The chance to try out the Toyota Proace EV van sparked AF Events Co-ordinator Lauryn Canham’s interest. With equipment to transport, a stand to build and tight schedules to keep, Lauryn put this van through a real-world test.
“The first time I got into the van was to load it up and head off to set up for an event. Although it’s a small, postman-sized van, there was a surprising amount of space in the back. It was certainly big enough for a smaller event or deliveries, although anything larger would require stepping up to a bigger model.
“One feature I really liked was having loading doors on both sides as well as the rear. It meant parking orientation didn’t matter, which was handy on a busy site."
"However, the side doors don’t open very wide, which made loading bulkier items more awkward. In the end, I mostly used the rear doors anyway.”
“Switching the ignition on was a strange experience at first – it's incredibly quiet. This was my first time driving an EV so it surprised me that you couldn’t hear the ‘vroom’ you normally get when you start an engine. Once moving, though, I was impressed by how easy it was to drive. It handled well, felt smooth, and was surprisingly nippy.
“The dashboard is clear and practical, with a large speed display and a warning light if you creep over the limit. My only real complaint was the turning circle, which isn’t as tight as I expected and caught me out in a couple of tighter spots. Reverse also took a moment to adjust to, as it’s activated by a button, but the parking brake was simple enough to use.”
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“The reversing camera is probably the best I’ve ever used. It offers a wide view, overhead angles and different perspectives depending on what you’re doing, making awkward manoeuvres much less stressful. When reversing into tight or oddly angled spaces, it showed exactly where I needed to be, with parking sensors stepping in to prevent any mishaps. In fact, they stopped me having a bit of a bump!
“I was also pleasantly surprised by the rear-view mirror. Instead of being blocked by the bulkhead, it uses a camera feed that was so clear I found myself relying on it more than a traditional mirror.”
“The only thing that felt poorly thought out was the charging cable. It’s bulky and heavy and lives in the cargo space, which is fine on short trips but less ideal if you need to load the van fully. I also nearly damaged the charging flap by opening it before sliding the side door back - an easy mistake to make.
“That said, charging was straightforward, and despite using back roads and short runs, I only used about 7% of the battery, which felt impressively economical. If I was using my diesel car, I’m pretty sure I’d have used more than 7% of my fuel!”
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Would I buy one? “Overall, the van looks smart and feels well designed. The seats are spacious, the infotainment system is modern, and there was plenty of room for my colleague George and all his camera kit."
“Would I buy one? It would make a great runaround, but the charging cable storage and limited door opening (which would make loading conventional bales a challenge) mean I might take a little persuading.
We demo’ed the Toyota Proace City Icon EV, with an AF price of £18,500 + VAT. That includes a fantastic 30% AF discount plus plus £2,500 EV grant!
The Toyota Proace Electric is a medium-duty electric van (and MPV) available with 50kWh or 75kWh battery options, typically in a medium or long wheelbase configuration. It comes in panel van and passenger-carrying Verso formats, featuring trim levels like Base, Comfort, and Comfort Plus. Get in touch for a quote on alternative models.
Key specifications | |
Electric range (WLTP): | 160-170 miles (real world range 120-140 miles) |
Battery: | 50 kWh lithium-ion battery powering a 100 kW (136 hp) electric motor |
Payload: | up to 800 kg |
Charging: | supports up to 100 kW DC rapid charging (0-80% in approx. 30 minutes) and has an 11 kW on-board charger for AC charging |
Key features | |
Cargo & practicality: | available in medium or long body lengths with a gross payload of up to 800kg. The Smart Cargo system adds a load-through bulkhead for longer items and a folding passenger seat/desk |
Technology & interior: | 10-inch HD touchscreen with Toyota Touch® 2 navigation, DAB, and Apple CarPlay™/Android Auto™. Features a 10-inch digital instrument cluster and electronic parking brake |
Comfort & convenience: | dual-zone automatic air conditioning, automatic headlights and wipers, and heated/power-folding mirrors |
Safety & driver assistance: | includes pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane keep assist, road sign assist, driver attention assist, and front/rear parking sensors with a rear-view camera |
Warranty: | comes with up to 10 years or 100,000 miles of warranty cover (Toyota Relax) |
If you're looking to add the Toyota Proace City Icon EV (or another vehicle) to your fleet, speak to your AF Vehicles team.
