Road Tests & Reviews: Hino 700 Series

It's been 18 months since Hino took the British Isles by storm, using ex-Foden dealerships as its base. The 700 Series is a nuts-and-bolts truck, which operators seem to prefer over the new-look, fresh-technology trucks built by Western Europeans. Product reliability and lead times are strong points.

The emphasis is more on power than torque, while the cab is a one-fits-all option. So are the engine, transmission and, to a lesser extent, the body, which is added during construction. Despite the cab;s height, the lack of space for the driver still hasn't been addressed, and you need to press the clutch fully for clean gearchanges.

There are muckaway and aggregate options, so the 700 can be tailored to your chosen profession. For now, it's all looking pretty good, but Hino will have to join the electronic driveline revolution to keep pace with tough Eurpean emissions legislation.