Hino SG1AF7B

The Hino SG1AF7B gets the same cabin layout that the rest of the trucks from the 500 Series of medium-duty trucks do get. This cabin is neither too modern, nor too basic, with it having a couple of nicely done bits here are there. However, the grey theme for the cabin makes it look a bit dull.

The driver’s cockpit of the Hino SG1AF7B is a combination of a two-spoke steering wheel as well as a comprehensive-looking instrument console. The wide-looking center console has curved edges on all four sides and incorporates two separate squared housings. While one housing gets a touchscreen infotainment system with a switch panel for manual AC below it, the other one has empty spaces for storage. The end corners of the center console, as well as the dashboard, do come with AC vents placed on them.

Compared to the smaller trucks in the 500 Series of medium-duty commercial vehicle range, the Hino SG1AF7B has got a more tallish personality, especially when viewed from the front. This gives it a vibe of a much larger heavy-duty truck, only by its appearance. 

The Hino SG1AF7B looks large when viewed head-on, with the large three-slat grille taking the center stage in the front profile. This entire multi-slat grille, which comes with a horizontal layout for all the four slats it has, has been divided into two parts. While the upper two slats are mounted on the front apron, the lower two slats are there present on the front bumper, covering a majority of the portion of them. These slats of the grille are finished entirely in black, with a large Hino logo placed in the middle of the uppermost slat.

The upper half of the front profile of the Hino SG1AF7B comes with a large front windshield, which has a curved lower edge at the bottom. The lower corners of the front apron do come with triangular recesses which end up with amber-colored turn indicators. The large front bumper comes adorned with nicely styled headlamps on the outward corners of the front bumper as well as round fog lamps at the lowermost ends of it.

The side profile of the4 Hino SG1AF7B manages to look quite busy with trapezoidal recesses extended on the side door panels. The rearview mirrors mounted on the door panels as well as door handles are finished in black treatment, while the plastic cladding on its semi-wheel arches and side steps further making it look big.

The Hino SG1AF7B has a basic suspension setup of semi-elliptical leaf springs with single-action shock absorbers at the front and semi-elliptical main and auxiliary leaf springs at the rear for its chassis. The Hino SG1AF7B  gets service brakes in the form of full air, dual circuit, ‘S’type service brakes with leading and trailing shoes for front and rear wheels. An air-operated spring brake on the rear axle acts as the parking brake on the Hino SG1AF7B.

The Hino SG1AF7B gets the most powerful engine of the entire 500 Series of medium-duty commercial trucks – a four-stroke, vertically laid, inline-six, water-cooled, 7,684cc diesel engine. This engine, which is paired to a 9-speed manual gearbox, has been equipped with modern-day bits like turbocharger, overhead camshafts, and intercooler. The maximum power and torque outputs of this engine are rated at 350 PS and 1422 Nm respectively, with the top speed of the truck rated at 118 kmph.

The presence of ABS is the only safety feature in the equipment list of the Hino SG1AF7B.

The overall performance, as well as the visual appeal of the Hino SG1AF7B, is somewhere in the range of full-size trucks. However, it is its small dimensions and interior cabin layout, which remind that it belongs to the 500 Series of medium duty trucks.