Allan Whiting•27 May 2021

REVIEW

Light Truck Guide: Part 1

Name: Light Truck Guide: Part 1
Brand: Ford

Here is the first of our buying guides for the year, the Light Truck Guide, covering trucks you can drive on a car licence, just in time for the end of the financial year.

Many truck operators, hire companies and tradies buy car-licence light trucks. When compared with the high retail prices being demanded for utes, light trucks offer much more payload for your buck. Here’s what’s on the market in mid-2021.

Our survey covers short-cab-chassis and pre-bodied variants, but not crew-cabs that make little payload sense at the car-licence GVM of 4495kg.

Obviously, the highest payload capacity is at the narrow-cab, bottom-end of each maker’s specification range, because wide-cab and larger-engine options add to tare weight. All those larger vehicles have optionally higher-GVM ratings that allow for much greater payloads, but require a light truck-licence.

In this story, we’re only going to be talking about two-wheel drive versions, four-wheel-drive light trucks will be covered in a later story.

Isuzu N-Series

Australian truck market leader for 30+ years, Isuzu hasn’t held that position by accident. However, Isuzu’s levels of dynamic safety equipment have been eclipsed by recent releases from most of its competitors.

The highly successful N Series covers all of the bases in the car-licence, light-truck category and comes with: ABS and ASR; electronic stability control; four-wheel disc brakes; cruise control, heated, powered mirrors; cornering lights and multi-media display screen.

The N Series comes with a choice of narrow and wide cabs on short and medium wheelbases, powered by three-litre, 110kW/375Nm and 5.2-litre, 140kW/513Nm engines. Transmissions in narrow-cab models are either a five-speed manual or a six-speed, torque-converter-aided automated-shift. Narrow-cab models also have four-wheel disc brakes and independent, coil-spring front suspension.

Wide cabs get six-speed manual or AMT boxes and dual SRS airbags.

The Ready To Work N Series 4.5-tonnes GVM lineup includes: Tray Pack, Van Pack, Service Pack, Rear Tipper and Three-direction Tipper.

Brief specifications:

Engine(s): 110kW/375Nm; 140kW/513Nm
Transmissions: Six-speed manual or six-speed AMT
Wheelbases (mm): 2490, 2765, 2795, 3360, 3395, 4175.
Payload (including the weight of bodywork): 1.8-2.4 tonnes

Hino 300 Series

Hino’s 300 Series boasts SmartSafe, driver-assist technology that incorporates: lane departure alert; pedestrian detection; pre-collision autonomous braking; vehicle stability control; daytime running lights and a reverse camera.

The Hino 300 Series comes with a choice of narrow and wide cabs on short and medium wheelbases, powered by a four-litre diesel, at 110kW/420Nm in narrow and wide cabs, with an option of 121kW/464Nm in manual-transmission models. There’s also a Hybrid powertrain, 110kW/470Nm option.

For the top-end of the 4.5-tonnes-GVM Hino range there’s a 5.1-litre, 151kW/600Nm engine choice in front of the six-speed auto box and an output-limited 139kW/510Nm with the six-speed manual transmission.

Transmission choices are five-speed manual and six-speed torque-converter fully automatic in narrow-cab models and six-speed manual/six-speed auto in wide cabs.

The Hino 300 Series Built To Go range consists of steel and aluminium drop-side tray bodies and wide or narrow steel tippers.

Brief specifications:

Engine(s): 110kW/420Nm; 121kW/464Nm; 110kW/470Nm (Hybrid); 139kW/510Nm; 151kW/600Nm
Transmissions: Six-speed manual or six-speed auto
Wheelbases (mm): 2500, 2800, 3400, 3900, 4200, 4400
Payload (including the weight of bodywork): 1.6-2.4 tonnes

Fuso Canter

Like Hino models, the Canter range features advanced safety equipment: advanced emergency braking; lane departure warning; dual SRS airbags; ABS, EBD and ESP dynamic safety. All models have four-wheel disc brakes and narrow-cab models have independent coil-spring front suspension. There’s also a wide-cab model with IFS.

All 4495kg-GVM Canters are powered by a three-litre, 110kW/370Nm diesel and there’s a choice of five-speed manual or six-speed, dual-clutch automated transmissions.

The Canter has always had a tare weight advantage and the range starts with the 96kW/300Nm ute-GVM (3510kg) City cab model.

The Fuso Canter Built Ready range consists of Pantech, Alloy Tray and Tipper models. The Tipper versions come with a limited-slip differential.

Brief specifications:

Engine(s): 96kW/300Nm; 110kW/370Nm
Transmissions: Five-speed manual or six-speed automated manual, dual-clutch
Wheelbases (mm): 2800, 3400
Payload (including the weight of bodywork): 2.4-2.6 tonnes

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

By far the majority of Sprinters sold in Australia are vans, but there’re four 4495kg-GVM cab/chassis models available, on medium and long wheelbases.

Sprinters come with a full suite of dynamic and passive safety equipment, including: four SRS airbags; hill start assist; ASR; ABS with BAS and EBD; cross-wind assist; four-wheel disc brakes with brake disc wipers; understeer control; load adaptive control; roll-over mitigation; roll-movement intervention; ESP trailer stabilisation and lane-change assist.

The existing four-cylinder 120kW OM651 and 140kW V6 OM642 engines will be replaced in September 2021 by a single four-cylinder, aluminium block and head, two-litre OM654 engine that complies with Euro VI emissions standards. This engine is new for the Sprinter, but has been used in passenger car and Vito models since 2017.

The OM654 comes in several stages of tune, starting with 84kW/300Nm or 110kW/340Nm ratings, coupled to a GD8 manual six-speed box or new nine-speed 9G-Tronic automatic. There will also be a 125kW/380Nm manual-box model and a 125kW/400Nm automatic model. The top-shelf 140kW/450Nm engine, with twin turbochargers, couples to a GD9 manual or 9G-Tronic nine-speed auto.

The new automatic box replaces the current seven-speed 7G-Tronic transmission. Like its predecessor, it is a torque converter type, but it has a much deeper first ratio of 5.354:1, compared with the outgoing box’s 4.377:1.

Brief specifications:

Engine(s): 84kW/300Nm; 110kW/340Nm; 125kW/400Nm; 140kW/450Nm
Transmissions: Six-speed manual or nine-speed auto
Wheelbases (mm): 3665, 4325
Payload (including the weight of bodywork): 2.3-2.4 tonnes

Iveco Daily

Like the Sprinter, the Daily is available as a cab/chassis, although most Dailys are sold as vans.

The 2021 Daily comes with typical European safety equipment: four SRS airbags; four-wheel disc brakes; ABS with hydraulic brake assist, EBD and ASR; motor drag torque control; hill holder; load adaptive control; trailer sway mitigation; roll-movement intervention; roll-over mitigation and crosswind assist.

Power comes from a Euro VI three-litre, four-cylinder, 130kW/430Nm or 155kW/470Nm diesel, driving through a standard six-speed manual or eight-speed ZF torque-converter automatic transmission.

The front suspension is independent via torsion bars and the rear is parabolic leaves. Options include rear air suspension and a driver-controlled differential lock.

Brief specifications:

Engine(s): 130kW/430Nm; 155kW/470Nm
Transmissions: Six-speed manual or eight-speed auto
Wheelbases (mm): 3000, 3450, 3750, 4100, 4350, 4750
Payload (including the weight of bodywork): 2.3-2.4 tonnes

iveco daily 50c cab single tray industrial landscape 56n0

Volkswagen Crafter

Like the other European brands, the VW Crafter is most commonly bought as a front wheel drive or rear wheel drive van, but rear wheel drive cab/chassis up to five tonnes GVM are available.

Previous generation Crafters were made for VW on a Mercedes-Benz production line, with different front panels and VW engines and transmissions, but the current Crafter family is all-VW.

All Crafter variants are powered by a two-litre diesel, with either single turbo output of 103kW or twin-turbo output of 120kW.

Transmission choices are six-speed manual and eight-speed automatic.

Safety and equipment levels are passenger-car like and include six airbags, daylight running lights, ABS with EDL and emergency city braking and hill start assist. Four-wheel discs, traction control and ESP are standard, as is adaptive cruise control. Mirrors are powered and heated.

A factory-fitted aluminium drop-side tray body is optional.

Brief specifications:

Engines: 103kW/340Nm; 120kW/410 Nm
Transmissions: Six-speed manual and eight-speed automatic
Wheelbases (mm): 3665, 4325
Payload: 2.3-2.4 tonnes

Hyundai Mighty

The Hyundai Mighty range has been slow to take off in Australia, but new dealerships are being appointed around the country.

The 4495kg-GVM model is the EX4 that comes with vehicle dynamic control; electronic stability control; traction control; ABS four-wheel disc brakes; two SRS airbags; hill start assist; cruise control; heated and powered mirrors; daytime running lights and a driver’s suspension seat. Medium and long wheelbase are available and front and rear suspensions are leaf springs.

Power comes from a 3.9-litre, four-cylinder diesel that’s rated at 104kW/392Nm when coupled to the standard five-speed manual transmission, but much higher ratings of 127kW and 608Nm in front of an optional Allison T1000 six-speed automatic box.

Ready to work Hyundai Mighty models include tipper, pantech, chiller pantech, freezer pantech and steel tray.

Brief specifications:

Engine(s): 104kW/392Nm; 127kW/608Nm (auto only)
Transmissions: Five-speed manual or six-speed auto
Wheelbases (mm): 2850, 3400
Payload (including the weight of bodywork): 1.6-1.7 tonnes

Ford Transit

Most Ford Transits sold in Australia are vans, but there’s a cab/chassis variant available, and you’re a Ford buff, they’re not a bad choice.

The Transit benefits from the latest electronic safety aids, including: adaptive cruise control; autonomous emergency braking; ABS with EBD; load adaptive control; trailer sway control; lane keeping aid with departure warning; auto wipers and headlights; reversing camera and cross-traffic alert; blind spot warning; tyre pressure monitoring; five-star safety rating; six SRS airbags and touchscreen infotainment display with Apple car-play standard.

Power comes from Ford’s two-litre, EcoBlue diesel, with figures of 125kW/390Nm and standard stop/start operation. The standard transmission is a six-speed manual and a 10-speed automatic is optional.

Brief specifications:

Engine(s): 125kW/390Nm
Transmissions: Six-speed manual or 10-speed auto
Wheelbase (mm): 3954
Payload (including the weight of bodywork): 2.4 tonnes

Other choices

Other buying choices for a desired GVM of 4495kg are the RHD-converted 3500-series light trucks from RAM, Ford and Chevrolet, out of the USA. Pricing is steep, from around 150 grand and ute tubs are the only available bodywork, but a Yank Ute makes a bold business statement!

chevrolet silverado 3500hd ltz specifications md

Yet another route is to extend the wheelbase of a ute and add a third axle. This addition and chassis extension is best done to a 4WD cab/chassis, in the interests of reliable traction on uneven surfaces. We’ll cover the three-axle process in our 4x4 light-truck guide coming up soon.

six wheel conversion with potential 4 5 tonnes gvm upgrade

Light Truck Guide: Part 1

Isuzu N-Series

Hino 300 Series

Fuso Canter

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

Iveco Daily

Volkswagen Crafter

Hyundai Mighty

Ford Transit

Other choices

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