Suzuki Carry vs Daihatsu Hijet: Which Japanese Mini Truck is Right for You?
The two most popular Japanese mini trucks in America are the Suzuki Carry and the Daihatsu Hijet. Both are excellent kei trucks — but they have real differences that could make one a better fit for your needs than the other. Here’s our honest comparison.
Suzuki Carry — Overview
The Suzuki Carry is the most popular mini truck in the world and the best-selling kei truck in America. It’s renowned for its reliability, widespread parts availability, and excellent 4WD performance.
Pros:
- Most available parts in the USA — easy to maintain
- Excellent 4WD system — great for farm, ranch and trail use
- Higher payload capacity than most competitors
- Wide price range — available from $3,200 to $12,000+ depending on year and condition
- Excellent resale value
Cons:
- Slightly higher demand means slightly higher prices for low-mileage examples
- Older models may need carb cleaning on arrival
Daihatsu Hijet — Overview
The Daihatsu Hijet is the second most popular kei truck in America. It’s known for being extremely durable, easy to service, and available in more body configurations than any other mini truck.
Pros:
- Available in more variants: standard, dump, jumbo cab, firetruck, scissor lift
- Very easy to work on — great DIY serviceability
- Often priced slightly lower than comparable Suzuki Carry models
- Longer bed on some models — more cargo space
Cons:
- Parts slightly less available in USA than Suzuki
- Slightly less common, so fewer options on the used market
Our Recommendation
If you want the most reliable, most supported, best all-around kei truck — buy a Suzuki Carry. If you want more body configuration options or the best dump truck — buy a Daihatsu Hijet. You can’t go wrong with either.