Haima Fstar Dropside

As is the case with business trucks, there is not a lot that can be said about the cabin. There is seating for two and not much else. The interior is spartan and not exactly luxurious. It is comfortable with large seats and ample space. The instrument cluster does impart a sense of modernity with its blue backlight. There is a radio with its own small digital display. But this helps in keeping costs low and there is less stuff to break down. The interior does provide a nice view of the outside thanks to its large windows and windshield. The seat height allows the driver to rest their hand on the window.

The Haima FStar Dropside is as business oriented as it gets. Which makes you realize how far car design and people’s expectation from cars has come. Not very long ago, the design was probably the last thing on the mind of anyone building a new truck. But that is certainly not the case with the FStar Dropside. Today design serves many functions on top of just looking good. All FStar vehicles essentially carry the same front end with a different body placed on its ladder chassis. This not only saves costs while designing and construction, it also allows a lot of customizability. Bumpers and other small details can be switched to suit different segments. The front cab then carries the same design as all other FStar vehicles. This means the same broad tapered headlights with integrated indicators flanking the black grille with the company’s logo in the middle. Below them is the plastic bumper that is almost featureless except for filled inserts for where the foglights would have been placed. The modular plastic look extends to the sides which are otherwise plain and featureless except for large windows. Rear view mirrors and door handles are in black plastic as expected for the price. But that just means they are cheaper to replace if broken. The windows are large and level. The rear window provides an easy view of the outside. The overall dimensions of the truck are 4855 mm (L) X 1680 mm (W) X 1950 mm (H). This gives it generous space in the loading bay. The walls are not too high and the hinges are placed on the outside. The loading bay is also a little too high which would make offloading cargo a bit difficult. The wheels are 14” with 165R tires.  

The Haima FStar Dropside comes with independent MacPherson struts at the front and leaf springs at the rear. The ride is as comfortable as you’d expect but it does cope well with load in the back and is arguably at its best when fully loaded.

The Haima FStar Dropside is powered by an inline 4 1.2-litre DOHC engine that uses fuel injection. The engine is also Euro IV compliant ensuring low emissions. It is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission and power being sent to the rear. The engine produces a maximum power output of 91 hp at 6000 rpm and peak torque of 112 Nm of torque at 4000 rpm. Fuel consumption is decent at 13.5 kmpl and the fuel tank itself has a capacity of 48 L.

Braking is provided by disc brakes on the front and drum brakes at the rear.

For its price, the Haima FStar Dropside appears to provide just the right amount of kit and comfort. The truck is ruggedly built and should prove to be a good investment for business owners. There are cheaper models on offer from competitors, but they do not provide the same amount of loading capacity.