Like the Mitsubishi Fuse Canter, the Cabstar is a classic
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'little Japanese truck' with all the pros and the cons of a small cab-over.
To get in it, put your foot on the step, then slide across into the saddle. While the steering wheel is adjustable for height and rake, you can't raise or lower the seat, so you end up with a rather low driving position, The Cabstar's dashboard-mounted gearlever also inhibits cross-cab access.
Unladen, and on the rough, the Cabstar was distinctly bouncy. Like the Canter, it needed something in the back to calm it down. Out on the road, however, its 130hp 2.5-litre engine, coupled to a slick six-speed gearbox, ensured it maintained a decent pace, although it needed a few more revs than the Canter's three-litre powerplant, and it was also noticeably louder inside the Nissan's cab, too.
On the plus side, if you need to get in and out of a tight space, you'll appreciate the Cabstar's excellent turning circle and precise steering. It comes with a 'Hill Hold' brake function as standard, which works well too, even off-road. BW