Hino XZU342L

Like the exterior design, the interior cabin of the Hino XZU342L too is completely shared with the smaller XZU302L. While the cabin impresses with its practicality, thanks to a number of storage spaces present inside, the overall grey theme of the cabin makes it look dull and basic.

In addition to the two-spoke steering wheel, the driver’s cockpit of the Hino XZU342L consists of a part-digital instrument console, which has analog dials for the speedometer and tachometer and a small LCD panel for real-time data, including that of fuel and engine temperature.

The Hino XZU342L has a broad center console in the dashboard, which comes with two large rectangular panels placed adjacent to each other and rounded AC vents – one on either corner of it. While the left rectangular panel houses multiple rectangular storage cavities in a vertically laid out manner, the right one features a music system and an AC control panel placed one over the other.

Where the cabin of the Hino XZU342L impresses is the number of storage spaces in it. Apart from the open cavities in the center console, there is one open and closed glove box on the passenger side of the dashboard. There are bottle holders too, one each in front of the round AC vents on both the corners of the dashboard.

The Hino XZU342L, for a small light-duty truck, looks pretty big, thanks to the way it has been styled. While it looks decent, the fact that there is no single change in its design over the smaller Hino XZU302L is a fact which tarnishes its individuality.

There are a lot of curved influences in the overall design of the Hino XZU342L, most of which are visible at the front. All the edges of the windscreen of the Hino XZU342L are curved out, and in addition, there is a wide and very visible curved character line in the middle of the front profile, which merges with the window frame sideways. The lower edges of the windscreen have mounts for the rearview mirrors giving assistance to them.

There is a large and broad grille present in the lower end of the front profile. This grille is made up of black plastic and has three horizontal slats across it. Placed adjacent to both the sides of the grille and large headlamp units, which too have got rounded edges and also house clear lens turn indicators in them. Below this overall layout of the grille and headlamps is a long front bumper, which like the front grille, is finished entirely in black plastic theme and comes integrated with tinted fog lamps on either ends.

The rounded theme of the Hino XZU342L is present in its side profile as well, which is quite evident by the curved rear pillars. In addition to this, there is another smoothly curved character line running over the rounded wheel arches. 

The Hino XZU342L is based on the same body on frame chassis, which underpins the smaller XZU302L. The suspension combination of semi-elliptical leaf springs with double-action shock absorbers on either end has been shared from the smaller Hino XZU302L.

Even the service brake (hydraulic system, dual circuit, vacuum-assisted brakes with brake shoes for both front and rear wheels), as well as parking brake (internal expanding mechanical type which acts on transmission output shaft) in the Hino XZU342L, are lifted off from the XZU302L.

The Hino XZU342L shares its 4.0-litre, inline-four, water-cooled, diesel engine with the smaller XZU302L, Mated to a simple 5-speed manual gearbox, this engine features overhead valves and produces 136 PS of maximum power and 390 Nm of maximum torque respectively.

Like the smaller XZU302L, the Hino XZU342L misses out on all modern safety features, including ABS, despite priced premium over the former.

Except for the bigger dimensions, there is nothing much to describe the individuality of the Hino XZU342L over the smaller and more affordable Hino XZU302L. Go for the Hino XZU342L, only if you want a slightly better load carrying capacity over the Hino XZU302L.