18 Facts About Daihatsu Hijet

Daihatsu Hijet is a cab over microvan and kei truck produced and sold by the Japanese automaker Daihatsu since 1960.

The Daihatsu Hijet competes in Japan with the Honda Acty, Mitsubishi Minicab, Nissan Clipper, Subaru Sambar and Suzuki Carry.

The first generation Daihatsu Hijet used a conventional front engine, rear-wheel-drive format with the driver sitting behind the engine, in a similar pickup fashion.

In 1964, the Daihatsu Hijet received a facelift, replacing its body-colored grille with a more conventional chromed unit.

In September 1971, the fourth generation Daihatsu Hijet appeared, with all-new sheetmetal, initially available only as a truck.

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In September 1979, the Daihatsu Hijet Wide 55 underwent a more thorough facelift: A new front clip with a single-piece grille was the most obvious change, while inside there was a new more sculpted dash as well as more comfortable seats which received adjustable backs.

In March 1981, the all-new S65 Daihatsu Hijet appeared, now on a slightly longer wheelbase but with the same AB20 engine.

The Daihatsu Hijet 1000 received the S75 model code, with four-wheel drives called S76.

In late 1985, the Indonesian-market Daihatsu Hijet received a light facelift, featuring a new silver-colored grille with five small openings on the right-hand side.

Also in 1983, the Daihatsu Hijet Jumbo appeared, a high-roofed extended cab pickup with a shorter bed.

Seventh generation Daihatsu Hijet was a gradual development of its predecessor and was introduced in May 1986.

Japanese market Daihatsu Hijet continued to be available in the "Jumbo Cab" configuration, but new was the "Deck Van" - a version of the four-door van with a very short cargo bed in the rear.

Eighth generation Daihatsu Hijet entered the marketplace in January 1994, after having first been shown at the 30th Tokyo Motor Show in October 1993, and continued to be built until replaced by the ninth generation in 1999.

The Daihatsu Hijet Cargo was designed by Italdesign Giugiaro, while the Daihatsu Hijet Truck was an in-house effort.

In December 2007, the Daihatsu Hijet Truck was given a minor update, with light changes to the interior and a new front clip.

Piaggio Porter was a licensed version of the seventh generation Daihatsu Hijet manufactured in Pontedera, Italy, between 1992 and 2021, and sold with diesel, LPG, CNG or electric motors.

All of these Porter variants are based on the facelifted seventh generation of the Daihatsu Hijet which has its front wheel located below the front door and a mid-mounted engine.

In 2021, Piaggio released the new Porter NP6, but instead of being based on the Daihatsu Hijet it was an Italian-built version of the Chinese Foton T3 van.