The Hino brand has taken care of Toyota’s competitors in the bus and truck classes. It has done this by producing HTVs that are reliable, strong, and cheap. This is why there is such demand for these vehicles, even if they’re decades old. A prime example of this is the Hino Rainbow series.

Now, the Hino Rainbow is a medium-duty single-decker bus, whose production has spanned more than forty years. There have been many versions of the Hino Rainbow bus, but the most popular one is the minibus variant. This is known as the Rainbow RB/AB, and it was produced from 1985 to 1995.

The Rainbow II was a refresh that kicked off the series that is a common vehicle for tours around the city. It is a low-floor bus, meaning that it has no steps. It also comes with two doors for the passengers to enter. This version was produced from 2004 to 2016, and has been replaced for the present day.

Today’s Rainbow is a rebadged version of the Isuzu Erga Mio, that was launched in 2016; succeeding the bus mentioned above. The Hino Rainbow is a good vehicle to use for employees or motorhomes as well.

As there have been many different variants and configurations of the Hino Rainbow, you will find used models with a variety of engines in them. The most basic one is a 3.8L engine that can be found on the models from the 90s and then there’s a 6L engine that can be found on the ones from the 80s. Other engines found on the market are 8L, 5.3L, and 7.4L ones. All of these are connected to either 5- or 6- speed manual transmissions; or to 3- or 5-speed automatics. The standard drivetrain is a 2WD configuration. The RB/AB models are unique because they can be found with a rear- or front-engine configuration.

The buses feature a lower driver’s seat to ensure a better view of the road. The front windscreen is also wide and curved to ensure more visibility. As luxury is not the main feature of the Hino Rainbow buses, the interior is largely made out of plastic. The quality of the interior components, including the dashboard feels average, but it is built to last. The driving experience is made easier via the power steering.

The Hino Rainbow buses can seat up to 29 people on their retainable vinyl seats. The difference in the spaciousness differs between the different variants that you’ll find. The seats are reasonably comfortable for long tours due to the good support at the back. The Hino Rainbow buses also have handles on the door so that getting in and out of the van is made easier. The more recent models can also be found with two-steps instead of one to ease getting in.

The buses keep the passenger entertained with a CD player and radio offered on them. Air conditioning is offered as standard, to maintain passenger comfort even if the weather loses its chills. Each passenger gets their own storage net in front of them that is attached to the back of the seat.

Even the older models of the Hino Rainbow are compliant with the Japanese rules and regulations regarding emissions and environmental conservation. Newer models can be found with Euro technology, which give out even fewer emissions. The Rainbow buses do less than 10kmpl due to a lesser power-to-weight ratio.

Hino is owned by Toyota so reliability in its vehicles is a common trait that it shares with the biggest carmaker in the world. The Hino Rainbow buses are durable and rugged and most can cross half a million miles easily without an engine or transmission overhaul, provided the owner maintains them regularly. This shouldn’t be an issue because of the parts being readily and cheaply available everywhere. This is one of the reasons why these old Hino buses are imported despite having hundreds of thousands of miles on them. Their durability is so astounding that people even import them to turn them into RVs, so that they may live in them.

This information depends on your choice of models. You get handles at the back for the passengers to hold onto in case the driver brakes hard. Some models can also be found with a rear-window defogger to maintain visibility during foggy days. Anti Lock Brakes can also be found if you look around harder, and these will prevent the buses’ brakes from locking in case of heavy braking. Driver side airbags are also available in some models.

As far as warranty is concerned, as these buses are old by today’s standards, Hino’s warranty won’t apply to them. Your used cars dealer will give you their own warranty though, so look out for it.