It’s not the first time that Isuzu is gaining a competitor in the matatu industry specifically for the models using the NQR chassis, but isn’t the first time too to have seen fabricator tuning the SinoTruck Howo H2 4500 model to fit the looks and structure of the NQR 33 seater Isuzu matatu.
Photos of Sino truck Howo H2 4500 matatu surfaced online gaining much attention and opening a discussion of it being fabricated to closely match an Isuzu 33 seater and only difference observed was on the Badge and probably the headlight pattern and the sides mirrors but for some Howo matatus you may think they are of same siblings with the Isuzu ones.
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For performance, the Howo H2 feutures a 3.0 L (2,970 cc) in-line four WP3NQ160AO, Euro 3 Diseal engine that generates 160 horsepower at 3000 rpm and 480 Nm of torque at 1400 to 2300rpm. The engine is paired to a WLY6G55 6 speed manual gearbox and airbraking is included.
The NQR81M uses 4.8 L (4778cc) euro 4 engine that generates up to 150 horsepower and 402 nm of torque at 1500 to 2,600 rpm The engine is paired to MYY-6S 6 speed transmission.
On looking closely on Howo Sino truck H2 trims on which resembles the NQR81M we found the H2 4500 a match. This trims chassis is 7800 mm in length, 2,400 mm width and height 2560 mm and has a wheel base of 4500mm. The Howo Sino H2 45 truck maximum speed is 110 km/h matching Kenya highway speed limits.
Isuzu’s NQR81M Cowl overall length is 7,815 mm, overall width 2,040 mm, and height 2,275 mm and has a wheelbase of 4,475 mm. The maximum speed of the Isuzu NQR81M is limited to 80 km/h.
For the pricing the NQR81M come at approximately 6.6 million to 7.2 million and it may vary depending on dealers quotations in regards to body fabrication and duty cycles this figures are for fully bodied bus. For Sino Truck Howo H2 4500 price starts at kes 3.3 million for cabin and chassis and it goes higher to ksh 4.1 million or 5 million depending on custom fabrication and dealership package.
Both buses are suitable for schools, PSVs, churches or for organizations and there chassis allows them to be used as light commercial trucks. If you want to utilize smaller engine but get higher performance output while saving on fuel the Sino truck Howo H2 45 emerges to be the best, but want something that will save your time and safet overall long term investment the Isuzu NQR81M stands out as the best.
Isuzu stands out to be the best in time saving “time required in fixing breakdown and bringing the car back to work” is the availability of parts and mechanics who have common knowledge in dealing with the N series architecture. The Howo Sino truck they may have various service center but can’t outshine the Isuzu service centers.
