Toyota's large van is this contender, the Proace Max. Jonathan Crouch drives it.

Background

It's taken Toyota a very long time to get around to bringing us a large van. Until the arrival of this model, the Proace Max, in 2024, the largest LCV Toyota would sell you was a Transit Custom or Vivaro-sized model, the Proace. Which is surprising as for a long time now, this Japanese brand has had access to the design sold under various marque badges by what is these days known as the Stellantis Group. The design is question is variously marketed as the Vauxhall Movano, the Peugeot Boxer, the Citroen Relay and (in a mildly different form) as the Fiat Ducato. All these models have also been on sale in full-electric form since 2020 - but in guises that featured rather embarrassingly short battery range figures. Perhaps that explains Toyota's initial reluctance to take up this design, which lasted until Stellantis announced a far-reaching update of this van design for the 2024 model year, including a vastly superior 110kWh battery drivetrain. This sells alongside the more conventional 2.2-litre diesel powerplants that operators still want. Now that this Proace Max has finally arrived, let's take a closer look.

Driving Experience

Diesel versions of this Proace Max come with the same Stellantis Group-derived 2.2-litre unit you'll find in this model's Vauxhall, Peugeot, Citroen and Fiat Stellantis Group cousins. This is available here with a single 140bhp output and can be combined with 8-speed automatic transmission. Mechanically, the Proace Max is based around a front-wheel drive configuration with a McPherson front suspension and a rigid-axle rear suspension with leaf springs. Refinement is aided by considerable under-body and upper body strengthening also aimed at producing greater durability. The alternative Proace Max Electric uses a big Stellantis-derived 110kWh battery which takes this LCV 260 miles between charges. It powers an electric motor putting out 270bhp and 410Nm of torque - though you only get that with the fastest of the three available drive settings ('Power'). The default 'Normal' mode restricts this Toyota to 217bhp, while the 'Eco' setting you'll need to get anywhere near the quoted driving range figure restricts you to just 163bhp. There are four selectable levels of brake regeneration, which are operated by paddles behind the steering wheel. Bear in mind that as usual with EV vans, the range figure will drop off quite a bit if you've a full load out back. This EV model's under-floor battery positioning results in a low centre of gravity, improving cornering and stability even when fully loaded. The electric power steering now automatically adjusts the assistance to the speed of the vehicle. This increases driving comfort at higher speeds and makes manoeuvring in the city more comfortable. There's an electric parking brake, activated via a switch on the instrument panel to the left of the steering wheel.

Design and Build

Toyota has applied the revised front end treatment it's rolling out to all its vans to this Proace Max. But if you didn't happen to spot that or the badge work, you'd probably dismiss it as just another Boxer, Relay, Ducato or Movano. The EV version's visual changes are minimal. Apart from the badging and the charging flap, there are no exterior giveaways to the Proace Max model's electric status. And inside? Well fundamentally, this is a pretty old, borrowed design, but thanks to the way that Stellantis has built twin screens into it in recent years, it doesn't really feel particularly outdated. Particularly here because Toyota has chosen to standardise the largest 10-inch central screen size that isn't fitted to base versions of this model's Stellantis Group clones. You sit commandingly and the driver's seat is very comfortable, with six-way adjustment, lumbar support and an arm rest - though there's no option for the kind of sophisticated multi-sprung seat you could have in a rival Volkswagen Crafter. As you'd expect, this Proace Max features a dual passenger seat. And as usual in this class of van, the backrest of the centre seat folds down to create a work surface with a pen tray and a couple of cup holders. The branded steering wheel has paddles for either gear shifting (om this diesel) or brake regen (on the Electric version) and it is of course the only thing that's in any way Toyota-like about this cab. Through it, you view a 7-inch display flanked on the diesel model with gauges for revs and fuel; on the Electric version, those would be replaced by a Power Meter and a gauge for battery charge.

Market and Model

Expect prices broadly similar to those being charged for the Vauxhall Movano, Citroen Relay, Peugeot Boxer and Fiat Ducato models that share this Toyota's engineering. Which would see an entry-level diesel Proace Max (L2H2 Panel Van) starting from just over under £44,000 (inc. VAT), while the Proace Max Electric (L3H2 Panel Van) is likely to cost from just over £62,000 (inc. VAT) before deduction of the £5,000 government grant. Like its close Stellantis and Fiat cousins, this Toyota comes with a wide range of body styles. Three vehicle lengths and two roof heights, plus as well as the panel van, the L3 length offers chassis cab, platform cab, Dropside and 1-way tipper options which will allow countless configuration options to suit the respective user-profile. Across the range, there is a single equipment grade, 'Icon', offering key items like a multimedia system with 10-inch touchscreen and navigation. You also get a digital instrument cluster, automatic air conditioning, automatic headlights with automatic high beam, a reversing camera and rear parking sensors. All Proace Max panel vans are ply-lined as standard but this can be deleted on request, with a commensurate reduction in the vehicle's on-the-road price. Drive assist tech is a strongpoint. In addition to traffic sign recognition, forward collision alert with emergency braking and side blind-spot alert, there are systems such as drowsiness alert, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control (with a Stop & Go function), 360-degree parking sensors, parking assist and a digital rear view mirror that further improves all-round visibility. A total of 22 possible assistance systems and electronic helpers make driving and manoeuvring easier. The combination of adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist and traffic jam assist enables the Proace Max to steer, brake and accelerate itself at speeds up to 18mph - for example in slow traffic - provided that the driver's hands remain on the steering wheel. This means that automated driving at level two is possible.

Practicalities and Costs

On to practicalities. Across the Proace Max range there are three wheelbase lengths - L2 (for diesel models only), L3 and super-long L4. And you can get two roof height formats - H2 and high-roof H3. On to Gross Vehicle Weight; the diesel models come only in 3500 form, which means a 3.5-tonne Gross Vehicle Weight. The Proace Max Electric only comes in 4250 4.25-tonne Gross Vehicle Weight form. Cargo load area length is 3,120mm in the L2. Cargo load area length is 3,705mm in the L3 version and as much as 4,070mm in the longest L4 variant. With all body shapes, there 1,870mm of load area width, narrowing to 1,422mm between the wheel arches. Load area height is 1,932mm with the H2 version and as much as 2,172mm with the H3. All of that means is that, depending on the wheelbase length and roof height combination you choose, your Proace Max will be able to take, well an awful lot; even the base L2 H2 version can swallow 12m3. The L3H2 model can swallow 13m3, the L3H3 can take 15m3 and the biggest L4H3 can take 17m3. If you're opting for the Proace Max Electric, you'll be pleased to find that its EV powertrain doesn't compromise load volume. That's because the drive system's lithium-ion battery is mounted under the floor between the front and rear axle and so doesn't impinge on the cargo bay. You might think that choosing an electric van rather than a diesel one would mean the need to compromise a bit on payload. Actually, that's not the case here, though what you actually get with either drivetrain varies quite a lot on the body shape you choose. With the diesel version, payload figures vary between 1,265 and 1,400kg; with the Proace Max Electric, payloads vary between 1,385 and 1,460kg. Braked towing capacity is up to 2.4-tonnes for the EV and up to 2.5-tonnes for this diesel. All Proace Max models get a single sliding side door. It pulls back to reveal an aperture 1,250mm wide (so a forklift could get a pallet in). The aperture height is 1,755mm. There's the usual full-height bulkhead, but no option for a flap that would enable you to push lengthy items into the cab. On to running cost efficiency. The 2.2 litre turbo-charged diesel 140PS variant manages up to 36.7mpg on the WLTP combined cycle in regular use. What about the EV version? Well the Proace Max Electric offers a 260 mile range from its 110kWh battery. It offers the option of charging with up to 150kW DC. At a public fast charging station, it only takes 55 minutes to recharge to 80% of the battery capacity. AC charging is aided by the standard inclusion of a 22kW onboard charger. If you're able to three-phase charge from an 11kW wallbox, you can replenish the entire battery in six hours five minutes. The key difference in choosing any version of this Toyota rather than its Stellantis Group cousins is the 'Relax Warranty' you get with a Proace Max. The base package is 3 years and 60,000 miles, but as long as you keep the vehicle annually serviced at a Toyota franchise, this will be topped up every year - right up to a 10 year/100,000 mile limit. There's a separate 8 year/100,000 mile battery warranty.

Summary

Why it took Toyota so long to bring us a really large van is difficult to understand, but at least what we now have in the form of this Proace Max is a very competitive proposition indeed. Yes, you can get much the same confection with a Peugeot, a Vauxhall or a Citroen badge but Toyota offers it with a much longer 10 year warranty. And promises superior dealer service too. Assuming the deal you're offered is comparable to what you might get from your local Vauxhall, Peugeot or Citroen franchise, then the provision of that extra warranty cover could be crucial; it'll help prop up all-important residual values too. In short, this Toyota seems to tick a lot of boxes.