Daihatsu HIJET
Built: 1988-2008 · Series: HI-JET
More machines from model year 1988
Not the right version? The data comes from vehicle registers holding many near-identical versions side by side. Photograph the data plate — we read make and type from it. Open the scanner e-mail address required
Daihatsu Hi-Jet – the Japanese kei-class van for export and the home market: three- and four-cylinder engines of 0.66 to 1.3 litres, unladen weights from 680 to 1,320 kg, as a pick-up, van and tipper
The Hi-Jet is among the longest-running model names in Japanese automotive history: Daihatsu launched it in 1960 as its smallest van and still builds it at the Ikeda plant near Osaka. In Japan the Hi-Jet falls into the kei class, with its engine power capped at 660 cm³ and tight external dimensions that bring tax advantages there; for export – including to Europe in the 1980s and 1990s – Daihatsu built versions with larger 1.0- and 1.3-litre engines, since the kei restriction did not apply outside Japan. The additions VAN, PICK-UP, KIPPER and WINDOW VAN name the panel van, flatbed, three-way tipper and the windowed version with a rear bench seat.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The register lists here 20 versions with three- and four-cylinders of 659 to 1,296 cm³, unladen weights from 680 to 1,320 kg, gross weights from 1,348 to 1,550 kg and widths from 1,400 to 1,700 mm; power is recorded in the register as 33 kW and length as 3,340 mm.
The Hi-Jet ranks among the world's best-selling smallest vans and, across generations, shaped the image of the kei-class commercial vehicle in Japan for trades, agriculture and inner-city delivery; in Europe it remained a niche for particularly nimble and economical commercial vehicles, before stricter registration and safety rules made import harder in the 1990s.
On a used example, rust on the thin bodywork and frame, the condition of the clutch given frequent stop-and-go use, and the driveshafts on four-wheel-drive versions count; owing to the small engine, running costs are low, but parts for the Japanese export versions sometimes run only through specialist importers.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: Daihatsu Hi-Jet, Daihatsu (manufacturer)
Technical data
Engine
| Fuel | Battery electric | Diesel | Gas | Other fuel types | Petrolcorrect |
|---|---|
| Power | 33 kWcorrect |
| Cylinders | 4correct |
| Displacement | 1,296 cm³correct |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 3,340 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,460 mmcorrect |
| Wheelbase | 1,910 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 835 kgcorrect |
| Gross vehicle weight | 1,550 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Gears | 4.5correct |
|---|---|
| Wheels | 4correct |
Origin and approval
| Body | Van; Pickup truckcorrect |
|---|---|
| Version | HI-JETcorrect |
| Number of versions | 12correct |
| Built from | 1984correct |
| Built to | 2024correct |
| First registered from | 1,986correct |
| First registered to | 2,011correct |
| Vehicle class | Kei truckcorrect |
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 39.5 kW/t (33 kW / 0.8 t)
Stronger than 1% of the vans in the register — out of 7,144 models with a stated power figure.
Calculated from the documented figures above — not a rating.
Frequently asked questions
How much power does the Daihatsu HIJET have?
The Daihatsu HIJET delivers 33 kW.
How much does the Daihatsu HIJET weigh?
The unladen weight is 835 kg.
What is the gross vehicle weight of the Daihatsu HIJET?
1,550 kg.
What engine does the Daihatsu HIJET have?
4 cylinders, 1,296 cm³ displacement, Battery electric | Diesel | Gas | Other fuel types | Petrol.
What are the dimensions of the Daihatsu HIJET?
3,340 mm × 1,460 mm.
When was the Daihatsu HIJET built?
Production years: 1988-2008.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
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This page carries 27 individual figures for this model. They come from 4 recorded sources; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
The technical data on this page comes from official vehicle registration records (RDW/Traficom), not from the manufacturer.
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Other models in this series
HIJET 1000
HIJET 1000 HR
HIJET 1000 HR VAN
HIJET 1000 KIPPER
HIJET 1000 PICK-UP
HIJET 1000 VAN
HIJET 1000 WINDOW VAN
HIJET 1300
HIJET 1300 KIPPER
HIJET 1300 PICK-UP
HIJET 1300 VAN
HIJET 4WD
Sources: RDW — Dutch national vehicle register (retrieved August 2026) · Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki (retrieved August 2026) · UK government data (DVLA) (retrieved August 2026) · How we check the data
Van in 3D section
Turn the model, look inside and click an assembly — each one is explained.
