Hino’s Multi-tasker

Hino’s Heavy Duty 700 Series now suits a wider range of applications with a new 12-speed automated transmission.

The Hino 700 series going through its paces with variable loads. Image: Hino Australia.

The Euro VI Hino 700 had its Australian launch during the surreal and restrictive days of Covid during 2021. At the time, the new range set a number of benchmarks for heavy-duty Japanese trucks, meeting and even exceeding the offerings from Europe, placing the Japanese trucks on a more than equal footing. 

During the intervening period Prime Mover has taken several opportunities to drive the big Hino, including some interstate trips, and there is always something new to be experienced. With last year’s release of the new 12-speed Hino Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) a fleet consisting of eight different examples of the Hino 700 has been assembled for the opportunity to assess different applications operating on a variety of roads on the NSW South Coast including driving up the imposing Clyde Mountain on the King’s Highway to Canberra.  

We commence the road test portion of the two-day event at the wheel of tipper and three-axle dog with a gross combination weight of 33,800kgs. After negotiating Sydney’s morning traffic, the next challenge is the steep descent of Mount Ousley into Wollongong which requires trucks and buses to negotiate the 12 to 18 percent incline at a maximum speed of 40 kph without applying the service brakes. To achieve this, as we approach the start of the descent, we switch the 12-speed AMT to manual mode and down shift to seventh gear. The Hino’s Jacobs brake is so effective we are able to hold that speed and even occasionally click it off as the truck slowed to 30 kph.  

The Hino’s Electronic Braking System is more than “brake by wire” as the electronics manage the brakes’ air valves to deliver a smoother pedal stroke and application. Once past the base of Mount Ousley we activate the “Brake Sync” switch and there is no need to use the engine brake wand in general driving. The Adaptive Cruise Control operates down to 35 kph and won’t operate if the engine brake wand is in an active position. The first stage of travel of the foot brake actually activates the engine’s Jake brake before it engages the service brakes. This helps conserve brake components as they only are activated after the engine brake.  

The 9.0 litre models have a two-position engine brake, while trucks equipped with the 13.0 litre engine have three positions, and in Position #2 the transmission will downshift if a gear is available which matches the engine’s speed.  

Heavy loads are all within the Hino 700 series’ capabilities. Image: Hino Australia.

The Hino 700 Series is equipped with the extremely comprehensive SmartSafe safety package which delivers multiple driver assistance technologies which take an active focus on protecting drivers, passengers and other road users. Included in the Hino SmartSafe package are such features as Pre-Collision System with Autonomous Emergency Braking, Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Warning System, Vehicle Stability Control, Reverse Camera and a suite of other standard safety features including airbags, seat belt pre-tensioners and an energy absorbing steering wheel.   

The Staggering Warning feature comes into effect if the truck is detected wandering out of its lane too frequently, often an indication of impending driver fatigue. At the same time as alerting the driver with audio and visual warnings, the system will be pre-charging functions such as the Autonomous Emergency Braking system. The Driver Monitor system has undergone some refinement and during this trip false alarms are non-existent across all of the trucks we drive, or maybe we’re displaying a good level of driver concentration. To make sure it’s working we only have to look at the map on the 10.1-inch (25.65 cm) information screen for more than a few seconds to set it off.  

The Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) maintains the speed set by the driver while continuously scanning the road in front of the truck.  If a slower vehicle is detected in front, the ACC can reduce the engine acceleration and even engage the auxiliary braking, adapting the truck’s speed to that of the vehicle in front.

Another successful application of the Hino 700 heavy duty truck. Image; Hino Australia.

Access to the cab is via three non-slip steps which are staggered to enable safer entry and egress because you can see each step instead of blindly feeling around for it with your foot. The cab is supported at four points by airbag suspension which, in combination with the Isri NTS2 seat, delivers an exceptionally smooth ride in both leaf sprung and airbag suspended models, without any sense of disconnected floating on even the worst of road surfaces.

The range of seat and steering wheel/column adjustments allows the driver to create the perfect position and still be able to view and access everything on the wrap-around cockpit-style dash. The interior delivers a superior work environment for the driver and features surface finishes that can be readily described as “classy”, utilising earthy tones reminiscent of a good latte, complemented by faux carbon fibre highlights.  

The 9.0 and 13.0 litre engines have met Euro VI emission standards since 2021 using a well sorted and reliable combination of AdBlue, SCR and DPR technologies. This combination is not new technology for Hino and has been fine-tuned to reduce AdBlue consumption. 

The 9.0 litre 360hp engine has a very flat torque curve and is now paired with Hino’s own 12-speed AMT and is well suited for highway applications. Shift points can be adjusted from the dash between Eco, Standard and Power settings.

The well-appointed interior of 700 series. Image: Hino Australia.

When the AMT was launched in 2025 Hino wanted to make clear that this was not a completely new transmission but rather was a development of a manual synchro box used in Japan. In AMT format it features a counter shaft brake to facilitate quicker and smoother shifts.

It is fundamentally a three-speed with a dual range configuration plus a splitter to achieve the 12 speeds. The range change is on the 6-7 shift and, as such, takes fractionally longer to achieve. In manual operation the driver quickly adapts to this and holds off from upshifting too early. 

The rear axle ratio has been changed from 5.6:1 to 5.2:1 in order to down-speed the engine and improve fuel efficiency in the sweet spot around 1600-1700rpm. 

The introduction of the 12-speed AMT complements the Allison fully automatic transmission which remains the driveline of choice for Hino 700’s under 350hp and has for a long time proved ideal for metropolitan applications.  

Hino 700’s with the 480hp version of the 13.0 litre engine are fitted with the 16-speed ZF AMT which incorporates the incredibly effective ZF Intarder. Diff locks are a feature of all of the Hino 700 Series range.  

On Day Two of our trip, about midway on the long climb from the coast up the Clyde Mountain in an FS 2636 6×4 curtainsider, another vehicle up ahead encountered a problem (possibly driver related) and we, along with other traffic, were forced to come to a complete halt.

After considering twisting the transmission selector dial to the crawler gear ‘slow forward’, we elected to leave it in ‘Drive’, toggle down to first gear, move the Hill Hold release to ‘slow’ and simply fully apply the accelerator. Despite the Hino’s weight and the incline, this resulted in a very smooth take up and we were quickly manual shifting through the higher gears. Easy. 

In concert with the rotary dial on the dash which basically selects forward or reverse, the transmission can be controlled by a wand located next to engine brake lever, meaning there is no need to take a hand off the steering wheel. 

In ‘Eco’ mode with the Adaptive Cruise Control activated the transmission will neutralise whenever coasting is possible to save fuel and the reconnection of the driveline is very smooth.   

In line with the rest of its range (including the Euro VI 500 Series coming next year) the Hino 700 Series now comes with a five-year warranty. 

The versatility of the Hino 700 Series is impressively demonstrated by the disparate line-up of vehicles provided for this exercise. From a prime mover pulling a loaded skel trailer, an 8×4 tilt-tray loaded with an innovative Hino Hybrid recovery vehicle, several versions of curtainsiders, air and leaf spring tippers, and even a 6×4 rigid stock crate, every Hino proved to be up to the applications for which they have been developed.  

Whether it be civil works, metro and regional delivery or specialised applications such as the tilt-tray, the Hino 700 Series is up for the task.