Overview
THE light-duty truck market is a hotly-contested battleground, as Japanese brands Fuso, Isuzu and Hino duke it out, particularly in the sub-4500kg Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) car-licence space, and truthfully all three brands offer capable, sophisticated and safe options.
To tip the scales in 2026, Fuso has unleashed a revised Canter armed with a Euro 6 powertrain, serious ergonomic upgrades, and a practical ‘Built Ready’ tray option, taking the fight to market-leader Isuzu and second-place player Hino.
Coming in at roughly $73,000 before on-road costs (dependent on individual dealer pricing), the factory-bodied Canter 515 represents a strong option for tradespeople who want more productivity than a ute can offer.
With a car-licence friendly GVM of 4,495kg, it offers a massive 2,055kg of legal payload right off the showroom floor, which is one area in which the Canter has always excelled owing to its low tare weight.
Powering the updated model is Fuso’s Euro 6-compliant 3.0-litre four-cylinder 4P10 turbo-diesel, producing 110kW/400Nm – a 30Nm torque bump for 2026.
While the majority of Australian buyers will opt for the six-speed ‘Duonic’ dual-clutch Automated Manual Transmission (AMT), our test vehicle was equipped with the five-speed manual gearbox option. Yep, a manual in 2026!
For tradies, the Triple M-sourced Built Ready Alloy Tray option is a seriously well-thought out bit of kit, measuring at a massive 4,500mm long by 2,122mm wide, which eclipses what you’ll fit behind a ute.
It features a heavy-duty slatted aluminium floor rated to three tonnes, drop sides, a tube headboard, and a smart weather-sealed channel running along the edges, allowing you to feed tie-down straps underneath the drop sides rather than hooking them over the top (if you know, you know).
Inside the cabin, both driver and passenger get proper ISRI air suspension seats, which isn’t particularly common in light or even heavy trucks – usually only the driver gets a proper air seat.
Fuso has also added automatic climate control, heated mirrors, and keyless entry, alongside an upgraded multimedia unit featuring wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, DAB+ radio, and truck-specific satellite navigation.
On the safety front, the Canter scores a suite of ADAS features, dual-circuit disc brakes all-round, dual airbags and an ECE-R29 compliant cabin.
All Canter models are covered by a five-year/200,000km warranty, with services coming around every 30,000km.
Driving Impressions
Navigating through Melbourne’s western suburbs in the 515, with a couple of Canter gearboxes strapped down in the tray for good measure, the upgraded 3.0-litre engine feels lively.
The additional torque makes rolling off the line a fairly effortless affair, and rowing through the five-speed manual gearbox adds a fun, tactile element to urban driving, even if it’s a little bit more work.
However, while the manual offers a more engaging drive, if I was putting my own cash down for a work truck, I’d be opting for the dual-clutch AMT.
By eliminating torque interruption between shifts, the AMT (which I’ve driven previously) makes stop-start traffic a lot more bearable, particularly across a long day. There’s also the fact that these days many younger operators may not be comfortable with a third pedal, so for fleets the auto is the obvious pick.
The most noticeable difference in the updated Canter is the overall comfort, from the driving position to the intuitive handling, nudging it closer to the levels of refinement offered in modern dual-cab utes.
The new ISRI seats completely isolate you from road joints and potholes, especially in their bounciest setting, which is how I prefer to run any air seat, and the tilt-and-telescopic steering column allows you to really dial in your driving position.
Dynamically, the Canter offers the brilliant combination of independent front suspension and rack-and-pinion steering, providing a car-like ride without the rough front-end feel, particularly the shudder through the steering wheel, commonly found in light trucks.
There’s great visibility too, with a low dashboard, and the onboard active safety systems keep an eye out without becoming a nuisance, calibrated to allow a bit of breathing room. This is Daimler technology that’s trickled down, so the systems are proven.
Overall, the updated Canter 515 is a pretty compelling option for tradies or fleets wanting a comfortable, well-sorted workhorse with a two-plus-tonne payload, and at just under $75k before on-roads it’s on par with the popular ute options.