Hino has announced that what it is describing as “the next step in the evolution” of its 300 Series light-duty range with the latest Euro 6 compliant models going on sale here in Australia joining its existing Euro 6 Hybrid diesel range.
The company’s manager of product strategy in Australia, Daniel Petrovski, said the 2026 Hino 300 Series has been engineered for businesses that demand exceptional performance, dependable reliability, and long-term durability.
“With proven drivelines that feature a true automatic transmission delivering effortless operation, advanced Hino SmartSafe safety features, and the support of Hino Advantage, the Hino 300 Series is built to handle the toughest workloads, day in and day out,” said Petrovski.
“The Euro 6 Hybrid Electric range has proven its reliability and durability in Australia since 2021 – it is now joined by Euro 6-compliant diesel cab chassis and Built to Go models meaning Hino now offers solutions for a multitude of light-duty applications,” said Petrovski.
“A sequential shifter plus new LED headlamps and fog lamps offer enhanced control and visibility to deliver a safer, smoother and more confident drive for operators,” he said.
Hino claims that its enhanced 300 Series diesel range delivers the right balance of power, efficiency and drivability for Australian businesses across a wide range of industries.
“Our proven true automatic transmission and four litre engine mean drivers do not experience any torque interruptions between gear shifts while also benefiting from quick acceleration and lower whole-of-life costs,” Petrovski said.
“The new sequential shifter enables drivers to manually select gears or simply engage Drive mode, allowing the vehicle to choose the most appropriate gear for the driving conditions, which improves performance while reducing driver effort and fatigue,” he said.
The company claims that the four-litre engine delivers durability, longevity, and greater operational efficiency , when it is mated to the automatic transmission, and that the driveline has a Gross Combined Mass (GCM) of eight- tonnes meaning that 4.5 tonne Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) car-licenced customers can tow a 3.5 tonne trailer behind a fully laden truck.
“The 300 Series provides our car-licenced customers with high levels of safety in an easy-to-drive, high payload vehicle, with the added advantage of an 8 tonne GCM capability,” said Petrovski.
Hino also said that for car-licenced drivers, its automatic transmission means an easy transition to a light-duty truck, given the similarities to an automatic passenger car.
“The ease of the automatic transmission across the range helps businesses to recruit and retain drivers,” said Petrovski.
The Company claims its 300 Series diesel driveline provides consistent power for city and urban deliveries, trades and regional freight and is designed to handle stop-start city traffic, work sites, and highway runs.
Hino points out that its existing Hybrid range combines diesel and electric power to deliver improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions, giving businesses a smarter, more sustainable solution without compromising performance, reliability or day-to-day usability.
“We have an extensive model line-up from car-licenced 4.5 tonne GVM up to the maximum light-rigid licenced 8 tonne GVM,” said Petrovski.
“With a light-duty solution for every industry or task, the Hybrid Electric delivers fuel savings and emission reductions of up to 22 per cent with no recharging or range limitations.
Hino said that the Hybrid system utilises a diesel engine and an electric motor working in parallel, switching between the two to reduce fuel consumption and lower operating costs, without any additional input from the driver.
It said that the Hybrid’s self-charging capability is delivered via its regenerative braking technology which captures kinetic energy during deceleration and feeds it back into the battery for use during acceleration.
Hino said that the addition of LED headlamps and fog lamps across the 300 Series range improves safety and reduces risk while the diesel variants also feature Daytime Running Lamps (DRLs) to further improve visibility.
Hino says that its 300 Series also offers Hino SmartSafe as standard across the range, protecting drivers, businesses and road users alike.
The Hino SmartSafe package features a suite of active and passive safety features including a Pre-Collision System with Autonomous Emergency Braking, Reverse Camera and Pedestrian Detection plus a Lane Departure Warning System and Vehicle Stability Control.
“The Hino 300 Series was designed with the driver in mind and maintains exceptional levels of cab comfort and interior ergonomics, complemented by innovative, easy-to-use technology, further reducing driver fatigue,” said Petrovski.
“A tilt and telescopically adjustable steering wheel ensures the driver is relaxed during the daily operations,” he continued.
The dash layout includes a driver instrument panel with a large, centralised speedometer to improve readability and an easy-to-read high contrast 4.2-inch TFT LCD Multi Information Display.
“Long days behind the wheel are more comfortable thanks to the Multimedia Unit, which features a 10.1-inch ultra-high-definition capacitive touchscreen, intuitive controls and a volume dial, while wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto provide seamless in-cabin connectivity,” said Petrovski.
All models are fitted with an ergonomically designed, fully adjustable driver’s seat for maximum comfort.
The driver’s seat in the Wide Cab models also feature torsion-bar suspension and a large slide adjustable range on inclined rails to accommodate drivers of varied heights while also maximising comfort and reducing driver fatigue.
Hino said that its o 300 Series is supported by its Hino Advantage, customer care program which it says is designed to maximise business uptime.
The company says that Hino Advantage includes a five years or 250,000 kilometre Standard Warranty (whichever comes first), five years roadside assist and capped price servicing, which only uses Hino genuine parts.
“When it comes to truck finance, Hino Financial Services is backed by the strength of Toyota Financial Services (TFS), which specialise in the unique demands of truck and transport businesses with a variety of leasing and finance options.”
“A comprehensive range of Hino Genuine Accessories are also available – they are purpose-built to fit your truck and engineered for reliable performance in Australian conditions,” said Petrovski.
Every Hino Genuine Accessory is backed by a three year unlimited kilometre warranty.
Hino says that it will have more of its Built to Go hybrid and diesel models expected in dealerships before the end of the year.
“Additionally, we will continue to expand the range with even more new models over the next 12 months,” said Petrovski.
