The Fuso Canter can already boast a number of inherent advantages in its category of the Australian light truck market.
The Canter cab-chassis is lighter than the competition, allowing for a higher payload and different body types and its 30,000km service intervals also place it ahead of its rivals in terms of the critical total cost of operation metric.
The Canter’s 12-volt electrical system also makes adding accessories or lighting straightforward.
Fuso was also the first truck brand to introduce Advanced Emergency Braking System to the light truck class back in 2019 and this system, along with Lane Departure Warning (LDW), is now standard on all Canters except for the off-road oriented 4×4.
Other safety features include all wheel disc brakes and driver and passenger air bags.
In late 2024 the diesel-powered Canter range received an upgrade package to bring the diesel versions into line with the battery electric eCanter models in several areas.
The exterior has a new design of the bumper and grille, framed with the same ‘Black Belt’ strip highlighting the Fuso badge as the recently introduced latest generation of the eCanter.
Other exterior enhancements include new design LED headlights, which are claimed to be 30 per cent brighter than the previous units. LED turn lamps are mounted on the lower door sections.
From a driver’s perspective, the major upgrade is the multimedia unit which now features an 8-inch screen and has wireless connection for both Apple CarPlay and AndroidAuto, so smartphones can be utilised without the requirement of a cable.
The screen provides a very clear display from the standard rear-mounted reversing camera and vision from up to five additional cameras can be displayed. The engine and transmissions of the Canter range are very much the same as the incumbent models, apart from some minor internal revisions and a slightly larger oil sump on selected models.
Driving a number of fully loaded examples around Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula shows how leaving good things alone in the mechanical space is a wise move.
The Canter’s six speed dual-clutch Duonic automated manual transmission has been significantly refined since its introduction more than a decade ago and is a major contributor to the various Canters’ smooth operation and fuel efficiency.
The Duonic has an “economy” mode which causes the transmission to upshift at lower revs than when in power mode which results in improvemed fuel economy. The transmission receives driver input via a dual gate selector.
Pushing the lever to the left side gate position selects Drive and the transmission operates as a two pedal fully automated gearbox. If necessary, the driver can override up and down shifts by briefly pressing the lever in the desired direction.
The right hand side of the gate consists of positions for selecting Reverse as well as a Park position which acts similarly to ‘park’ in a full auto by locking the transmission.
Controlled electronically, the inherent advantage of a dual clutch transmission is that the next gear is already engaged while driving which allows for extremely fast and very smooth gear shifts.
The four-cylinder engines have double overhead cams and variable geometry turbochargers and displace 3.0 litres. The engines develop 110kW at 3,500rpm and a maximum of 370Nm of torque which is on tap from 1,600rpm.
The engine exhaust brake’s effectiveness is enhanced on descents due to the Duonic transmission down shifting in order to increase exhaust pressure by revving the engine harder.
The Canter 515 has disc brakes all round with ABS and EBD and is assisted by an exhaust brake. The brakes and Duonic transmission incorporate hill start assist as another benefit aimed at the occasional driver.
On deceleration the transmission will downshift automatically to allow the engine compression and exhaust brake to maximise their braking assistance. Several of the test units feature the double wishbone coil sprung independent front suspension which delivers a smooth ride.
Models with 6,000kg GVM such as the Canter 615 have beam front axles with multi leaf springs with a stabiliser bar and still provide a comfortable yet firmer ride.
The rear suspension incorporates parabolic leaf springs and double acting shock absorbers. The result is a comfortable ride up front and good load capability at the rear.
One test unit is a Canter 515 wide cab fitted with a pantech box body suited for rental operations and complete with an electro-hydraulic fold away tail gate loader.
In this application the wide cab is certainly an advantage because it comfortably accommodates two generous sized passengers, which is what you want when you’re moving house.
“Not so squeezy,” indeed. Another Canter model on this test program is the 615 City Cab Factory Tipper.
This is the narrower City cab which suits the tipper application as it will most be inhabited by a single occupant, the driver, and the reduced cab width may be an advantage on tight access construction sites provided the external mirrors are folded in.
The Fuso Canter range’s contemporary interior design remains unchanged other than the new multimedia unit which has upgraded processing and memory performance.
It displays the footage from the reversing camera that comes standard with all Canter models, while footage from up to five additional cameras can also be shown on the screen.
All Canter models, including the FG 4×4 Canter, receive the upgrades which come with the facelift.