Daihatsu Hijet for Sale

Daihatsu Hijet buyer's guide

The Hijet has been Daihatsu's kei truck since 1960, and it's one of the most common work trucks in Japan, with about 7.4 million Hijets sold there by 2020. Daihatsu is now fully owned by Toyota. Like every kei truck, the Hijet is built to Japan's kei rules: a 660cc engine (since 1990), a body no wider than 1.48 m / 58 in (1.40 m before late 1998), and a maximum load rating of 350 kg, about 770 lb.

Which Hijets can be imported

U.S. rules let a vehicle that was never sold here be imported once it's at least 25 years old, counted from its month and year of manufacture. In 2026 that means Hijets built in 2001 or earlier. These are the generations you'll find:

The 1999 truck grew to the new, larger kei size (3,395 × 1,475 mm, about 11.1 × 4.8 ft). Later trucks (S201P/S211P from 2007, S500P/S510P from 2014) are too new to import.

2WD or 4x4?

Hijet 4x4s (S83P, S110P, S210P) use part-time four-wheel drive: the truck drives the rear wheels, and you switch to 4WD when you need it. For farm, ranch, hunting and muddy ground, most buyers want a 4x4. A 2WD Hijet is lighter and simpler, and it's fine for paved roads, warehouses and flat yards. Some grades, especially farm versions, added extras such as a differential lock or high/low range. These varied by grade and year, so ask us about the specific truck.

Versions you'll see

• Standard bed truck: the most common Hijet.
• Jumbo: an extended cab with extra room behind the seats and a shorter bed. Daihatsu introduced it in 1983 and offered it on most generations, including the S200 series from 1999.
• Dump: a tipping bed, sold as the Climber Dump on the S83P and the Low Dump on the S110P. See our kei dump trucks.
• Climber and farm grades: 4x4 grades aimed at work use. The S210P offered a farm pack (農用パック) and a heavy rust-proofing pack.
• Hijet van: the enclosed version. From 1999 the Hijet Cargo van moved its engine forward under a short nose, in a design by Italdesign Giugiaro. See our kei vans.

The Daihatsu Midget II (1996–2001) is a different, smaller model, and it's rear-wheel drive only.

What to check before you buy

• Timing belt. The EF engine uses a timing belt. Importers and owners report that it's an interference engine, so a broken belt can bend valves. If there's no record of a belt change, plan on one.
• Rust. Look at the frame rails, crossmembers, leaf-spring hangers, cab corners, floor and bed corners. Surface rust is normal on a 25-year-old truck. Holes near suspension mounts are not.
• Cooling. Check the coolant: oily or murky coolant can point to a head gasket problem. The system traps air, so it needs bleeding after any coolant work.
• Clutch. A high or vague engagement point can mean a stretched clutch cable or a worn clutch.
• 4WD. On a test drive, engage 4WD (and the diff lock, if fitted) and make sure the front wheels pull.
• Fluids and lines. Plan on fresh brake fluid and other fluids after import, and look over the steel fuel lines and rubber vacuum lines.

Any Hijet that's in Houston can be inspected and test driven at our lot.

Questions buyers ask

Can I title and register a Hijet in Texas?
Since September 1, 2025, Texas law (SB 1816) lets kei trucks be titled and registered as "miniature vehicles." Our Texas title and registration guide walks through the paperwork. Other states have their own rules, so check with yours before you buy.

Is the odometer in miles?
No. Japanese trucks read in kilometers, and our listings show the odometer in km. 1 km is about 0.62 miles.

Is it right-hand drive?
Yes, like every Japanese-market kei truck.

Can I buy one that's still on its way from Japan?
Yes. Reserve an In Transit Hijet with a $1,000 deposit. See how buying works.

Still choosing? Read Hijet vs. Carry vs. Acty vs. Sambar, our kei truck buyer's guide, or kei truck vs. UTV for Texas ranch work.

Compare other kei trucks: Suzuki Carry · Honda Acty · Subaru Sambar · Suzuki Jimny 4x4