Hino light-duty trucks have only been around for 20 years, so we are relatively young in the Australian light-duty market. The first light-duty truck Hino introduced was in 2000 as the “DUTRO” and was jointly developed with Toyota Motor Corporation.
The Hino Dutro was a light-duty commercial truck that was adapted from larger Ranger 2 and Ranger 3 Hino models, essentially a badge-engineered version of Daihatsu's Delta Series. It was considered a market leader in safety and featured ABS braking, SRS airbags and power windows. All specifications that other truck manufacturers didn’t have. In 2003 it went through an upgrade and was able to cater for all customer types.
In 2007, a model update coincided with a global naming change, which saw the Dutro replaced with the 300 Series. 2010 saw an emissions upgrade, followed by a new model line-up in 2011.
2011 saw the introduction of the MY11 300 Series models, which have been a popular choice for customers due to their combination of superior power, torque, fuel efficiency and impressive suite of safety features including Vehicle Stability Control (VSC).
The 300 Series continues to evolve and in 2020 Hino will raise the specifications once again, with the introduction of the MY20 300 Series light-duty truck.
The new 300 Series Hino
Safety is the key USP for the new 300 Series. And thanks to the Hino SmartSafe, the new model truck answers a lot of major safety issues that confront the transport industry and others who share the road, with the implementation of advanced driver assist technology.
Hino SmartSafe includes Pre-Collision System (PCS) with Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Pedestrian Detection (PD) and Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), in addition to the already extensive list of safety features such as Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Reverse Camera as standard.
A class leader in safety, power and efficiency; the new 300 Series delivers superior levels of on-road performance, interior ergonomics and comfort. Showcasing new standards of technology and safety, the new 300 Series is Australia’s safest Japanese truck in its class. Offering true automatic transmission across the 4x2 model range, it’s ready to make driving easier and more enjoyable for you.
The new 300 Series line-up includes the most powerful Japanese light-duty trucks with the introduction of the new 721, being an important addition to the 921. The overall range provides an ideal balance of power and efficiency and includes either a 4 or 5 litre common-rail turbo diesel engine complemented by a true automatic transmission. As the only Japanese truck manufacturer to offer true automatic across the range, this allows drivers to shift gears without any power or torque interruption. This means quicker acceleration, lower whole of life costs and no clutch replacements.
What are the additional advantages to purchasing the 300 Series?
The new 300 Series has a broad appeal to a variety of segments and with the introduction of the 721, we now have the advantage of a nominal payload of up to 2.5 tonne and the ability to tow a 3.5 tonne trailer. In addition, the 300 Series offers an array of options in the Built to Go (BTG) range, with high quality, cost effective drive away solutions for light-duty truck buyers who require versatility. Best of all, the range can be rated for car licence use.
Like all Hino products, the 300 Series is supported by Hino Advantage, a suite of business solutions that are designed to reduce costs over the life of the vehicle.
Hino Advantage includes Capped Price Servicing, Telematics, Hino Genuine Parts, 24/7 Hino Roadside Assist, Finance and customer support via our Customer Care Centre.
All of the 2020 Hino 300 Series models come with a 3 years or 100,000km standard warranty (whichever comes first) and the option of extending the warranty to 5 years.
The new Hino 300 Series is Built for Safety, Ready for Anything and now available at Hino dealerships nationwide.