Blog Post

                                        
I was quite excited to receive a polite invite from Daimler Australia to pop down to Melbourne and have a little test drive of their latest upgraded FUSO Canter, especially having just returned from a 10,000km round trip to Perth, with an A-B Triple in tow.
Getting the chance to go back to my trucking origin story was a huge contrast and quite enticing.
See, I started my employed driving career a very long time ago, a very, very, long time ago.
In my formative years I spent a fair bit of time doing local pickups and deliveries around the New Zealand countryside in a Mitsubishi Canter.
That was a few generations of Canter before the new one I was now being invited to test out but I remember a few things from back in my experience gathering years.
I remember the weight restrictions on my Canter were more of a suggestion than an obligation – as it was for general freight back in the 90s.
I remember I could afford to use the ashtray in that old Canter, and I remember no matter how many bags of seed I stacked in the tray that little Canter couldn’t be killed.
Hence, I was very keen to take up Daimler’s offer and see how the current representative of that hardcore local Warrior was holding up in the local workplace.
The FUSO Canter first hit the Japanese market in the early 60s but by the time it hit Australian shores the drivers were sporting bell-bottom jeans and tie-dyed high vis. It has always been one of the premier light vehicles and because the majority of the range can be operated under a car license, it is a hit with tradies and transport companies alike.
Over its 60-year reign it has seen many updates and revamps and whilst the last big generational release was a couple of years ago the FUSO team pride themselves on not waiting for big overhauls, instead focussing on gradual improvements in safety and quality. Hence my invite to check out the newest additions.
 was tossed the keys to one of FUSOs most popular iterations, the wide body 4X2 515 Canter. The main pick of the upgrades they were spruiking was the Euro 6 Engine, the new factory fitted Isri seats, the full LED taillight setup, factory fitted fog lights and the new tray top set up that comes fitted to the ready built Canters on the show room floor.
From a worker bee standpoint, we should address the tray system first. Now, normally, these kinds of systems are designed by some highly qualified engineer that has never had to rock up to a job site and use them. Not this time though, seems like they found an engineer that has experienced the annoying balancing act required of strapping from outside the gate.
Knowing you need it tight enough, so the pallet doesn’t move but not so tight that you warp your gates inwards and they never align again. The cunning engineers have designed a tray top system that allows the worker to actually fit the ratchets underneath the side gates of the tray. This means you can strap your load down without needing to warp you side gates.
Don’t worry though, the industrial rubber used below the side gates seal around any straps strongly, meaning you wouldn’t lose a single M&M out the sides even with a dozen straps in place. The heavy-duty hinges assist in ensuring there are no weaknesses along the sides or rear either. Couple in the high vis full LED rear taillight setup and the back end of the Canter does more than any truckie or tradie would need.
Moving to the heartbeat of the little Canter, which is the ever-reliable FUSO 4P10-T4 Diesel. There hasn’t really been many changes to this. The internal workings have been slightly changed allowing the 3-litre 4-cylinder engine to crank out an extra 30 Nm of torque in some of the variants, but aside from that the changes relate more to bringing it up to Euro 6 standards. That involves meeting the new emission standards. Which yes, means another blue capped tank fitted to the chassis. Aside from that it is still the same steadfast service underneath the driver’s seat that they have had for a while now.
Cosmetically there is very little change visible. The Canter range went through a bit of a facelift a couple of years ago and it seems there’s no need to change what is working perfectly already. Although the full LED set up, with fog lights as standard has meant nighttime driving just got a little easier.
Let us step inside and have some real fun.
First thing I noticed was this particular little truck I was getting to test drive was fitted with a millennial anti-theft device; this package is represented by a third pedal down by the drivers left foot and a gearstick by the driver’s left knee.
You can get the Canter range with the ultra-impressive FUSO DUONIC 6-speed dual clutch automated transmission as well, but personally I was pretty stoked to be back in a little puddle jumper with a gearstick. It was hard to form much of an overview of the gearbox, being as the truck was newer than my bottle of protein milk, it was still fairly tight. Even with that, it felt fairly direct and no need to go searching sideways for the next gear.
Enjoying the drive itself is made much easier with the ISRI seat that now comes as standard in the Canter range.
Yes, I was in the wide body version of the Canter which is listed as a 3-seater. I don’t know if the other two would be sitting as comfy as I was, but even at my size it seems like there was a fair bit of room available.
Not having sat in the previous generation Canter and having been a lot slimmer in my teens when I last drove one, I can’t attest to the seating position previously but it was one thing I noted as I whizzed around the industrial estates of Truganina. You feel very much like you are sitting over the steering wheel and the pivot point of the truck. Meaning you get a really good feel for how it is handling itself as you throw it around between obstacles and other road users. Often you can feel a little out of alignment with what is going on but I felt very comfortable.
Interior-wise the only real changes are more technology based, with the introduction of Wireless Carplay for Apple and Android. That may not sound like much for a tradie zipping off to the worksite, but the ease of connectivity is important for getting your street maps up, or in my case getting my Luke Combs cranking.
Once again, it has been a while since I enjoyed the comforts and layout of a Canter so some things may be old to the brand but new to me.
For example, the positioning of the hazard light switch. Top of the dash to the left. For a work truck that is in around busy areas the hazard lights will get a lot of use and having them so readily available is kind of an unnoticed pearler of an idea. I can’t say the same for the ashtray, yes in my younger years when a pack of 25s went for under $10 I made use of the Canter’s standard accessory, but these days it is almost a novelty in a new truck. But I am sure ciggies are a lot cheaper over in Japan, so they may use them more.
As far as the drive goes, I really enjoyed it. With good solid mirrors you have a great view both forwards and backwards. I had a 2-ton block on the back just to experience real world loads, but they must have loaded it when the Canter was sleeping because the little beast didn’t even notice. It sat so well on the road no matter how much I hooked into the corners, and it zipped around like it was a younger sibling to the Energizer Bunny. Inside the cab was quiet and comfortable and although the Canter isn’t designed specifically for 14-hour standard days, I reckon you would be hard pushed not to be getting out with a smile on your face.
The little truck is still packed with all the standard safety features you have come to know and love – ABS plus electronic Brake force distribution; Advanced Emergency Braking; Anti-slip Regulator; Electronic Stability Program, and, of course, the ever-annoying Lane Departure Warning System. I forgot to ask if that can be toggled on and off though.
From the operator’s point of view, you can’t complain about 30,000km or 12-month service intervals and the 5 year or 200,000km basic warranty helps keep costs in check as well.
Wrapping up, the tray design is going to make life easier for all those that use it.
The Euro 6 engine will keep all the regulators happy whilst not effecting performance for those expecting plenty from the Canter heart and the little advances like LED Lights and ISRI seats as standard ensure the latest upgrades keep the Canter up the top end of the field in the Light truck market.
It is fair to say it was a breeze to drive and a lot of fun. Perfect little round day light heavyweight.
Thank you to Warren Aitken from Trade Trucks Magazine for the story