Following its world debut at the 2019 Commercial Vehicle Show, we wanted to explore the new Toyota Proace City compact van by providing greater detail in three key areas: performance and capabilities, practical and versatile design, and its safety, comfort and convenience features.
Proace City: practical and versatile design
Proace City can be specified with interior configurations to cater for different passenger and load-carrying requirements.
The van is available with either two individual front seats or a three-seat bench, the latter additionally offering a Smart Cargo option, like that seen on the larger Proace model. The Smart Cargo system uses a folding outer passenger seat and a hatch in the bulkhead to provide an extra 0.4m3 of load space and to increase maximum load length by 1.3m; the centre passenger seatback can also be rotated to create a handy desk space, with additional under-seat storage.
In the crew cab version, when the second row seats are not being used, the bench can be folded flat and the bulkhead moved forwards to increase load space. A hatch in the bulkhead can be opened to carry longer loads.
The Proace City van can be fitted with a rear hatch in the roof as another useful option when longer items need to be carried. This comes with a cross-bar that can support up to 100kg.
Clever and capacious storage points are featured throughout the cabin (according to model), ranging from coin and cup holders and open stowage areas, to an under-seat drawer and spaces designed into the roof, doors and floor. In the passenger version, a panoramic roof option can specified with aircraft-style overhead storage in a locker and a central ‘floating’ arch structure that has a combined 74-litre capacity, accessible from the second row seats and the boot.
Access to the boot is made easy when parked in confined spaces, thanks to an opening window in the tailgate.
The Proace City Verso offers flexible passenger accommodation, with the option of three individual seats or a 60:40 split-folding bench in the second row. A third row can be added to both the long and short body versions, with seats large enough and with slide-adjustment to accommodate adults in comfort. When three separate second row seats are specified, each one has Isofix child seat mounts – another unique-in-class feature. All passenger seats fold flat, including the front seat, to maximise load capacity and convenience.
Learn more: Toyota Proace City: performance and capabilities
We are very interested in the Proace 4.7 van or even the verso , however not fully understanding options on seating, we like the folding seats, is this with two separate seats in cab, or can you also in the van version have separate front seats with no bulkhead? We don’t seem to get much information from our local Derby dealer with no brochures or stock to view, seems to be a shortage of colour choice also, would have liked Red posibility.
Hope you can assist.
Regards Mr and Mrs Smedley (DERBY).
Hi Michael,
Thanks for getting in touch and for your interest in the Proace. There are three versions. Two commercial – Proace van and the smaller Proace City. One passenger – Proace Verso.
Most versions of the Proace van come with a bulkhead, either behind the front row of seats, or the second row of seats, if you choose the Crew Cab version. The only exception is the Combi version which has three rows of seats and no bulkhead. It is designed for transporting workers around large sites.
All Proace van models come with three seats on the front row, consisting of a bench for two people and a separate chair for the driver:
https://www.toyota.co.uk/new-cars/proace/
Proace City is smaller, and has fewer variants. All have a bulkhead behind two seats:
https://www.toyota.co.uk/new-cars/proace-city/
Proace Verso is a passenger vehicle. There are three versions – Shuttle (9 seats), Family (8 seats) and VIP (7 seats, with captain’s chair on the second row, capable of 180 degree rotation).
https://www.toyota.co.uk/new-cars/proace-verso/
We are sorry to hear your local centre in Derby were unable to help. We recommend contacting your next nearest centre, in Ilkeston on 0115 930 2885.
Thanks
Sorry but your front middle seat can’t actually seat a human being, I’m 5foot 8″ and can’t sit in the middle seat because the seat is too small and the plastic housing for gear stick gets in the way.
Do the designer at Toyota actually sit in the vehicle because this is by far the most uncomfortable van I have ever driven it makes me pine for my old vauxhal vivaro.
Hi,
Thanks for your comment.
We are always looking to improve our product offering, so your feedback has been passed onto our product team.
Thanks.
Hi,
Can you please confirm how many seats have Isofix mounting points in the ProAce passenger carriers – I am interested in both the City 7nseater and basically all Verso models. I need a car with at least 4 Isofix mounting points. And also is there an Isofix mounting point available on the front passenger seat?
Thank you!
Hi Andrew, thanks for your question.
The Proace Verso has ISOFIX seat fixing. Please may you inform us which grade you are looking at, so that we can correctly advise you.
Thanks.
Where can I buy a single front passenger seat
I want to remove the passenger bench seat but can’t find anywhere to purchase a replacement single passenger seat
Hi Paul, thanks for your question.
We cannot advise on modifications like this.
Thanks.
This is by far the most uncomfortable van I have ever had the misfortune to drive. I’m 6’4 – if I want to reach everything I have to have the seat forward, but then the huge gear stick housing gets in the way of my knee. Slide the seat back to get my legs in and I have to drive hunched forward to reach everything and get back ache. I wouldn’t wish this thing on my worst enemy. Don’t even get me started on the 2 tiny cup holders! Awful awful awful piece of junk.