Fuso Canter 4×4
BUYERS GUIDE – HEAVY DUTY
The current Canter 4×4 performed better than its predecessors and had more interior refinements, but, in 2024, the suspension still needed plenty of work.
Back in the Mitsubishi Motors days, before the Daimler takeover, the Canter 4×4 was the most successful Japanese off-road light truck in the Australian market. Allan Whiting can well remember being one of the demonstration drivers at its Ross River Homestead (Alice Springs) launch. (They chose Allan whiting, because at that time MMA didn’t have an experienced 4×4 truck driver on staff!)
As part of the global Daimler AG empire the Fuso Canter slotted neatly into that corporation’s 4×4 lineup, above the lighter-duty Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4 models and below the Unimog.
The Canter FG range consisted of three models: two short cab three-seaters and a seven-seat crew cab. The short-cabs sat on either a 2815mm or 3415mm wheelbase and the crew cab was a 3415mm wheelbase model.
Fuso used a three-litre engine in the Canter 4×4, keeping tare weight below that of the Isuzu NPS 300. There was a considerable payload advantage for the Canter and at 4495 GVM rating not much performance disadvantage. However, the Isuzu’s greater output and torque gave it the on-road performance edge at 6500kg GVM rating.
The Canter’s turbo-intercooled engine put out 110kW at 2840-3500rpm, with peak torque of 370Nm available between 1350rpm and 2840rpm. The main transmission was a five speed with four synchronised ratios and the transfer case was a two speed. Overall reduction in low-range first cog was 60:1.
The Canter came with a Thornton-type limited-slip rear differential that had positive wet-clutch locking ability.
2017 upgrade
In April 2017 Fuso refreshed the Canter interior and left the exterior alone, other than for a silver painted top grille louvre that gave the upgraded model a subtle lift.
The changes found in the cabin were more obvious, with the blue dashboard and seat trim replaced by a darker theme. The dashboard and door panels are a mixture of black and grey.
The seat trim changed from blue to black, with hard-wearing vinyl side bolstering introduced to eliminate the chance of fabric fraying due to driver ingress and egress or seat belt abrasion. Drivers and passengers should also appreciate additional padding.
Other interior improvements include a ceiling-mounted LED room lamp, a sun visor pocket and new floor-mounted bottle tray. Fuso has also reintroduced a clever storage compartment integrated into the middle seat back. The driver can access the hidden compartment by releasing a catch and folding down the padded front section.
The Canter facelift came soon after Fuso introduced a class-leading five-year/200,000km/4000 hour warranty on Canter models.
2024 upgrades
The Canter picked up a new exterior design with LED headlights that were said to be 30 percent brighter. There were also LED turn lamps on the lower door sections.
It also had a new bumper and grille, with a black strip featuring the Fuso badge.
Fuso left the engine and transmissions of the Canter range largely alone, apart from some minor internal revisions and a slightly larger sump on selected models. The interior design remained unchanged, apart from the addition of an upgraded eigth-inch multimedia media unit, with Apple and Android Bluetooth connectivity.
The multimedia unit had upgraded performance and integrated accessory capabilities. It displayed footage from the reversing camera and up to five additional cameras.
Because there were literally no mechanical changes to the 2024 Canter, we didn’t waste our time testing one. Here are our findings with the 2017 model.
On and off road
Our test vehicle was a 3415mm wheelbase short-cab in fire-fighting specification, without central locking and power windows.
Getting into of the Canter was a climb, but well-placed grab handles and steps made it a safe operation. Exiting was also safe, using the same method.
Cabin ergonomics were excellent, with all controls well positioned and eaily operated. Vision through the big windscreen and convex mirrors was unhindered.
A Fuso Multimedia unit was standard, incorporating a navigation system and rear vision camera screen.
Like its Isuzu and Hino competitors, the Fuso had live front and rear beam axles with leaf spring suspension that offered simplicity and reliability, but at the cost of ride quality on poor-quality road and trail surfaces.
The Canter’s suspended driver’s seat gave the pilot some respite, but the crew scored a plain, two-seat bench. Crew cabs had a four-seat rear fixed bench.
A with the NPS 300 and the Hino 817 the Canter’s ride quality on smooth bitumen and dirt was quite good, but ruts and potholes provoked a nasty suspension reaction. We reckoned a part cure might be a decent set of dampers, replacing the bicycle-pump-sized standard offerings.
Off-road ability was very good on loose and rocky surfaces, but we didn’t venture onto soft sand on the Canter’s skinny 215 tyres.
We’ve given up hoping that Fuso will come up with a wide-single-wheel option that would make the Canter more popular with those who have to work on soft-ground sites. Such a package should also have appeal to tradies who want dual-purpose work and recreational machines.
Our test truck was brand new, so its average fuel consumption of 16.9L/100km should improve with running-in.
A few pictures are worth thousands of words, so check out our test video:
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