1997 Toyota Hiace

Our latest van life arrival is this 1997 Toyota HiAce Regius, a great example of Toyota passenger focused van design. While standard HiAces are cab-over commercial vehicles where you sit directly on top of the front axle, the Regius was engineered from the ground up to offer a smoother ride, better legroom, and a lower step-in height. It utilizes a semi bonnet front layout and a slightly narrower body that handles tight roads with ease and is much easier to park. With just 75,290 verified miles, this van offers a great opportunity to get into a classic nineties Toyota that balances daily usability with a unique look.

Under the hood is the 3.0L 1KZTE turbo diesel, a legendary powerplant that holds a cult following among Toyota purists. It gives you plenty of low end torque for highway merging or climbing hills, even when the van is loaded up. This is mated to a smooth shifting and reliable four speed automatic transmission that sends power straight to the rear wheels. The rear wheel drive setup also means you get an incredibly tight turning radius, which makes navigating tight spaces surprisingly easy for a vehicle this size.

Inside, the cabin genuinely feels more like a mobile living room than a typical nineties vehicle, offering incredible versatility for road trips or camping. The immediate standout is the modular seating layout, where both the first and second row seats can swivel and rotate a full 180 degrees, allowing multiple seating configurations to face the passengers in the rear, while also creating extra legroom when parked. Additionally, the second and third row seats fold flat to make a spacious bed for overnight trips. This space is flooded with natural light and ventilation thanks to a manual sunroof up front and a massive power moonroof in the rear, paired with pop out rear windows and factory privacy curtains for when you want to button things up for the night. On the convenience front, it comes with power windows, power locks, and power folding and adjusting mirrors. For comfort, you get digital front and rear climate control with ice cold AC and hot heat, all tied together nicely with classic wood grain trim on the dash to cap off an exceptionally well thought out interior.

On the outside, the van wears a classic White Pearl over Silver Metallic two-tone color scheme. It features factory rainguards over the front windows, a rear spoiler that gives the tailgate some extra personality, and even the original rear-facing parking mirror mounted up top. While it does show some scratches, dings, and dents that you would expect from regular usage over the years, it remains in above-average condition with all of the factory badging and trim intact. A set of factory alloy wheels completes the look, ensuring it looks right at home whether it is parked at a campsite or cruising down the highway.

On the outside, the van wears a classic White Pearl over Silver Metallic two-tone color scheme. Two-tone paint layouts were incredibly popular in Japan during the nineties, as manufacturers used them to give utility vehicles a more premium, upscale look right from the factory. This styling became a defining look for vans and SUVs of that era. Additional features include factory rainguards over the front windows, a rear spoiler that gives the tailgate some extra personality, and even the original rear facing parking mirror mounted up top. While it does show some scratches and dings that you would expect from regular usage over the years, it remains in above average condition with all of the factory badging and trim intact. A set of factory alloy wheels completes the look, ensuring it looks right at home whether it is parked at a campsite or cruising down the highway.

This van delivers an excellent mix of comfort, mechanical reliability, and pure versatility. It pairs a low-mileage turbo diesel engine with a highly configurable, 8-passenger cabin that easily adapts from a mobile lounge to a cargo hauler. Whether you want a distinctive daily driver, a capable road tripper, or a solid base for a camper conversion, it comes serviced, titled, and ready for its next adventure.