Toyota Dyna 150 (Parallel Imported)

I do not own this vehicle but recently had the chance to drive one. Prior to this I have driven almost every Japanese 10-foot lorry model available in Singapore, so I guess I'm qualified to give an objective review on this vehicle.

I do not own this lorry and cannot judge its reliability, but my friend, who graciously lent it to me, abuses it on a daily basis, services and changes engine oil and at intervals longer than recommended and yet the engine still feels smooth and sharp. The saying that you can't go wrong with Toyota might be a little cliched or biased, but it definitely applies to this lorry. Admittedly this review might not be complete because I never carried goods on the lorry; I am not working in logistics, I am just a rather crazy person who likes driving lorries whenever I return to Singapore on holiday. However my friend says that even fully loaded, it does not lose very much speed going upslope like other older models often do, and almost never needs starting on first gear even when loaded.

In terms of appearance, one wouldn't expect a lorry to look elegant or refined in any case, but the design of the cab is good enough. The interior of the cabin is simple but functional. There is enough room for two passengers, albeit a little squashy; it would be perfectly comfortable for one passenger alone. It must be noted that the handbrake is similar to that on most cars, instead of a lever near the steering wheel to pull outwards which is used on the older version of the Toyota Dyna as well as the Nissan Cabstar or Mitsubishi Canter. I have no preference either way but the handbrake on this new version suits those more used to driving cars. The air-con was good and strong, and power windows and CD player are standard on this new model. Coupled with the smooth and relatively quiet engine, it makes for a more pleasant ride, apart from the slight bumpiness, all of which will be described in detail later.

I did not record fuel consumption as I did not drive it long enough, but my friend claims that even with a heavy-footed driving style it is comparable to the older version of Isuzu NHR, which I found to have better fuel consumption than either earlier models of Nissan Cabstar or Mitsubishi Canter.

Overall I found little to fault with this lorry and would highly recommend it to anyone needing a 10-foot lorry for almost any industry.