Daihatsu has given the Hijet Truck another meaningful update, and this one focuses on what matters most to daily users: safety, usability, and steady refinement. The formula is still familiar. However, the latest changes make this kei truck feel more complete, especially for buyers who rely on it as a true do-everything work vehicle. As reported by kuruma-news.jp, the latest revision adds new Smart Assist functions and improves convenience on higher trims without changing the truck’s core mission. 

Why the Daihatsu Hijet Truck Still Matters

The current Hijet Truck is the 10th-generation model, introduced in 2014 after a 15-year gap between full redesigns. Since then, Daihatsu has continued to refine it step by step. For example, the truck gained the Smart Assist preventive safety system in 2018, and it received another major update in December 2021 alongside the full redesign of the Hijet Cargo light commercial van. 

That long-term development strategy helps explain why the Hijet Truck still holds its place in Japan’s kei truck market. Rather than chasing headline-grabbing changes every year, Daihatsu keeps improving the truck where real users will notice it most. As a result, the Hijet remains relevant not just as a basic work tool, but as a surprisingly polished small commercial vehicle. 

What Changed in This Latest Update

This partial update strengthens Smart Assist by adding more advanced detection functions. More specifically, Daihatsu added detection for crossing bicycles, vehicles in the oncoming lane when turning right at intersections, and pedestrians crossing from the opposite direction during right or left turns. In other words, the update targets the kinds of real-world conflicts that often happen in busy mixed-traffic environments. 

Daihatsu also improved convenience on the Extra grade. That trim now comes standard with LED headlamps, ADB (Adaptive Driving Beam), and side-view lamps. Those upgrades may sound minor at first. Still, they make a clear difference for a vehicle that often works early in the morning, late at night, or in rural areas with limited lighting. 

The Core Hardware Stays Practical

Under the hood, the Hijet Truck continues to use a 660cc KF-series naturally aspirated inline 3-cylinder DOHC engine. Output stands at 46ps, while torque reaches 60Nm. That is not a high-performance setup, of course. Even so, it remains well matched to the truck’s role as a compact utility vehicle built for reliability and low running costs. 

Transmission choices have evolved over time as well. The lineup originally offered a 4-speed automatic and a 5-speed manual. However, the major 2021 revision replaced the automatic with a CVT to improve efficiency and fuel economy, while keeping the 5-speed manual in the range. Buyers can also choose between 2WD (rear-wheel drive) and an electronically controlled 4WD system with three selectable modes. On top of that, some 5-speed manual 4WD models offer a Hi-Lo mode switching mechanism to improve traction in muddy farmland and other low-grip environments. 

Body size remains compact and true to kei truck standards: 3395mm long, 1475mm wide, and 1780mm high, or 1885mm for high-roof models, with a 1900mm wheelbase. Daihatsu also continues to offer more than one body style. Buyers can choose the standard truck, the Jumbo with added cabin space behind the seats, or specialized variants such as the Dump and Panel Van. 

Why Owners Still Like It

Online reactions quoted in the report show why the Hijet Truck keeps such a loyal following. Many users praised the added safety tech and argued that, for rural life, this kind of vehicle can cover nearly everything they need. That response says a lot. Because even when buyers ask for more power or a turbo option for highway use and long-distance delivery work, they still seem deeply satisfied with the truck’s durability, affordability, and sheer usefulness. 

That balance may be the Hijet Truck’s real strength. It is not fast, and it does not try to be luxurious. Instead, it solves daily problems with a compact footprint, low cost, and proven utility. This is why kei trucks remain so deeply rooted in Japanese life, and why North American readers continue to find them so fascinating. 

[Internal Link: Best Kei Trucks for Rural Use]
[Internal Link: Daihatsu Hijet Truck Buyer’s Guide]

Spec
Engine: 660cc KF-series naturally aspirated inline 3-cylinder DOHC
Output: 46ps
Torque: 60Nm
Transmissions: CVT / 5-speed MT
Drivetrain: 2WD (rear-wheel drive), electronically controlled 4WD with 3 selectable modes
Additional Off-Road Feature: Hi-Lo mode switching mechanism on some 5-speed MT + 4WD models
Body Size: 3395mm × 1475mm × 1780mm
High-Roof Height: 1885mm
Wheelbase: 1900mm
Body Variants: Standard Truck, Jumbo, Dump, Panel Van
New Safety Functions: Crossing bicycle detection, oncoming-vehicle detection during right turns, pedestrian detection during right/left turns
Extra Grade Equipment: LED headlamps, ADB (Adaptive Driving Beam), side-view lamps Source

Price
Standard (2WD / MT / CVT): from ¥1,094,500 (tax included) Source

Editor comment
The Hijet Truck does not reinvent the kei truck formula. Instead, it keeps sharpening it, and that steady approach is exactly what makes it easy to respect.