Introducing the Hino 200-310
The Toyota Dyna – which is assembled at the Hino plant in Durban – has been much loved by transport operators since it was first introduced in South Africa back in 1965. Back then, it was the first truck to be offered for sale by the then-fledgling Toyota South Africa, which was established in 1961. Since then, more than 50 000 Dyna trucks have been sold in South Africa – and this popular truck has been on the market for an uninterrupted 57 years, making it one of the longest-running vehicle nameplates on the local market.
The truck in a nutshell
With immediate effect, the Toyota Dyna will be marketed as part of the Hino model range, and it is now known as the 200 Series. The previous Dyna 150 becomes the Hino 200-310, with the “3” denoting a 3-ton load capability while the “10” refers to the 100-horsepower engine. The reason for the rebadging is largely internal; the former Dyna range has moved from Toyota into the Hino stable. While this truck is firmly in the Hino camp, operators can still purchase one at Toyota and Hino truck dealers, as was the case with the Dyna.
One of the Dyna’s strongest selling points is the fact that it slots into the below 3 500 kg GVM category, which means the driver needs a B-type or Code 8 licence to drive it and not a full truck licence. It is suited to the following body types: dropside, flat deck and van.
Exterior
We like the exterior design of the Hino 200-310; it is clean, uncluttered and modern. Exterior changes to the truck include a prominent Hino badge above the front grille, flanked by badges bearing the Hino name and 200 series designation, while the 310 model number is a decal on the leading edge of the lower section of the doors. The grille has been revised in line with Hino styling.
Interior
While perfectly adequate, the interior of the Hino 200-310 focuses more on practicality than luxury. There’s no air-conditioning, for instance, and there are also no electric windows. There is however key-activated central locking and there are adequate storage facilities. There are cupholders for the driver and passenger.
There is new Hino branding on the steering wheel and the instrument panel has been redesigned for improved visibility and readability. It features a larger speedometer as the central focus with revised information and warning lights, together with an LCD monitor.
Two new, practical features for the Hino 200 are a reverse buzzer and the fitment of a Bluetooth radio.
Drivetrain
The powertrain remains unchanged with a normally aspirated Euro 2 5-litre four-cylinder diesel engine that develops 66kW of power at 4000 r/min and 192Nm of torque at 2000 r/min. It definitely doesn’t have masses of power (66kW isn’t much for a truck), but it is well suited to the task of being a nimble city vehicle that is easy to park and manoeuvre in congested urban areas. We had to manoeuvre the truck in some fairly tight spaces during our photoshoot, and it was a breeze.
Transmission
A five-speed manual gearbox transfers power to the rear wheels. It does a perfectly good job.
Safety
Safety features include ABS, the reverse buzzer, Bluetooth radio (which permits safer, hands-free use of a mobile telephone by the driver), side-impact beams and driver and passenger seatbelt pre-tensioners. There are disc brakes up front and drums at the rear.
Verdict
Pricing is competitive and the Hino 200-310 comes with a 12-month/unlimited-kilometre warranty on the entire vehicle, a 24-month/150 000 km warranty on the powertrain, a 36-month/unlimited-kilometre cab corrosion warranty, and a 36-month/unlimited-kilometre warranty on the chassis frame. Our verdict? The Dyna established an enviable reputation for productivity, reliability and durability and we have no doubt that the Hino 200-310 will do exactly the same. This is an excellent little truck that will no doubt find its way into the fleets of many South African transport operators in the future. Here’s to another 57 years of sales success!
