The 2024 Toyota Proace facelift: More than skin deep?   

As Toyota continues to spruce up the “mid-life” offerings across its van range, come along as we dig into whether the changes are surface level, or something a little bit deeper. 

Hot on the heels of the of the updates made to the Proace Verso and Proace City Verso, it doesn’t come as much of a surprise that Toyota has now rolled out a new look for its Proace and Proace City vans as well. This design may also seem familiar to anyone awaiting Toyota’s step into uncharted territory with the upcoming Proace Max, the Japanese brand’s first ever large commercial van, which we got a sneak peek at in late 2023. 

The déjà vu doesn’t stop there though! Due to its partnership with Stellantis, Toyota has borrowed elements from equivalent models under the Stellantis umbrella. Namely, the Citroen Dispatch, Citroen Berlingo and Peugeot Expert, all of which have received recent updates. 

So, “What are these changes?” we hear you ask. The facelift is, of course, most evident in the front-end design with its new flowing headlights and reworked grill, however, we are pleased to report that there is a little more going on beneath the surface.  

Across the various Active, Icon, and Sport grades available for the Proace City, priced between £23,496-£27,217, Toyota’s Smart Cargo system was the feature that caught our eye. Some clever folding and hatch use around the outer passenger seat allows for an additional 1.3m of load space length. This provides 4.4m³ of cargo space, one-upping the award-winning Renault Kangoo, and ensuring that you have room to bring your favourite tools for the job. It also goes to show that Toyota has done more than just pop its badge on the front bonnet. 

As the bigger, pricier sibling, the Proace follows a similar grading system, ranging from £29,921-£38,721. Toyota is putting it in the buyers’ hands to make Proace unique, with the platform cab format which allows for bespoke and specialist customisation. You name it, from a dropside to a cherry picker, the Proace has you covered. Plus, the compact 1.9m height which lets it get into standard car parks without bumping its head.  

While we like the versatility of being able to nip to the shopping centre after work, we’re always a little sceptical of commercial offerings like the 17-inch black alloys found on the maxed-out Sport grade. Rather than tip-toeing around sites and carparks in your work van, your alloy itch may be better scratched by something a little nippier like the new VW Golf 8.5.  

No matter which wheels you choose, if you’re looking to get the most out of the driving experience, you can’t really go wrong with Michelin tyres. Toyota has shown the Proace City on French-based brand, and we’d hazard a guess that these are the Michelin Agilis CrossClimate, renounced for their robust design and optimal grip. Perfect for daily use, wherever your work may take you. 

So, despite the Proace being part of a much bigger picture, Toyota have clearly made some efforts to ensure they don’t become indistinguishable amongst their counterparts — but are these vans unique enough to stand out? Let us know what you think. 

Hero image credit: Toyota