Be more productive with The UD Croner PKE 250
UD Trucks, with headquarters in Ageo, Saitama, Japan, manufactures the Croner. UD Trucks is a producer of solutions for commercial vehicles. A new UD Croner with a Euro 5 engine is environmentally friendly. But does this truck's eco-friendliness sum up to anything else?
More than 60 countries across all continents stock UD Trucks' full line of heavy-duty trucks (Quon and Quester), medium-duty vehicles (Condor and Croner), and light-duty trucks (Kazet and Kuzer). The business was established in 1935. The Volvo Group sold UD Trucks to Isuzu Motors in 2021, yet the two rival corporations continue to run parallel businesses in Southern Africa.
UD Trucks South Africa's assembly plant is located in Rosslyn, Pretoria, and while UD manufactures trucks all around the world, the vehicles we receive in Southern Africa are produced there.
A brief summary of the truck
The Greek mythological deity Chronos inspired the naming of the Croner, a medium commercial vehicle. Why? Because the guys at UD think the vehicle will make its drivers more productive, which will in turn save them money. So, how does it accomplish this feat? Service intervals are longer than average, after-sales support and driver training are top-notch, and components are readily available, all of which UD says speak highly of the vehicle. In addition, the engines are the most fuel-efficient models ever made by the manufacturer. Do you agree that it has a pleasant ring to it?
There are three different Croner models, and their GVMs vary. The MKE is a tiny medium-duty truck that can haul between 10.4 and 11 tons and is designed specifically for city driving and tight streets. The LKE is a multi-purpose type with a payload capacity of 12–14 tons designed for efficient intra- and inter-city distribution. The PKE is a medium-heavy duty truck that can haul between 15 and 19 tons. We put this truck through its paces.
Exterior
The truck is styled similarly to other Japanese medium commercial vehicles. But we all know that in the world of trucking, aerodynamics is far more important than good looks. In this aspect, the good news is that the truck has a new cab design that is more aerodynamic. The PKE variant includes a deflector for the roof as standard equipment. The newest Croner has a CD that is 5 percent lower than previous models, which is fantastic news for fuel economy.
It's simple to get in and out of the cab. There are only two levels to ascend (or down), and the handrail is extra lengthy should you need it.
Interior
The day cab and sleeper cab options for the MKE and LKE models measure 2.1 meters in width, while the PKE model's sleeper cab is 2.3 meters wide. The sleeper cab increases the driver's comfort and productivity on long and medium-distance travels, while the day cab provides greater space for cargo and utilities.
The interior is quite appealing to us. It's up-to-date, spacious, cozy, and ergonomic. The seats are highly customizable, and the steering column may be adjusted in both length and angle to accommodate a variety of drivers. Better comfort is available with an air-suspended driver's seat (something I'd invest in if I controlled a transportation company; a fatigued driver is a dangerous driver).
The dashboard gauges are minimalistic, legible, and clear. There, the driver can use his in-car fuel coach, which provides timely guidance while behind the wheel. It provides quick and long-term feedback, along with easy suggestions for enhancing safety and fuel efficiency. This is a fantastic addition.
Drivetrain
The 8-liter GH8E engine is the crown jewel of the Croner PKE. With cutting-edge technology from UD Trucks, this truck can generate 280 horsepower and 1,050 Newton-meters of torque. Computer-controlled injection in these fully electronic common rail engines allows for precise regulation of fuel quantity and atomization throughout a wide range of conditions and across individual cylinders, resulting in exceptional fuel economy and minimal pollutants.
DRIVEtorque did not test the truck's performance while fully loaded because we only drove it while it was empty. There is, however, no reason to expect that this motor wouldn't perform admirably under pressure.
Transmission
The Croner can be had with a stick shift if desired. But why on earth would you ever want to do that? The Allison car is ideal for the task at hand. To quickly reach the ideal cruising speed, it always selects the best gear (a human driver might not). That'll increase productivity by allowing for more daily travels. The best possible fuel economy can be achieved by selecting the appropriate gear for the driving conditions at all times.
Safety
There are numerous safeguards built into the Croner. Effective stopping power is provided by S-cam air brakes with automatic slack adjustment, and anti-lock brakes (ABS) with electronic brakeforce distribution are standard for the rear leaf suspension and available for the air leaf suspension.
The Croner is built to withstand a 40km/h flat barrier hit thanks to its steel frame and reinforced cabin, which were created under stringent deflection, crash, and durability standards. Front and rear underrun protection that complies with ECE R93 and ECE R58.02 is an available option on all models of Croner, keeping your passengers and other drivers safe. Both the seat and the anchors for the safety belt pass the European standards known as ECE R17 and
ECE R14.
The Croner also features a speed restriction with two modes of operation. The first option is a fixed maximum speed. It is pre-set at the factory to the maximum speed allowed by law in every given country. Second, you can limit the maximum speed to certain lanes only. The customer can change the speed limit function's default speed via the instrument cluster. Access to this system requires a password. There will be fewer speed-related collisions, and less wasted gas, as a result.
Our Judgement
The Croner is a well-thought-out and functional workhorse that has numerous security options and outstanding post-sale service. After three years and 1,700,000 engineering hours and 30,000 hours of testing by UD's engineers, the vehicle was released to the public. Three million kilometers' worth of tests were done to ensure long-term reliability. In addition, over the course of 18 months and six different countries/three different continents, field tests totaling 1.4 million kilometers were conducted in actual customer operations. It's reasonable to call the Croner a "safe" investment.
UD also offers supplementary training if necessary, and the in-flight training is top-notch. In addition, we have a Euro 5 engine, which stands out in the Euro 2 industry. The Croner PKE 250 deserves a second look if you're in the market for a medium- to heavy-duty truck.
More than 60 countries across all continents stock UD Trucks' full line of heavy-duty trucks (Quon and Quester), medium-duty vehicles (Condor and Croner), and light-duty trucks (Kazet and Kuzer). The business was established in 1935. The Volvo Group sold UD Trucks to Isuzu Motors in 2021, yet the two rival corporations continue to run parallel businesses in Southern Africa.
UD Trucks South Africa's assembly plant is located in Rosslyn, Pretoria, and while UD manufactures trucks all around the world, the vehicles we receive in Southern Africa are produced there.
A brief summary of the truck
The Greek mythological deity Chronos inspired the naming of the Croner, a medium commercial vehicle. Why? Because the guys at UD think the vehicle will make its drivers more productive, which will in turn save them money. So, how does it accomplish this feat? Service intervals are longer than average, after-sales support and driver training are top-notch, and components are readily available, all of which UD says speak highly of the vehicle. In addition, the engines are the most fuel-efficient models ever made by the manufacturer. Do you agree that it has a pleasant ring to it?
There are three different Croner models, and their GVMs vary. The MKE is a tiny medium-duty truck that can haul between 10.4 and 11 tons and is designed specifically for city driving and tight streets. The LKE is a multi-purpose type with a payload capacity of 12–14 tons designed for efficient intra- and inter-city distribution. The PKE is a medium-heavy duty truck that can haul between 15 and 19 tons. We put this truck through its paces.
Exterior
The truck is styled similarly to other Japanese medium commercial vehicles. But we all know that in the world of trucking, aerodynamics is far more important than good looks. In this aspect, the good news is that the truck has a new cab design that is more aerodynamic. The PKE variant includes a deflector for the roof as standard equipment. The newest Croner has a CD that is 5 percent lower than previous models, which is fantastic news for fuel economy.
It's simple to get in and out of the cab. There are only two levels to ascend (or down), and the handrail is extra lengthy should you need it.
Interior
The day cab and sleeper cab options for the MKE and LKE models measure 2.1 meters in width, while the PKE model's sleeper cab is 2.3 meters wide. The sleeper cab increases the driver's comfort and productivity on long and medium-distance travels, while the day cab provides greater space for cargo and utilities.
The interior is quite appealing to us. It's up-to-date, spacious, cozy, and ergonomic. The seats are highly customizable, and the steering column may be adjusted in both length and angle to accommodate a variety of drivers. Better comfort is available with an air-suspended driver's seat (something I'd invest in if I controlled a transportation company; a fatigued driver is a dangerous driver).
The dashboard gauges are minimalistic, legible, and clear. There, the driver can use his in-car fuel coach, which provides timely guidance while behind the wheel. It provides quick and long-term feedback, along with easy suggestions for enhancing safety and fuel efficiency. This is a fantastic addition.
Drivetrain
The 8-liter GH8E engine is the crown jewel of the Croner PKE. With cutting-edge technology from UD Trucks, this truck can generate 280 horsepower and 1,050 Newton-meters of torque. Computer-controlled injection in these fully electronic common rail engines allows for precise regulation of fuel quantity and atomization throughout a wide range of conditions and across individual cylinders, resulting in exceptional fuel economy and minimal pollutants.
DRIVEtorque did not test the truck's performance while fully loaded because we only drove it while it was empty. There is, however, no reason to expect that this motor wouldn't perform admirably under pressure.
Transmission
The Croner can be had with a stick shift if desired. But why on earth would you ever want to do that? The Allison car is ideal for the task at hand. To quickly reach the ideal cruising speed, it always selects the best gear (a human driver might not). That'll increase productivity by allowing for more daily travels. The best possible fuel economy can be achieved by selecting the appropriate gear for the driving conditions at all times.
Safety
There are numerous safeguards built into the Croner. Effective stopping power is provided by S-cam air brakes with automatic slack adjustment, and anti-lock brakes (ABS) with electronic brakeforce distribution are standard for the rear leaf suspension and available for the air leaf suspension.
The Croner is built to withstand a 40km/h flat barrier hit thanks to its steel frame and reinforced cabin, which were created under stringent deflection, crash, and durability standards. Front and rear underrun protection that complies with ECE R93 and ECE R58.02 is an available option on all models of Croner, keeping your passengers and other drivers safe. Both the seat and the anchors for the safety belt pass the European standards known as ECE R17 and
ECE R14.
The Croner also features a speed restriction with two modes of operation. The first option is a fixed maximum speed. It is pre-set at the factory to the maximum speed allowed by law in every given country. Second, you can limit the maximum speed to certain lanes only. The customer can change the speed limit function's default speed via the instrument cluster. Access to this system requires a password. There will be fewer speed-related collisions, and less wasted gas, as a result.
Our Judgement
The Croner is a well-thought-out and functional workhorse that has numerous security options and outstanding post-sale service. After three years and 1,700,000 engineering hours and 30,000 hours of testing by UD's engineers, the vehicle was released to the public. Three million kilometers' worth of tests were done to ensure long-term reliability. In addition, over the course of 18 months and six different countries/three different continents, field tests totaling 1.4 million kilometers were conducted in actual customer operations. It's reasonable to call the Croner a "safe" investment.
UD also offers supplementary training if necessary, and the in-flight training is top-notch. In addition, we have a Euro 5 engine, which stands out in the Euro 2 industry. The Croner PKE 250 deserves a second look if you're in the market for a medium- to heavy-duty truck.
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