Toyota Proace review

A choice of four-cylinder turbodiesel engines are on offer in the Proace, though if that sounds far too old-school you’ll be wanting to know about the all-electric version first.

Since the 2024 facelift the Proace has been available with two different battery sizes, meaning you can have a 50kWh version (42kWh usable) that does 148 miles on a charge, or a 75kWh unit (69kWh usable) that manages 213 miles.

We’re yet to test the EV, but we can tell you that both come with a 134bhp motor and a top speed of just 80mph. The 0-62mph sprint takes 10.8 seconds in the 50kWh branded version and 11.9s in the heavier 75kWh, but remember that they get instant torque so they’ll be quicker than the diesels off the line. Good for rapid urban deliveries.

What about the diesel engines?

So, your entry-level choice is a 1.5-litre turbodiesel making 118bhp and connected to a six-speed manual gearbox, or you can upgrade to a 2.0-litre that makes 142bhp and drops the 0-62mph time down from a terrifyingly slow 16 seconds (!) to a far more respectable 9.9 seconds.

However, we’ve tested the range-topping 174bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel allied to the eight-speed automatic gearbox. You have to upgrade to this most powerful diesel to get the self-shifter, and if you do you’re also looking at a healthy 295lb ft of torque. All versions are front-wheel drive.

Sounds like most people won’t bother with the auto then?

It’s actually now only one available with the top-spec Sport trim, which is a pity, as it means the majority of Proace buyers will likely choose to save a fair few quid and DIY. But the auto ‘box is a great match for this engine – actually better than many of the downsized petrol applications it’s lumped with elsewhere in the Peugeot-Citroen range.

It’s calibrated just-so not to freak out and kick down into a panic when you simply want to join a motorway, and there are wheel-mounted paddles for if you want to take back control. The 0-62mph time is an amusing 8.5 seconds too, which is far from slow, but it’s the in-gear punch that makes life easy.

Is it a pain to manoeuvre?

Because the Proace is half a size smaller than the likes of a VW Transporter or Mercedes Vito, it feels usefully narrow and wieldy. Stability is superb even at motorway speeds when empty of cargo – if you’ve not upgraded your workhorse in a while you’ll likely be stunned at just how civilised life can be in a commercial vehicle these days.

Engine refinement with the brawniest diesel is another strong suit, with wind noise predictably more of a din.

Nothing that’d make a long day behind the wheel tiring though. You can sense the French comfiness at work here: this is a machine designed with low effort in mind. The steering is one-hand palmable, the ride settled, the performance adequate. We’d like at least a little more resistance to the brake pedal though – it’s alarmingly soft and makes judging how much force you need rather tricky.