Toyota Proace Electric van review

Four years after it first joined the Stellantis line-up, the Toyota Proace Electric remains a rather rare sight. It’s built alongside the Citroën ë-Dispatch, Fiat E-Scudo, Peugeot e-Expert and Vauxhall Vivaro Electric, sharing almost everything with its European siblings from body panels to suspension layout and drivetrains.

And when you’re up against those rivals, it’s perhaps no surprise that the British Vauxhall brand dominates, selling six times as many of the Vivaro Electric as Toyota does of the Proace EV.

How does Toyota differentiate itself when faced with competition that offers the same range, payload, towing, load volume, comfort and equipment? The key differences lie not in the brochure’s spec sheets, but in the Toyota Professional dealer network and its after-sales promise. Toyota’s 10-year ‘Relax’ warranty makes it an attractive, low-risk option.

But is that enough against competition from the Ford E-Transit Custom, Maxus eDeliver 7, Mercedes eVito, Renault Trafic E-Tech and Volkswagen e-Transporter (and, arguably, the new Kia PV5)?

As with its siblings, the Proace Electric is powered by a 134bhp electric motor sending power to the front wheels. There’s a choice of 50kWh or 75kWh batteries, providing WLTP ranges of 133 miles and up to 215 miles respectively.

In practice, those numbers are a tad optimistic. On test in glorious weather, with around 250kg in the back and a mix of town and dual-carriageway driving, we saw closer to 2.4 miles per kWh, translating to roughly 180 miles from a full charge on the larger battery. Not great, not terrible.

Performance depends on which of the three drive modes you select. Eco limits power to a boredom-inducing 79bhp and reduces power to things like the air conditioning to maximise efficiency. Normal ups that to 107bhp, which is what the van will default to every time you start it. Power unleashes the full 134bhp for better response when fully loaded or climbing hills. The differences are noticeable, but most drivers will leave it in Normal, which provides enough punch for day-to-day use while keeping range in check.

The Ford E-Transit and Volkswagen e-Transporter have a similarly powered option, but most will opt for a more powerful 215bhp model, which is noticeably more potent. The Kia PV5 sits between the two, with 161bhp.

Acceleration tails off beyond 40mph, but at lower speeds, the Proace Electric is responsive and pleasantly refined. It’s a breeze nipping through congested city streets, with every gap an opportunity, thanks to the near-instant responses. The regenerative braking system, adjustable through steering-wheel paddles, almost allows for one-pedal driving in its strongest setting. While it doesn’t quite bring the van to a stop, it’s particularly useful in stop-start urban traffic.

Despite its size, the Proace Electric feels well-balanced. The battery sits beneath the floor, lowering the centre of gravity and reducing body roll through bends. Steering is light and precise, and the suspension — a mix of MacPherson struts at the front and trailing arms at the rear — does a decent job of smoothing out poor road surfaces.

It’s no hot hatch, but much of the chassis and suspension is, loosely, shared with the likes of the Peugeot 308 and Vauxhall Grandland rather than an old van chassis, which makes life far more comfortable. Noise levels are impressively low, too, even on coarser tarmac, where there’s little wind or tyre roar.

“The Proace Electric is great for city routes, where it’s effortlessly smooth and far more relaxing than the diesel versions ever were.” – Phil Huff, Van reviewer

There’s comfort in familiarity, and the Proace cab will be familiar to anyone who’s driven one of its Stellantis siblings. It’s solid, logically laid out and designed to take a beating, but it’s not especially modern.

Toyota’s new 10in touchscreen livens things up, integrating Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and built-in navigation, and that’s supported by a 10in digital instrument cluster that shows range, energy use, and regeneration levels. It’s bright, clear and a significant step up from earlier versions, though the graphics feel a little dated next to those in the latest Ford E-Transit Custom.

Despite the digital update, Toyota has kept proper buttons for the climate system rather than burying them in sub-menus. There’s also a heated driver’s seat, which helps to keep you toasty while maintaining a respectable range.

A handy update is a larger phone tray, which now takes a modern smartphone. As well as a wireless charger, there’s a USB socket next to it, allowing charging without leaving cables dangling around.

Space is where the Proace Electric loses points, as the cab feels surprisingly narrow and claustrophobic. Relatively small windows and small door mirrors accentuate the sensation, with vans like the Ford E-Transit Custom and even the ageing Trafic E-Tech feeling light and airy in comparison. Even the more compact Kia PV5 feels more spacious, although we’ve only driven the two-seater version.

The driving position is also badly offset, meaning the seat, pedals and steering wheel don’t line up perfectly. Or even slightly. It’s tolerable on short hops but can become uncomfortable over long distances. And if you’re driving three-up, the middle passenger will find their knees butting against an unnecessarily large gear selector panel.

Storage, too, is limited compared to newer rivals, though the fold-flat passenger seat in Icon and Sport trims doubles as a makeshift desk and allows longer items to pass through from the load bay via Toyota’s Smart Cargo system.

Material quality is good enough for the segment. Plastics are hard but durable, and the overall finish feels tough. Noise insulation is excellent, too.

“It’s not glamorous, but it’s functional, like a well-worn pair of work boots that don’t quite fit right. Tough, familiar, but you’d rather be wearing trainers.” – Phil Huff, Van reviewer

Toyota’s Proace Electric may share its structure with the Vauxhall Vivaro Electric and its twins, but that’s no bad thing. The Stellantis platform on which it’s built is space-efficient, and the Proace inherits its well-thought-out balance between external size, cargo capacity, and everyday usability.

There are two body lengths to choose from: Medium (L1) at 4980mm and Long (L2) at 5330mm, with both sitting on the same 3275mm wheelbase. There’s just one roof height, which is comfortably under two metres, meaning the Proace can enter most multi-storey car parks and underground loading bays.

That’s enough for the Proace Electric to provide 5.3m³ of cargo space in Medium form and 6.1m³ in Long form, expanding to 5.8m³ and 6.6m³ using Toyota’s Smart Cargo system. This clever setup includes a flap in the steel bulkhead and a folding passenger seat, allowing long, narrow items such as pipes or planks up to 4.0 metres to be passed through into the cabin.

That’s competitive, though the Ford E-Transit Custom now stretches to 6.8m³, and the Maxus eDeliver 7 can hit 8.7m³. Kia’s smaller PV5 tops out at 4.4m3.

The smaller battery 50kWh model offers up to 1400kg of payload, while the heavier 75kWh version can carry up to 1000kg, rising to 1360kg for the long-bodied model. That’s in line with the Stellantis equivalents and comfortably ahead of the Renault Trafic E-Tech (up to 1222kg) and Volkswagen e-Transporter (1016kg). Towing capacity is fixed at 1000kg across all versions, which is useful for smaller trailers but trails the E-Transit Custom’s 2000kg.

Access to the load bay is straightforward, with rear barn doors that open to 180 degrees,  and twin sliding side doors fitted as standard on every model, unlike the Ford, which offers only one.

A loading height of 544mm — a little lower than the E-Transit’s 588mm — means goods can be slid straight in without too much strain, and the width between the wheel arches of 1258mm ensures a couple of Euro pallets can be taken in with room to spare, with a third squeezing into the Long model.

Toyota fits ply lining as standard, which helps protect the load area from damage. Factory-approved conversions are also available for operators wanting a specialist setup, including Platform Cab, refrigerated CoolKit conversions, and premium racking packages. Sadly, there’s no electric Crew Cab version, which will disappoint owner-operators needing dual-purpose flexibility.

“Ply lining is standard in the back, protecting your investment from scratches and dents in the load area — that’s a money saver at purchase, and should lead to higher values when you trade it in.” – Phil Huff, Van reviewer

Just two trim levels are offered for the Proace Electric: entry-level Icon and plusher Sport, although the latter costs quite a bit extra and only adds climate control instead of manual air conditioning, keyless entry and start, and glossy exterior styling touches.

We recommend the Icon, as pricing for that is very competitive, costing around £2,000 less than the almost identical Stellantis quadruplets on a like-for-like basis. The Toyota model is generally better equipped than its siblings, but it’s Toyota’s warranty and support package that should really get owner-drivers and small businesses interested.

While the rest of the Stellantis vans (and most other rivals) make do with a 100,000-mile or three-year warranty, Toyota extends its cover period to 10 years. There’s still a 100,000-mile limit, but it’s unmatched in the LCV world, including the seven-year warranty cover from Kia on the PV5.

There are a few hoops to jump through, like having the van serviced at a Toyota Professional dealer, but intervals are just once every two years or 25,000 miles, so it shouldn’t be too onerous. Toyota’s five-year roadside assistance cover also comes as standard.

Charging is capped at competitive but far from class-leading 100kW DC, allowing a 5–80% top-up in about 45 minutes. On a 7.4kW AC home charger, a full charge takes around 11 hours 20 minutes — enough to top up a van overnight, ready for a day’s work.

“That ten-year warranty changes everything. It makes this the only Stellantis van I’d buy with my own money.” – Phil Huff, Van reviewer

Buy it if…

- A lengthy warranty is important to you

- You want a capable van for a reasonable price

- You’d like a van with a smooth ride

Don’t buy it if…

- You want a van with a modern-looking interior

- You’re looking for a high-roof or Crew Cab van

- You plan on towing more than one ton

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