Why the Hino light-duty range should be considered as your next work vehicle.
Change can be a great thing. A sea change is great for your soul and mental well-being, and a vehicle change is great for your business. However, we understand the trepidation many business owners and drivers have when choosing to upgrade their vehicle, especially when it comes to transitioning to a truck.
If you’ve been operating a Ute or Commercial Van, transitioning to a light-duty truck is easier than you think, especially if you’re looking at the ever-popular car-licenced Hino 300 Series.
One of the most popular trucks in the Hino stables, the car-licenced Hino 300 Series saw a 39% uplift in total sales in 2021, which is a great indication as to how fast this sub-segment is growing within the light-duty market.
So, what makes the Hino 300 Series the perfect vehicle for every business… and any driver?
Let’s find out.
An Easy Transition
For those looking to make the switch from a Ute or Commercial Van to a light-duty truck, their biggest concern is transitioning to a vehicle they’re unfamiliar with. They have pre-conceived notions that all trucks are the same; cumbersome, uncomfortable, and as different from a passenger vehicle as you can get. Which is where the Hino 300 Series differs from other light-duty trucks in the market.
Designed to reflect the style and comfort of a regular passenger vehicle, it still maintains the power and versatility of a light-duty truck. This ensures those who’ve grown accustomed to Utes and Commercial Vehicles can easily jump behind the wheel and not feel like a fish out of water.
No truck licence, no worries.
One of the major reasons many businesses avoid getting a truck is the need to have a dedicated driver, or the expense associated (including time away from the business) with having a member of their crew trained.
The Hino 300 Series has no such requirements. Anyone with a car licence can jump behind the wheel and lend a hand. No special training or license needed, and with a GVM of 4.6 or 6.5 tonnes, it really pulls its weight to get the job done.
Another advantage of the Hino 300 Series is the true automatic offering across the range, which is ideal for businesses who would rather not have to worry about who can handle a manual transmission. Plus, the added advantages attached to automatic, including smooth driveability, don’t lose power between gear shifts and can actually lower costs over the life of the truck.
Hino SmartSafe as Standard
With each new generation of passenger vehicle, safety features are becoming more intuitive and smarter than ever before. Helping to make the roads a safer place to drive.
Hino Australia’s SmartSafe system takes passenger vehicle safety features, and injects them into a light-duty truck, with features like:
- Pre-Collision System (PCS)
- Pedestrian Detection (PD)
- Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS)
- Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)
- Reverse Camera
- Daytime Running Lamps (DRL’s)
As the benchmark of safety for the light-duty market in Australia, owners can be confident in knowing the active safety features they’re accustomed to in passenger vehicles are also available in the Hino 300 Series.
Built to Go
When it comes to choosing a truck for the first time, knowing where to start can be difficult. This is a problem that Hino understands, and have used knowledge and experience to solve.
Welcome to the Built to Go range.
Power, reliability, and cost effectiveness are the basis that the range has been built upon. With various builds on offer to suit a wide variety of needs, businesses can be on the road and on the job sooner.
The Trade Ace model has proven to be the most popular model for those transitioning from a Ute. Featuring a factory fitted Hino Genuine Alloy Tray, complete with ladder racks and nudge/bulbar. It’s available in a range of lengths and widths (Standard, Wide, and Crew Cab) to cater for various needs and businesses.
Auto for Manual
The biggest trick for any business owner is finding the right vehicle, at the right price, at the right time. So, if you’re in the market for a truck, the planets are aligned. At the moment Hino currently has ‘Auto for Manual’ pricing across the entire Hino 300 Series range.
But the benefits don’t stop there. Not only will you get a great truck for a great price, but we’ll also throw in 5 Years Extended Warranty and 5 Years Roadside Assist.
Find out more about the ‘Auto for Manual’ promotion here, or visit your nearest Hino dealer to see which Hino 300 Series model would best suit your business.
Outright purchase or finance
For any business, no matter the size, cashflow is an important contributor to success. So, when it comes to large purchases, one of the biggest decisions will be around whether you buy outright or put it on finance. You’ll need to consider your options carefully.
The positive side of an outright purchase is obvious… you own it outright. You don’t have to worry about making regular repayments. Which can be a benefit when business gets quiet, and cashflow has slowed. However, your business needs to be in a financial position to pay out a large amount and won’t affect other investment opportunities.
Yet, for many businesses, financing the purchase of their vehicle makes better business sense. Although regular payments will need to be made, they’ll be in small amounts, compared to an outright purchase, and won’t leave the business short (financially) should they need to make other big investments in the future.
When it comes to financing purchases, the secret is to find a financer who knows your industry. Who’s familiar with the ebbs and flows and can help tailor your finance plan to suit your needs.
Hino Financial Services has a wealth of knowledge and experience across a wide range of industries and will be able to tailor a financial solution to help you get into a new truck, without getting into trouble.
If you’ve reached that point where your Ute or Commercial Van has become more of a hindrance than a help to the growth of your business, now is the perfect time to take that next step with a Hino 300 Series light-duty truck.
Contact your nearest authorised Hino Dealer to check out the range today!