Proace Electric
Overview
The Toyota Proace Electric represents the Japanese manufacturer's medium entry into the zero-emission commercial vehicle market, competing directly with popular rivals like the Ford E-Transit Custom and the Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo. Sharing the versatile Stellantis mid-size van platform alongside siblings such as the Vauxhall Vivaro Electric and Peugeot E-Expert, the Proace Electric benefits from proven commercial engineering combined with Toyota's tailored ownership package. A major selling point over its technical equivalents is Toyota's commercial warranty coverage. Available in multiple body lengths and battery capacities, it balances load volume demands with realistic driving range.
Design
Adopting a contemporary front-end design, the Proace Electric distinguishes itself from its platform siblings with Toyota's signature corporate grille. Up front, sleek headlights are connected by a slim upper trim panel featuring the Toyota logo, sitting above a sturdy lower front bumper built to withstand commercial usage. The clean side profile features protective black rubbing strips down the flanks, unpainted door handles, and functional twin sliding side doors that emphasize its practicality. At the rear, wide-opening twin panel doors provide maximum loading clearance. Buyers can choose between Medium and Long wheelbases, both maintaining a height of under 2 meters that ensures access to multi-storey and underground car parks.
Interior
Inside the cab, the Proace Electric offers a driver-focused, durable environment made from hard-wearing materials. The dash layout features a clear 10.0-inch digital instrument cluster behind the multi-function steering wheel, alongside a central 10.0-inch infotainment touchscreen that includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. Replacing a traditional gear lever is a compact e-toggle gear selector mounted on the lower dash, flanked by a drive mode selector switch and an adjustable regenerative braking control button. The triple-seater cab arrangement includes a dual-passenger bench seat, while cabin storage is exceptionally generous with twin gloveboxes, wide door bins, overhead shelf storage, and dash-top cup holders. Seat upholstery utilizes heavy-duty fabric, and driver ergonomics are well handled via a height-adjustable seat with lumbar support.
Performance & Powertrains
Propulsion comes from a single front-mounted electric motor producing 136 hp and 260 Nm of instantaneous torque. Toyota offers two battery choices, a standard 50 kWh pack and a larger 75 kWh unit. Official range figures stand at 142 miles for the 50 kWh model and up to 205 miles for the 75 kWh pack. Both variants feature 100 kW DC rapid-charging capability, enabling a 10 to 80% top-up in approximately 32 to 45 minutes, depending on the battery.
Practicality
Cargo storage remains a core strength, as the underfloor battery layout prevents any compromise to the load compartment volume. Medium body variants offer a load space volume of 5.3 cubic metres, expanding to 6.1 cubic metres in Long body models. The inclusion of Toyota's Smart Cargo hatch in the bulkhead allows longer items to extend beneath the passenger seat, boosting maximum load length to 3,674 mm on Medium models and 4,024 mm on Long versions. Payload capacities reach up to 1,226 kg on 50 kWh models, dropping slightly to around 1,000 kg on 75 kWh variants due to the heavier battery mass. The load space fits two Euro pallets easily between the rear wheel arches, supported by a 180-degree rear door opening.
Buying
The Toyota Proace Electric range starts from £40,005 (excl. VAT and plug-in van grants) for entry-level trims, scaling up toward £53,695 for high-spec, long-wheelbase 75 kWh models. Standard trim offerings include Active and Icon variants, with Icon adding rear parking sensors, power-adjustable mirrors, upgraded infotainment, and enhanced driver assistance features. Standard equipment across the board includes manual air conditioning, cruise control, automatic lights and wipers, and basic lane-keep assistance. The EV Hub recommended configuration is the Proace Electric Icon Medium Wheelbase equipped with the 75 kWh battery and optional 11 kW onboard charger. This combination strikes the ideal balance between impressive range, high equipment levels, depot charging flexibility, and optimal load usability.