Toyota's commercial vehicle cooperation with PSA bears fresh fruit: With the Proace City, the Japanese are now launching their own variant of Citroen Berlingo, Peugeot Rifter / Partner and Opel Combo. The high roof combination is available as a panel van and as a car, and also in two different lengths. The prices start at 16.500 euros (net) for the commercial vehicle version, the family car is available from 20.300 euros (gross).

The body design of the car variant is rather sober compared to the PSA models, without fashionable attachments or expressive color accents. However, the interior is quite cozy, the cockpit design is based on passenger car standards, only the choice of material, in which hard plastic dominates, reminds us that the Proace is essentially a commercial vehicle. The controls come from the French portfolio, but are sensible and ergonomically arranged. The latter also applies to the high-placed gear selector, which is well at hand. When it comes to seating, buyers can choose between a five- and a seven-seat version. The two full-fledged, longitudinally adjustable additional seats are available both for the 4,50-meter short version and for the long model with 4,77 meters.

Commercial vehicle buyers can also choose between the two lengths. The Toyota is also available as a panel van or glazed with two or three seats in the front row. The long version is also available as a double cabin model with a rear bench seat and then offers space for five occupants. Depending on the version, the loading volume is between 3.300 and 4.300 liters, and the maximum payload is up to one ton.

The manufacturer specifies the loading length with 3,10 meters to 3,40 meters, the trailer load with 1,5 tons. Depending on the equipment level, access to the loading space is via one or two sliding doors on the side. Large goods are best loaded through the asymmetrical rear doors. A flap is also optionally available, this is standard for cars. Practical detail: the rear window can be opened separately, which is practical in narrow parking garages.

The core of the range of engines for cars and panel vans is a 1,5 liter four-cylinder diesel with either 55 kW / 75 PS, 75 kW / 102 PS or 177 kW / 130 PS. The only petrol engine is an 81 kW / 110 hp 1,2-liter three-cylinder. The manual transmission with five or six gears ensures the power transmission, the petrol engine and the top diesel are also available with an eight-speed automatic transmission. In addition, an electric variant has been announced for 2021. Toyota therefore uses the complete drive technology from the PSA group, the Japanese do not offer their own drives.

On the road, the Toyota cannot completely hide its commercial vehicle origins. Above all, the rather moderate noise insulation is typical for this segment. Thumpy, spongy or sluggish driving behavior - also not uncommon in this class - cannot be blamed for the Proace. It drives like a car, handy and with good suspension comfort. But the real strengths are of course somewhere else: The sense of space is very generous, especially at the front, and the rear is also very light and airy, especially with the optional glass roof. In combination with the engines, which are not overly powerful, but at least in the case of diesel engines, they are also likely to be relaxed enough for long family vacation trips. Thanks to a turning circle between 10,80 meters and 11,43 meters and also due to the clear body cut, the high roof combination is very flexible. Only the width of 2,11 meters including mirrors requires special caution.

A look at the options list shows that the Proace City is based on the car, where, in addition to numerous assistants, there are also comfort extras that are otherwise rather unusual in commercial vehicle models. For example, a head-up display, a 180-degree camera and the panoramic glass roof. While in the van version, much is only available for an additional charge, the basic version of the car already offers a decent level. Standard equipment includes cruise control, traffic sign recognition and blind spot assistant.

Berlingo base sets Toyota with his first high roof combo on the right horse. The PSA platform combines practical and commercial virtues with car-related driving characteristics. Which model you ultimately choose is a matter of taste, the Proace does not attach great importance to independence within the quartet. The differences to the French and the Opel are mainly found in the depths of the price and option list. Toyota tends to rely on richer, but also correspondingly more expensive equipment lines and packages.