The freight business in Russia is developing at a tremendous pace. Of course, carriers do not want to spend a lot of money on maintaining the fleet and want to get the maximum profit. Therefore, many resort to the choice of imported trucks. One of these is the Mitsubishi Fuso Kanter. Owner reviews about this car are positive. Moreover, the machine is actively used not only in Russia (where its serial production in Naberezhnye Chelny has been established since 2010), but also in Turkey, Portugal, Malaysia and other countries. The production of Mitsubishi-Fuso-Kanter is oriented to the world market. What kind of car is we consider in our article today.
Design
The cabin was taken from the usual "Kanter", which was produced back in the 90s. The Japanese changed the design of the optics, redesigned the grille and bumper. For the rest, the Kanter remained as square as it was 20 years ago.
On the other hand, what else should the truck be like? Should there be restrained lines and smooth forms? This is a simple workhorse that should simply be profitable to its owner. Nevertheless, in 2013, the design was finalized. At the moment, the new Mitsubishi-Fuso-Kanter truck is as follows.
As you can see, the manufacturer slightly changed the headlights. Now they are more angular. The radiator grille has also been finalized. Now its continuation can be seen on the front bumper. The rest of the cabin remained the same. What is noteworthy, Mitsubishi produces several modifications of the Kanter. In addition to special equipment (including utility), you can see the Fuso in a 7-seater version. But such cabins are rarely used by our carriers. Indeed, with an increase in cabin space, the cargo compartment decreases. Not everyone is willing to sacrifice the length of the body. Therefore, a plastic sleeping bag is installed above the cabin. It looks as follows.
Due to the high location of the roof, you can increase the body itself. By the way, the sides in the tented version are made of aluminum. And already in the "base" there is an ejector on each side. The ground clearance of the car is 18 centimeters. This is enough for driving on Russian roads. The machine can move along the primer, but its main purpose is trunk transportation. With this car copes with a bang. Reviews confirm this more than once.
Salon
Inside, the Mitsubishi Fuso Kanter is pretty boring. The panel architecture got stuck somewhere in the 90s. Nevertheless, the inside is quite comfortable. The gearshift lever is not between the seats, but in the panel. The driver's seat has an adjustable armrest. There is also a custom steering wheel, backrest and lumbar support. From the passenger seat - two glove compartments, one of which is equipped with a lid and is locked. At the bottom there is a niche for documents of A-4 format, which is very convenient when transporting. Indeed, sometimes the driver has to carry with him a whole package of accompanying documents.
Due to the flat floor and almost rectangular racks there is no lack of space. Although sleeping on the seats will be uncomfortable. By the way, already in the basic equipment there is a pneumatic seat and electric windows. The cabin does not need additional sound insulation.
Mitsubishi-Fuso-Kanter: Specifications
The range of power units includes two diesel engines. And the scatter does not depend on the configuration, but on the carrying capacity. So, a three-liter diesel engine is installed on the Mitsubishi-Fuso-Kanter with a gross weight of up to 3.5 tons. Its power is 145 horsepower. The maximum torque is 362 Nm. Combined fuel consumption is 11 and a half liters per hundred. The maximum speed is 90 kilometers per hour (an electronic limiter is installed).
On the version with a gross weight of 6-8 tons, a motor with a volume of 4.9 liters is installed. Its power is not very different from the previous one - 180 horsepower. But the torque has increased to 530 Nm. It is this parameter that carriers are guided by when buying commercial vehicles. As for fuel consumption, according to passport data, it is a liter more than the previous unit.
Reviews say that Japanese engines are highly reliable. The manufacturer regulates the oil change of 30 thousand kilometers. This is a good indicator for commercial vehicles. But there are disadvantages in these engines. Engines were "strangled" under the environment. So, an exhaust gas recirculation system and a DPF filtration system are installed on both units. The engines are turbocharged and have direct fuel injection. Serving such an engine is an order of magnitude more expensive than old diesel engines (like on the Mercedes-814 or the old Kanter).
Gearbox
As for the choice of transmissions, a five- or six-speed manual can be installed here. The transmission has a good resource, is easy to use and does not cause maintenance problems.
Running
As with all trucks, the classic frame construction is used here. Front and rear suspension of a dependent type, on semi-elliptical springs. On both axles there is a stabilizer bar. Vibration damping is carried out by telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers. Finding spare parts at Mitsubishi-Fuso-Kanter is easy. Compared to the regular Kanter, this truck swallows pits softer (although it is still spring rather than air suspension). The braking system is a combined type.
The fact is that it is double-circuit - hydropneumatic. A similar design was practiced on a Zil truck (Goby), which constantly had problems with the brakes. Reviews say that on commercial vehicles (especially heavy trucks) only the pneumatic system should be used. It is an order of magnitude more reliable and practical than hydropneumatic. As for the type of brakes, discs are installed on the front axle, and drums on the rear. All wheels are equipped with an ABS sensor.
Conclusion
So, we found out what Mitsubishi-Fuso-Kanter has reviews, design and specifications. Fuso-Kanter is a direct competitor for the German Mercedes-Atego. The car is not inferior to the "German" in terms of reliability and comfort. And in the price category it is an order of magnitude lower. Therefore, if you need a reliable five-ton, then you should consider buying a Japanese.