Toyota Proace Max Review & Prices

Think of the Toyota Proace Max as a cover band's rendition of a familiar hit—solid, dependable, but with enough unique touches to set it apart. Mechanically identical to the Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer, Vauxhall Movano and Citroen Relay (all built by the giant manufacturing conglomerate Stellantis), Toyota's first venture into the heavy-duty van market aims to balance well-proven engineering with the reassurance of its extensive warranty.

The Proace Max enters a crowded field, competing against established alternatives such as the Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter, Renault Master, Volkswagen Crafter, and Iveco Daily. Although the core design has been around a while, Toyota's offering is modernised with generous tech and equipment.

Toyota has streamlined the Proace Max range compared with the Ducato. It comes with just one 2.2-litre diesel engine delivering 140hp, paired to either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic gearbox. There’s also a Proace Max Electric available, in line with its Stellantis stablemates.

Toyota offers the Proace Max in two heights and two lengths. The longest ‘L4’ variant is reserved for the Proace Max Electric exclusively, and Toyota doesn’t offer the larger 4.25t chassis option either. Payload capacity tops out at a respectable 1,400kg, which is less than you get in the Fiat Ducato.

Inside, the Proace Max is available in a single 'Icon' trim. Thankfully, Toyota includes plenty of standard features such as automatic air conditioning, cruise control, and a substantial tech upgrade compared to some competitors. A 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a digital driver's display, brings welcome modernity to a cab that is undeniably very dated.

Driving dynamics feel somewhat old-school. The upright seating position and suspension tuned for heavy loads result in a noticeably bouncy and unsettled ride when lightly loaded. Engine noise intrudes more than in newer alternatives, and neither gearbox offers particularly refined operation. That said, the diesel engine provides adequate pulling power, steering is responsive, and the turning circle is commendably tight.

Load practicality remains strong. The rear doors open a full 270 degrees, simplifying the loading of bulky items. The load area comfortably fits multiple Euro pallets, and safety is covered with driver-assist technology such as autonomous emergency braking, lane departure alert, intelligent speed assist, and a reversing camera included as standard.

The real standout feature is Toyota’s impressive ten-year warranty, provided servicing requirements are followed at authorised dealerships. Although the Proace Max carries a premium over similar vans due to the absence of a basic trim, this additional warranty coverage significantly boosts its long-term appeal.

Check out all our Toyota reviews here - and remember that Carwow can help you sell your old van when you’re ready to upgrade.

The Proace Max starts slightly pricier than its mechanically similar alternatives due to Toyota’s decision not to offer an entry-level trim. You’re looking at a figure of just over £35,000 ex. VAT, which is pretty much what you’d pay for a Ducato similarly equipped.

If your priority is to spend as little as possible on a van, then less well-specified alternatives make more sense. However, the Proace Max’s extensive standard equipment and standout ten-year warranty help justify the higher initial outlay, especially for owner-operators.

The diesel engine delivers sufficient power but lacks refinement, and ride comfort suffers from stiff suspension

Driving the Proace Max is reminiscent of older-generation vans. The upright driving position, stiff suspension, and noticeable engine noise certainly betray its underlying age. The 140hp diesel engine does feel quite muscular, though, and it’s well up to coping with a fully laden van.

The steering feels quite precise and the turning circle is pretty impressive. This combined with great visibility out of the huge front windscreen and large side windows means manoeuvring in town is easy - and even seeing where you’ve been is made easier thanks to big two-part door mirrors and a standard reversing camera.

The manual gearbox feels slightly notchy, and the eight-speed automatic lacks the smoothness found in the Mercedes Sprinter, but both are acceptable. The manual shift lever is particularly nicely placed very close to your hand.

Suspension designed for heavy loads results in a bumpy ride when empty, making journeys less comfortable on uneven surfaces. The Proace Max is a van that definitely feels more at home with a few hundred kilos in the back.

The Proace Max’s load area is identical to that of the Fiat Ducato, except Toyota doesn’t offer the longest L4 variant with a diesel engine and it doesn’t offer the lowest H1 body height at all. The way the cab is pushed so far forwards means great load space for the length of the vehicle.

You get a full-height bulkhead as standard, plenty of lashing rings, bright LED lighting and optional (and quite well-priced) full ply lining. The rear doors open to 270 degrees to make loading and unloading easier.

Internal and external measurements

Exterior dimensions

Exterior length (L2/L3): 5,413mm/5,998mm
Exterior width without mirrors: 2,050mm
Exterior height (H2/H3): 2,522mm/2,760mm

Interior load length (L2/L3)
At floor: 3,120mm/3,705mm
At mid-height: 2,914mm/3,555mm

Interior loading width
Maximum: 1,870mm
Between wheel arches: 1,422mm

Interior loading height (H2/H3)
Maximum: 1,932mm/2,172mm

Rear door aperture height (H2/H3)
All versions: 1,720mm/2,030mm

Rear door aperture width
All versions: 1,562mm

Side door aperture height (H2/H3)
All versions: 1,755mm/1,755mm

Side door aperture width
All versions: 1,250mm

Towing capacity

All versions of the Toyota Proace Max can tow up to 2,500kg braked or 750kg unbraked. That’s reasonable but not class-leading, with the heavier-duty Ducato variants able to tow up to 3,000kg.

Payload

The Proace Max doesn’t offer the higher payload variants that the Ducato does, and as a result maximum payload is just 1,400kg. That’s not amazing for such a large van and so if your business needs are particularly heavyweight you’ll want to opt for one of the Proace Max’s alternatives. The best Fiat Ducato can carry up to 1,785kg, for example.

A good touchscreen can’t hide elderly origins and a poor driving position

Inside the Proace Max, the cabin offers excellent tech levels but feels constrained by its underlying older design. The dash layout is practical but noticeably dated.

The 10.0-inch infotainment screen is the same one you get optionally in higher-spec Ducatos, and it works well - it’s pretty simple to use, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are much more elegant solutions than using factory sat-nav anyway. A wireless charging pad isn’t available as it is on the Ducato, though, so you will have to plug your phone in.

The digital instrument cluster is formed of a 7.0-inch screen in the middle and LCD readouts on the sides for revs and fuel. The central display is clear and easy to use, but the rev counter in particular is nowhere near granular enough and in manual models is a bit of a pain to use.

Build quality is solid enough, though you’ll go a long way looking for any sort of style or plushness. Concessions to comfort are limited to a fold-down driver's armrest, though the cab is easily wide enough for three.

However, comfort for taller drivers is limited, as the driver's seat doesn't adjust far enough rearward and is somewhat firm on longer journeys. Storage solutions are decent with big door bins, multiple cup holders, and a reasonably sized glove box, plus a clipboard that folds down from the centre seat. Ergonomic issues, such as awkwardly placed controls, hint at the van's older origins but do not severely impact overall usability.

Fuel efficiency for the Proace Max diesel sits around the average for heavy-duty vans, delivering approximately 30mpg under typical commercial conditions. While these figures aren't class-leading, the substantial 90-litre fuel tank and large 18.6-litre AdBlue reservoir ensure fewer stops on long-haul journeys.

Regular servicing intervals of two years or 30,000 miles help keep maintenance costs predictable, complementing the ten-year warranty coverage for improved long-term cost management.

The Proace Max gets a good level of standard safety kit. Standard features include autonomous emergency braking, lane departure alert, intelligent speed assist, and a reversing camera, greatly enhancing driving safety. Additional aids like blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control contribute to a safer driving experience. Security features are equally comprehensive, with standard remote central locking, deadlocks, and a full alarm system as standard.

Euro NCAP doesn’t crash test vans but it does test their advanced driver assistance kit, and in this the Proace Max inherits the same rating as its Stellantis siblings - Gold.

Toyota's strong reputation for reliability is reinforced by an exceptional ten-year warranty for the Proace Max, provided the vehicle is serviced according to schedule at authorised Toyota dealerships.

This warranty significantly exceeds any alternative, making it highly attractive for commercial users seeking reduced long-term risks - though high-mileage users may find the 125,000 mile cover of a Fiat or Maxus to be more useful.

Service intervals are lengthy, set at two years or 30,000 miles. Toyota’s dealer network is fairly extensive and highly-rated, guaranteeing a courtesy van and where possible same-day servicing.