Specifications
Wheelbases: 114.6-176 inches
Engine: Mitsubishi Fuso 4M50, 4.9L, DOHC, 4-cyl turbo diesel, 175 hp @ 2700 rpm, 391 lb-ft torque @ 1600 rpm
Transmission: Mitsubishi Fuso 6-speed manual OD, Aisin 6-speed auto OD
Fuel tanks: Steel, 33-gal side, 30-gal rear, between frame rails
Front axle: Mitsubishi Fuso
Rear axle: Mitsubishi Fuso
Brakes: Hydraulic, P/S & servo assist, 4-wheel disc, ABS
Wheels: Steel 17.5 x 6 in.
Tires: 215/75R17.5, Yokohama
When Mitsubishi Fuso Truck America (MFTA) launched its ’05 lineup last spring, the company insisted that FE models had been redesigned completely from frame to roof. So when CCJ decided to conduct a product evaluation, we naturally charged our evaluators with determining whether the redesign has paid off.
The mission statement for the 17,995-pound-GVW FE180 includes intended applications such as refrigerated delivery, landscaping, auto recovery, municipal roadwork, snowplowing, sweeper, dry freight and oil delivery (yes, there’s a PTO) – all reasonable assignments, judged evaluators, given the truck’s range of wheelbases (114.6 to 176 inches) and its ability to fit bodies from 12 to 20 feet.
For ’05, the FE180 gets a new 4M50, 4.9L, DOHC, dual-balance-shaft, intercooled, 4-cyl turbo diesel, rated at 175 hp @ 2700 rpm, and 391 lb-ft of torque @ 1600 rpm. Transmission options include a Mitsubishi Fuso 6-speed manual and an Aisin 6-speed automatic, both with overdrive.
The new Fuso (“Mitsubishi” has been deleted from the badging) has a 33.1-inch-wide, straight ladder frame, for ease of body fitting and chassis stiffness. And evaluators were glad to see shock absorbers and stabilizer bars, front and rear, which they said should contribute to improved handling. Power-steering pressure and servo-assisted, dual-caliper, hydraulic disc brakes with ABS are used to haul the FE180 down from speed.
The road to comfort
The first task of the day was driving the new truck, and evaluators all got some wheel time. Complimentary observations abounded, starting with praise for ease of entry and egress – made possible, in part, by door hinges that open 70 degrees, and then push forward several inches, allowing easy access with limited intrusion of the open door into traffic.
Inside, the team noticed that the shifter has been relocated from the floor to the dash, leaving an open, clean floor. That, in concert with the increased headroom, they said, gives the fully trimmed cabin an open, airy feel, and allows the driver to exit easily on the curb side.
