Rod Chapman•24 Feb 2017

REVIEW

Hino 500 Series Wide Cab: Review

Name: Hino 500 Series Wide Cab: Review
Brand: Hino

With new power, more safety and hundreds of individual improvements, Hino says its new 500 Series is ready to conquer our growing freight task

With Australia's freight task set to soar in coming decades and much of that growth centred around city-based 'last mile' delivery, Hino Motor Sales Australia says its next-generation 500 Series Wide Cab range is one of the most significant product updates in the firm's 50-year history.

Spanning Hino's medium to heavy-duty FG, GH, FL and FM models, the update does not yet apply to the Narrow Cab trucks – which will inevitably receive the same treatment down the track.

The changes

So, what's on offer? The 8-litre J08E and 9-litre A09C six-cylinder engines have been heavily reworked, delivering a boost in output while meeting Euro5 thanks to the adoption of a new SCR (selective catalytic reduction) system. The SCR set-up replaces the EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) and DPF (diesel particulate filter) set-ups of the out-going models.

The engines are mated to a choice of three transmissions: Hino's six-speed or nine-speed synchromesh manuals or a six-speed Allison automatic.

Between them, the engines deliver three power options: 280hp (8-litre engine, manual or automatic), 320hp (9-litre automatic) or 350hp (9-litre manual).

The Hino 500 Series Wide Cab also adopts vehicle stability control (VSC), joining the brand's VSC-equipped 300 Series light-duty models. These 500 Series models are the first in Australia to offer this potentially life-saving feature as standard in this market niche.

There's now a reversing camera as standard and manual models are equipped with Hino's Easy Start system, otherwise known as hill start assist. Also new on manual models is the Hino Stop Start System, a switchable idle stop system to further boost fuel economy.

A new chassis design with a rivet-less top flange and pre-drilled grid holes is said to make life easier for bodybuilders while a wider front axle affords a greater wheel angle cut for reduced turning circles. Complementing the front leaf spring/shock arrangement is a choice of either multi-leaf or Hendrickson airbag rear suspension.

Other changes include improved external cab steps and grab rails, the addition of ISRI 6860/870 air suspension driver's seats, steering wheels adjustable for both tilt and reach, new instrumentation, differential cross locks as standard on GH and FM Wide Cab models, polished Alcoa wheels – the list goes on.

The trucks are fitted with a 390lt aluminium fuel tank plus a 59lt AdBlue tank.

Long development

This major update to Hino's wider line-up has been a long time coming – the last big shift came with the new 300 Series range in 2011 – but it's plainly clear the company's engineers have been hard at it, the fruit of their labours now well positioned to take the firm well into the future.

The development journey for the 500 Series Wide Cab first began in 2009, with countless hours of testing both in the field and on test tracks in the years since, both here and in Japan.

The result has seen the range expand from 33 models to 51, with a far greater choice of combinations of engines, transmissions, suspensions and wheelbases to suit a wider array of customer applications.

Hino says it's going after six main applications with its new-look range: rigid distribution, tippers/water tankers/elevated work platforms, cattle crate/rural applications, dangerous goods, single trailer and tray/crane trucks.

The new 500 Series Wide Cab is produced in Hino's new state-of-the-art Koga plant near Tokyo.

Behind the wheel

The Australian media launch for the new range kicked off at an unlikely venue for a truck: Sydney Motorsport Park. However, the controlled environs gave us the perfect opportunity to put the trucks' new stability control to the test.

I'd previously sampled it in Hino's 300 Series High Horsepower models at Mount Panorama, so I knew it was effective, and it was no less impressive here. The 500 Series VSC is more sophisticated than the 300 Series equivalent to account for the wider spread of potential loads and applications, but it still does the same thing: engine output is cut and wheels are braked independently to avoid an impending loss of control.

This technology is simply superb. These trucks also boast driver airbags and ECE R29 crash-tested cabs that are now even stronger, among numerous other safety features, but they're only of use if the truck's already crashing. Stability control, however, prevents an accident before it occurs – leading to a far better outcome for all.

Also at Sydney Motorsport Park was a little offset reverse exercise to highlight the benefits of the trucks' reversing camera. It's now standard and it comes with a microphone.

After lunch we set off on the afternoon's drive program, which would take in a varied route from Sydney to the Hunter Valley via Newcastle and the Central Coast. It provided a good spread of the sorts of roads these trucks would often call home.

We each sampled four models over the day, allowing us to get to grips with the new engines and transmissions, and each truck was loaded with concrete to at least 85 per cent of its GVM.

I jumped in the GH 1828 with auto transmission and airbag suspension at Eastern Creek, later swapping to the FM 2635 manual air at Berowra Heights. I then backed this up with the FG 1628 manual leaf spring and finally the GH 1832 auto air. And while I won't give you a detailed review of each of those models (we'll save that for some reviews down the track), the day did give a good feel for what's on offer.

Power to please

I sampled all three power ratings over the day plus the three transmission formats. All models were in a 4x2 format, apart from the 6x4 FM 2635, and each truck did an excellent job of hauling their loads over the largely undulating terrain.

Steeper grades may have seen speeds sink to 80km/h or even 60km/h, but the trucks simply buried their heads and got on with the task at hand, with the vast majority of progress conducted within their green eco band on the tacho.

The six-speed Allison auto – sampled with a GH 1828 and a GH 1832 – is smooth and smart in its operation. It downshifts to assist descents and it 'learns' a driver's particular driving style, modifying its shift pattern accordingly. I have driven with it in several other trucks previously and it really does take the strain out of metro driving in particular.

At the lighter end of the scale, the 8-litre engine in the FG 1628 (as in, 16t GVM and 280hp), did a thoroughly respectable job of handling the hills in and around Newcastle, although the pattern and the relatively stiff action of the six-speed synchromesh manual did catch me out on a couple of occasions.

It was a new truck and I only spent a relatively short period of time in it – with more miles and familiarity I'm sure this transmission would become smoother and second nature to operate.

On the flipside, I particularly liked the nine-speed synchromesh in the FM 2635. It has an 'H over H' format with Hi and Lo ranges, and it shifts beautifully, aided by a light and progressive clutch. The shifter is nicely sculpted, too – your hand moulds around it's easy to get plenty of purchase.

The Hino Easy Start system is a welcome feature for steep hill starts (standard in manual models), although the ease of the Allison auto, with its push-button gear selection, will be a winner for many fleets in attracting drivers. Personally, I prefer the additional engagement a manual brings, but for solid metro work the benefits of an auto are clear.

The 8-litre engine seemed quite a bit noisier than its 9-litre sibling, and this was especially apparent with the exhaust brake (and fan) in operation. Then again, this really only became apparent in the FG 1628 and not the GH 1828, which was quiet in comparison even though they shared the same engine.

The 9-litre engines in particular produce remarkably flat torque curves, which assist the trucks in holding a gear. The 8-litre engine now produces 280hp (206kW) at 2500rpm and 883Nm at 1500rpm (an increase of seven per cent, says Hino), while the 9-litre now produces either 320hp (235kW) at 1800rpm and 1275Nm at 1100rpm or 350hp (257kW) at 1800rpm and 1422Nm at 1100rpm. There's plenty of grunt there to shoulder a load across all three ratings, with peak torque delivered at low revs.

Suspension

The Hendrickson rear airbag setup gets my vote, delivering a pleasingly smooth ride and the convenience of electronic adjustment. While the leaf-spring rear of the FG 1628 doesn't deliver a rough ride per se, it did seem to have a little more bounce in its step compared to its airbag brothers.

Then again, our test mule for the stability control exercise back at Eastern Creek was also an FG 1628 – a bare cab/chassis – and while the test circuit was fairly smooth it handled remarkably well as I threw it around, even without a load. In short, there's no issue with the handling of any of these trucks.

Cabin comfort and convenience

Cabin entry is now even easier thanks to the improved step arrangement, which is augmented by new and longer grab rails. The driver's seat has been upgraded to an ISRI unit with a huge range of adjustment, while the steering wheel adjustment makes it easy to achieve just the right ergonomics.

The new instrumentation looks fresh and informative and the multimedia unit has been revised. It's only a small thing, but the larger, knurled buttons make it easier to use when you're on the go.

All the controls are easy to get to, including the electronic control unit for the airbag suspension, and the all-round vision is excellent, aided by sizeable side mirrors (with heating and electric adjustment) as it is.

Finally, on a warm Sydney summer's day, we can report the air-conditioning system does a first rate job of keeping things cool in the cab.

Aftersales

Hino provides a three-year, 200,000km warranty on its new 500 Series Wide Cab models, which can be extended to five years if need be. Roadside assistance is included with the warranty, while Hino buyers can rely on a national dealer network of 60 outlets across the country.

Buyers can also take advantage of the firm's just-released Hino Traq telematics system system which, for a small monthly fee, allows operators to reap significant savings through monitoring their fleet's operation in minute detail.

Conclusion

Hino has thrown itself into the rebirth of its 500 Series Wide Cab range with gusto and it can be rightfully proud of its efforts. The new models represent a highly functional blend of capability, comfort and safety that will please drivers and fleet operators alike.

We applaud Hino's introduction of stability control to this market segment; this crucial safety technology will save lives, no doubt about it, and now it's up to its rivals to follow suit.

The evolution of Hino continues; based on this latest introduction, we can't wait to see what else is in the pipeline.

SPECIFICATIONS: Hino GH 1828

Engine: J08E-WA

Power: 280hp (206kW) at 2500rpm

Torque: 883Nm at 1500rpm

Transmission: Nine-speed synchromesh manual/six-speed Allison automatic

Configuration: 4x2

Front Suspension: Taper leaf springs with shocks

Rear Suspension: Hendrickson airbag

Fuel tanks: 1 x 390 litres

AdBlue: 59 litres

Brakes: Full air with ABS

Cabs: Day

Web: www.hino.com.au

SPECIFICATIONS: HINO FG 1628

Engine: J08E-WA

Power: 280hp (206kW) at 2500rpm

Torque: 883Nm at 1500rpm

Transmission: Six-speed Allison automatic/six-speed Hino manual

Configuration: 4x2

Front Suspension: Taper leaf springs with shocks

Rear Suspension: Multi leaf spring

Fuel tank: 1 x 390 litres

AdBlue: 59 litres

Brakes: Full air with ABS

Cabs: Day

Web: www.hino.com.au

SPECIFICATIONS: HINO FM 2632 Auto/FM 2635 Manual

Engine: A09C

Power: 320hp (235kW) at 1800rpm/350hp (257kW) at 1800rpm

Torque: 1275Nm at 1100rpm/1422Nm at 1100rpm

Transmission: Six-speed Allison automatic/nine-speed Hino manual

Configuration: 6x4

Front Suspension: Taper leaf springs with shocks

Rear Suspension: Multi leaf spring/Hendrickson airbag

Fuel tank: 1 x 390 litres

AdBlue: 59 litres

Brakes: Full air with ABS

Cabs: Day

Web: www.hino.com.au

SPECIFICATIONS: HINO GH 1832 Auto/GH 1835 Manual

Engine: A09C

Power: 320hp (235kW) at 1800rpm/350hp (257kW) at 1800rpm

Torque: 1275Nm at 1100rpm/1422Nm at 1100rpm

Transmission: Six-speed Allison automatic/nine-speed Hino manual

Configuration: 4x2

Front Suspension: Taper leaf springs with shocks

Rear Suspension: Multi leaf spring/Hendrickson airbag

Fuel tank: 1 x 390 litres

AdBlue: 59 litres

Brakes: Full air with ABS

Cabs: Day

Web: www.hino.com.au

Hino 500 Series Wide Cab: Review

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