Farizon V7E vs Toyota HiLux

What's the difference?

Farizon, the commercial vehicle division of Chinese automotive maker Geely, is a new competitor in Australia’s van market having recently launched its full-electric V7E.

Designed to attract buyers in the popular mid-size (2.5-3.5-tonne GVM) commercial van segment, Farizon claims its V7E has the payload capacity, cargo volume and pricing needed to compete with traditional diesel rivals.

We recently spent a working week aboard this new Chinese contender to see how it measures up as a potential tool of trade for tradies, couriers, SMEs, fleets and other commercial van buyers.

Toyota claims its first HiLux BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) has been designed primarily with mining, business and government fleet customers in mind, by combining the iconic ute’s 4x4 all-terrain capability with zero tailpipe emissions only a full-electric drivetrain can deliver.

To prove its suitability for harsh Aussie conditions, Toyota claims the HiLux BEV has undergone more than two years of testing on site with major mining companies, covering thousands of kilometres in ambient temperatures up to 50 degrees.

We recently sampled the HiLux BEV as a daily driver in metropolitan use, to see if its mining-focused credentials translate to being a practical alternative to traditional diesel power for tradies working in busy urban environments.