Chinese auto cloning to the max! - Hiace Van series of vehicles gets cloned and gets affordable..

meet the Chinese counterpart of the Toyota Hiace H200 Platform, the Higer KLQ6540, same design, more options, more affordable...

With the issues of affordability of Toyota Vehicles such its line and series of Hiace and Regius vans, the Japanese  have been benchmarking we know that the latest  the 5th generation of Hiace Vehicles since its 4th rendition the Hiace is known as the van of standards for commercial and private owners alike, Toyota vans have been for a decade the auto world's most favorite line of vans, but here in asia, vans like these really sell at a rackety price you gotta have a really really decent pay check to get one.. but the chinese are getting gritty and wants everyone in china to have one too so what did they decide... Clone Them!!

Well to my words, it seems these chinese automakers seems they just cant have enough of the Toyota Vehicle Platforms.. well, with their quality control standards rearing up to mid standards, the chinese automakers are busy obtaining patent rights of all series of toyota platforms from corollas to scion BB's well here another vehicle which is a victim of chinese socio-capitalism (wow! it means the hiace vans will become more affordable!) which in years to come may well be in every madlang filipinos  may have in their homes; The Toyota Hiace van..

 for now, lets see the 2 generations of Hiace and Regius Vans which are already chinese favorites due to their durability, ride, suspension and power and so many factors; chinese vehicle manufacturers poured all their resources to clone this platforms..

4th Generation Hiace

The fourth generation model appeared in 1989 and was available in standard wheelbase and long wheelbase variants; a Grand Cabin; standard wheelbase and long wheelbase van; long wheelbase and super long wheelbase high roof van. The latter shares a body design with the Commuter, which is a 15 seat minibus.

A range of engines were available in the 4th generation vehicles, ranging from 2 litre petrol engines to 3 litre turbo diesel engines. Most versions arerear-wheel drive, but part time or full time four-wheel drive versions were sold depending on specification level and market. The base model is typically the DX. Upmarket versions included CD, GL, and super GL models.

In the Philippines, the Hiace was first sold in 1995 with a diesel engine, getting revamped in 1997 as it went from business status to family van status. In 1999, the Hiace Grandia and 2.0 GL gasoline Hiace variants were launched, as well as the Hiace Commuter, a Hiace meant for business, and the Hiace was facelifted again in that year. In early 2001, the top-of-the-line 3.0 diesel Hiace Super Grandia was launched. All came with a standard 5-speed manual transmission.

4th generation Hiace Chinese Clones

Foton View

 Yup! the van that made Foton very trusted by the government because of so many Foton View Ambulances.., powered by both Toyota, Nissan and Isuzu cloned engines such as the 4JB1, SD24/27 and 2L and now is available for private usage..

King Long XMQ6520

yet another 4th gen Hiace clone with some characteristics almost improved, it uses a Mitsubishi 4D5 series of engines and available in non-turbo, turbocharged and automatic models..

Great Wall Proteus

Instead of Using only toyota engines Great wall motors has this model available equipped with Mazda R2 and Isuzu 4JB1 Diesel engines

Jinbei Haise

the Jinbei Haise has some similar characteristics to the original 4th generation toyota hiace but has improved looks and aerodynamic designs its engine options include a Chinese Mitsubishi 4M40, 4D5 series of engines and the original Toyota diesel engines

5th Generation

The fifth-generation Hiace appeared in 2005 as a wide long-wheelbase wagon, wide super-long-wheelbase high-roof "Grand Cabin", long-wheelbase van, long-wheelbase high-roof van and a wide super-long-wheelbase high-roof van. In this generation the gear stick has been moved to the dash-board to enable easier movement in the cabin. Five-speed manual and four-speed automatic transmissions are available.

All of the models use a four-cylinder DOHC engine, in a variety of forms, a 1TR-FE 2000 cc or 2TR-FE 2700 cc petrol engine or a 2KD-FTV 2500 cc or 1KD-FTV 3000 cc D-4D turbo diesel engine.

Two of these engines are available in Malaysia, the 2.5 L turbo diesel, offered in a choice of panel van or window van; and the 2.7 L petrol, that comes only in the window van option.

The fifth-generation Hiace was launched in the Philippines on June 13, 2005, with D-4D variants, 2.5 diesel and GL Grandia, both with manual transmission. In 2006, the new top-of-the-line Hiace Super Grandia was launched, being the first ever Hiace in the Philippines with a standard automatic transmission.

The 2.5 and 3.0-litre turbo diesel engines have a maximum output of 75 kW at 3600 rpm and 80 kW at 3000 rpm respectively and maximum torque of 260 Nm at 1600–2400 rpm and 286 Nm at 1200–1600 rpm respectively. The 2.7 L petrol engine has a maximum output of 111 kW at 4800 rpm and a maximum torque of 241 Nm at 3800 rpm.

As of now only the Higer Bus company based in Suzhou, China   has obtained rights and license to Manufacture the 5th generation Hiace Platform under the Model Name Kinglong KLQ6540

Not so really i'm joking you comrades, but it seems Higer has perfected in manufacturing the 5th Generation Hiace from the exterior styling right down to the cluster meters and many of the chinese sites I've visited featuring articles on the KLQ6540, says that its handling and many characterisitics are quite similar to the 5th generation Toyota Hiace, but the van's price is cheaper by twofolds from the original Toyota vehicle..

The engines available for this van include the DK4 Diesel Engine(Chinese Toyota 2KD) 4RB2 Gasoline (chinese Toyota 2RZF-E) and the 4G69S4N (Chinsese Mitsubishi 4G69 Mivec)

DK4A Diesel CRDi and DI type

4RB2 Gasoline VVT-i

4G69S4N Gasoline Mivec 

The interior and exterior are almost identical to the 5th Generation Hiace Platform with some dissimilar elements..

More looks from the exterior..

KLQ6540 Special series for fleet services and Local authority services

The Higer KLQ6540 is not only available as a family and private van, it is also available in some special versions for use in priavte fleets such as hospitals and delivery couriers, and for those local authrities and governments here I would like to inform you Dear leaders that this van is good ambulance platform, and this van is also available in many other configurations which includes:

Ambulances

Local law enforcement transport

delivery and courier

Interior of the Ambulance Model

The Prices of the KLQ6540 range are almost half the price of the Original Toyota Hiace range and Higer is Planning to make a similar 10 seater based on the regius ace..

So to close, never underestimate chinese vehicles, they may not sell better than those surplus models but look at the warranty,  5 years free on maintenance and some parts now get that from a similar priced surplus van from your friendly local surplus dealer. beat that...

for you guys out there who can't afford japanese vehicles and do not like costly maintence of surplus vehicles it seems the chinese automakers has a lot to offer.. if your the kind of offended by the Chinese automobiles, remember this line i've quoted from my similar post concerning chinese made vehicles:

"like all china-made products these vehicles must be provided with utmost care by the users, there are some vehicles that may pass the quality test but problems occur during usage, remeber the basics in vehicle and car maintenance, do checks, fill up fluids and similar checks

do not abuse this vehicles and respect its limits; because its mostly chinese made components always be careful always know its vehicle duty whether its mid-distance, city driving or its capable of capacities, just as always; read user's manuals, and note specific warnings.
just remember take good care of it at all times, these vehicles will take good care of you on the road..."