin as the Citroen Berlingo, with a large steering wheel and a comfortable layout.
Build quality is good, with hard-wearing plastics and fabrics used throughout, and solid-feeling controls. There are carpets inside (although you can add rubber mats if you want) and electric windows and air-con boost cabin comfort.
The infotainment screen is set high up on the dashboard and angled slightly towards the driver for easy operation on the move.
There is also plenty of storage in the cabin, including a large glovebox on top of the dashboard, a tray behind the infotainment screen and storage space just behind the steering wheel. The door also has a large amount of storage and there’s a cupholder on either end of the dashboard.
Entry-grade Proace City Active models get a basic radio unit, though it does still include DAB and Bluetooth. The top-grade Icon versions, which are expected to be more popular, get a large 8.0-inch touchscreen that sits atop the dashboard angled slightly towards the driver, complete with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Impressive payload
- Comfortable and easy to drive
- Plenty of storage
Cons
- No six-speed gearbox
- Laggy infotainment system
The Verdict
Overall, the Toyota Proace City van does live up to its reputation.
Ideal for small business owners, this van offers ultimate comfort, impressive payload and a quiet drive.
With a choice of two trim levels Active and Icon and an engine range consisting of 75hp and 100hp of the same 1.5-litre turbodiesel, there is something to cater to every driver’s needs.
The Toyota Proace also offers plenty of storage including a large glovebox on top of the dashboard, a tray behind the infotainment screen and storage space just behind the steering wheel. The door also has a large amount of storage and there’s a cupholder on either end of the dashboard, making it the perfect van to store all of your belongings and work supplies.
The Toyota ProAce City Van is available on Van Sales UK at £199 + VAT.
If you are looking to learn more about what the Toyota Proace City van has to offer, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of our friendly team here at Van Sales UK. We are always on hand to answer any questions you may have and point you in the right direction to finding your dream van.
