The Toyota Coaster is the world's best-known minibus. Schools, churches, hotels, tour companies and bus operators use it because it is tough and easy to repair. The Hino Liesse II is the same bus sold by Hino (Toyota's truck company) with Hino badges, so everything in this guide applies to both.
Generations
| Generation | Years | Engines |
|---|---|---|
| B50 | 1993–2016 | 4.1 and 4.2 diesel on older buses; 4.0 diesel on most later Japanese-market buses |
| B60 | 2017 onwards | 4.0 diesel, updated body and interior |
Body and Seats
- Standard and Long bodies. The Long body is the usual choice for 26 to 29 passengers.
- Grades such as GX, LX and EX differ in seats, trim and features like an automatic door.
- The seat count is on the listing and export certificate (for example "Long GX 26 seater").
Check Your Country's Bus Rules First
The number of seats decides how the bus is registered and taxed in most countries, and passenger-carrying (PSV) use often has its own inspection rules and age limits. Confirm them with your licensing authority and clearing agent before you buy.
What to Check
- Diesel engine: ask about smoke, hard starting or knocking. Later engines have an exhaust filter system that needs regular longer runs.
- Gearbox: manual and automatic both exist; check the clutch or automatic shifts.
- Rust: check the floor, wheel arches and door steps, especially on buses from northern Japan.
- Passenger door: test the door mechanism, manual or automatic.
- Air-conditioning: check both the front and rear units.
- Auction sheet: read how to read a Japanese auction sheet.
Age Limits: Which Countries Can Take One
Some countries cap the age of an imported car: Jamaica allows up to 5 years, Trinidad & Tobago 4 years, and Kenya and Guyana 8 years. The Bahamas, Barbados, Suriname, the Eastern Caribbean islands such as Saint Lucia and Antigua, Uganda and Tanzania have no strict age limit on our checker. Rules change, so always confirm with your clearing agent before you pay.
Coasters at export prices are often older than 8 years, so the no-limit markets have the widest choice. Kenya and Guyana need a newer bus.
The table at the bottom of this page applies each country's rule to our live stock and shows the cheapest delivered price. For the full list see import age limits by country, and for duty and port fees see how to calculate the total cost.
Need something smaller? See our 7 and 8 seater family vans guide.