Toyota Hiace vs Toyota Coaster: which minibus with driver for your UAE group?

The Toyota Hiace carries 12 passengers and about 3 large suitcases, so it suits airport transfers and tours for 8 to 12 people. The Toyota Coaster carries 22 passengers but has no separate luggage hold, so it suits groups of 14 to 22 with cabin bags. Both come through our partner network, subject to availability.

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Updated 17 October 2026

Bernhard Wintersperger / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

On this page

The short answer
Seats and legroom
Luggage: the Hiace rear area vs the Coaster
Comfort on intercity runs to Abu Dhabi and Al Ain
Hiace, Sprinter or Hyundai Staria: the other options
Which for airport groups, tours, staff and events?
Photos in this guide

By Mohammed Rashad Hussain, Managing PartnerPublished 17 October 20262 min read

The short answer

The Hiace suits 8 to 12 people with luggage, and the Coaster suits 14 to 22 people with cabin bags only. The table compares them.

	Toyota Hiace	Toyota Coaster
Toyota UAE seat count	13	23
Assure plans for	12 passengers	22 passengers
Large suitcases	about 3	none in a hold
Cabin bags	about 6	about 10
Best for	8 to 12 people	14 to 22 people

A Toyota Coaster seen from the back parked next to a Toyota Hiace, showing the difference in size — Dinkun Chen / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Pick the Hiace when luggage is heavy and the group is under 12. Pick the Coaster when one vehicle must carry 14 to 22 people with cabin bags. Both come through our partner network, subject to availability. Our group size guide covers the rest of the range.

Seats and legroom

The Hiace Commuter has 13 seats including the driver’s: 1 front passenger seat and 11 rear seats in 4 rows. The Coaster has longer rows with an aisle, curtains, and a microphone with amplifier on the current Toyota UAE model. Partner vehicles can be earlier model years, so ask us to confirm the microphone and curtains if you need them.

A silver Toyota Hiace Commuter passenger van seen from the front — Ethan Llamas / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Luggage: the Hiace rear area vs the Coaster

The Hiace holds about 3 large suitcases and 6 cabin bags behind its rear row. The Coaster has no separate luggage hold. A group of 20 arriving at Dubai International with suitcases needs a Coaster plus a luggage vehicle. Compare that with the 35-seat coach, which has a hold, or the Assure 13-seat Sprinter at 6 large cases.

Comfort on intercity runs to Abu Dhabi and Al Ain

Abu Dhabi is about 139 km from Downtown Dubai, and Al Ain is further. Over that distance the Coaster’s aisle lets guests stand and stretch at a stop, and curtains cut sun on one side. The Hiace is tighter but quicker to load, with a sliding side door. For tours, see private tours.

Hiace, Sprinter or Hyundai Staria: the other options

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, 13 seats: Assure fleet, 13 passengers, 6 large cases. See the V-Class and Sprinter comparison.
Hyundai Staria: Hyundai UAE lists 431 L of cargo for the 7-seat Premium and 1,024 L for the 11-seat. The vans are compared in the Carnival, Staria and SpaceTourer guide.
Larger groups: 35-seat and 50-seat coaches on bus rental.

Which for airport groups, tours, staff and events?

Airport groups: Hiace for 8 to 12 with light bags. Coaster plus a luggage van for more.
Tours: the Coaster for 14 to 22, with a microphone for the guide.
Staff runs: check the rules in worker transport rules in the UAE.
Events: the Coaster for hotel loops. For costs, see bus hire cost by seat size.

Browse the minibuses and minibus rental, then send your date, group size and bag count on WhatsApp to +971 56 684 8148.

Photos in this guide

A Toyota Coaster midi bus parked beside a road, with its rear windows and luggage door visibleBernhard Wintersperger / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
A Toyota Coaster seen from the back parked next to a Toyota Hiace, showing the difference in sizeDinkun Chen / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
A silver Toyota Hiace Commuter passenger van seen from the frontEthan Llamas / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Questions and answers

How many passengers does a Toyota Hiace carry?

Toyota UAE lists the Hiace van as a 13-seater, and that count includes the driver. Assure plans 12 passengers. With every seat taken, the Hiace holds about 3 large suitcases and 6 cabin bags. For 12 people who each have a large case, add a second vehicle.

How many passengers does a Toyota Coaster carry?

Toyota UAE lists the Coaster as a 23-seater without saying whether that includes the driver. Assure plans 22 passengers. Partner vehicles can differ in layout, so we confirm the exact passenger count for your booking in writing before it is final.

Can the Coaster take suitcases?

Not large ones. The Coaster has no separate luggage hold, and with every seat taken it holds about 10 cabin bags. For an airport arrival, book a second vehicle for the cases. The Hiace has a rear area for about 3 large cases.

Which is more comfortable between Dubai and Abu Dhabi?

On a run of about 139 km, the Coaster gives more legroom per row and has curtains for sun on one side. The Hiace is the smaller, easier vehicle for a group of 12 or fewer. Both are partner vehicles, so ask for the model year.

Hiace, Sprinter or Hyundai Staria?

For 7 to 9 people, the Hyundai Staria in 9-seat form or a Sprinter may fit better. The Assure 13-seat Sprinter takes 13 passengers and about 6 large cases, more luggage than the Hiace. The Staria is a van with 431 L to 1,024 L of cargo space depending on version.

Are the Hiace and Coaster in the Assure fleet?

No. Both are available through our partner network, subject to availability, and both are booked only with a driver. Assure's own minibuses are the 13-seat and 19-seat Mercedes-Benz Sprinters. We confirm the exact vehicle in writing before your booking is final.