Remember back when no one in your barkada could drive yet? Back when taking taxis on the regular was still a thing? Chances are, you’ve experienced having to split your group into two cabs instead of taking just one because, well, not all of you could fit.
Would have been nice to have bigger cabs back then, huh? Maybe something like these Toyota Hiace Commuter Deluxe taxis recently launched in Cebu by Ogre Transport Incorporated.
A total of 50 of these units, together with 100 Toyota Innovas, are now ready to serve Cebuanos as part of the company’s Silver and Gold fleets. Each one was customized by the Japanese car manufacturer to fit the operator’s needs.
“It is of great honor that we were chosen by Ogre Premium Taxi as their partner in mobility in bringing a new riding experience to the public,” said Toyota Mabolo president Philip Lo in a statement, adding the brand was grateful to partner with the taxi operator in “delivering happiness to commuters and bringing them safely to their destination.”
No word on how extensive the changes to the vehicle are—the only real noticeable differences exterior-wise are the operator decals and the taxi light on the roof. The Hiace Commuter Deluxe is a relatively snazzy ride, though, even in stock form, and it packs a capable 2.8-liter turbodiesel engine with 174hp and 420Nm of torque.
Do you think more taxi operators should look into offering similar rides to the public? Let us know in the comments.
