TORONTO, Ont. – Hino held a ride-and-drive event here recently to re-introduce customers to its cabover engine (COE) 155.

Hino abandoned the cabover design in favour of the conventional-styled appearance in 2004, opening the door to competitors such as Isuzu and Sterling, who stepped in with COE offerings of their own. Now, Hino says it’s back in the cabover market and will continue to also offer its conventional-styled medium-duty trucks.

“We’re back to re-claim this market,” national sales manager, Brad Sproule announced at the event.

The Hino Model 155 COE is available in four wheelbases and with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 14,700 lbs. Hino officials say the lightweight design of the 155 gives it one of the greatest payload capacities in its class.

Hino’s latest offering is powered by its J-Series engine rated at up to 175 hp and 376 lb.-ft. of torque. It comes standard with an Aisin four-speed automatic transmission.

Sproule said the cabover will be marketed toward courier, food delivery, greenhouse and towing applications.

It’s ideal for city driving, with its tight turning radius (44.1″ tighter than its conventional-styled counterpart, Hino says) and large windshield.

The 155 also comes with a standard engine brake which will extend service brake life, according to Sproule. Those service brakes are hydraulic disc brakes on both the front and rear axles.

The Hino 155 COE will be assembled at the company’s Woodstock, Ont. plant alongside the company’s full line of conventional-styled medium-duty trucks.