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DAF LF
the delivery truck that delivers
It’s all about economy these days, and consequently fuel consumption is one of the first areas we explore now when taking a truck out on to the road. In the real world, it’s expensive, and increasingly so, and operators will make decisions taking that into account. So how does the DAF LF measure up?
Export & Freight’s Garfield Harrison recently climbed behind the wheel of a
DAF LF45.160 4x2 rigid, courtesy of TBF Thompson in Mallusk to find out more...
 Being a distribution truck we opted on taking the DAF LF on what could be perceived as a typical delivery route, mixing in some steady motorway driving along the M2 and later into Belfast for a period of strenuous, stop-start city activity.
But as we said, it is not the price, or indeed the general performance, of the truck that rules today, it is fuel consumption and overall economy. Of course, there have been big improvements in those areas over the years; back in the 80’s, in the days of sensibly priced diesel, (remember those?) a typical maximum weight truck was returning notably less mpg than today.
True, it is all relative. We are always reading phrases like ‘impressive fuel economy” or “economical performer,” but what does that mean in real terms? Yes, there are so many variations to be taken into account, so what constitutes a good mpg return is difficult to assess. You have to take into account payload, road conditions, driving habits – good and bad – speed, weather and so on, but as an average mpg figure for a busy distribution vehicle like the DAF LF we reckon anything around or over 20mpg on a typical delivery route is not bad. You, of course, may have a different figure in your head.
 Features
So, let’s take a close look at the updated DAF LF. It has a more powerful engine, an AS-Tronic automated gearbox (optional), a subtle restyled exterior and upgraded interior design, and all have clearly combined to make the LF Series even more attractive than its award-winning predecessor.
The more pronounced upper and lower grille with aluminium strip to signify compliance with the Euro 4 emissions standard, the larger mirrors for wider view angles, and the cat’s-eye combi-lights, all give the LF an enhanced, modern look, without immediately outdating the previous model.
The style and quality of the interior finish resemble that of a top-of-the-range saloon car, and we found the LF day cab on our test vehicle offers a pleasant and comfortable working environment that is further enhanced by the updated dashboard and the modern instrument panel. The steering wheel with its integrated controls, and the ergonomically placed handles and switches, also caught our attention, as did the ample storage space – there is space for maps, delivery notes and other papers in the door panels, central cup holders, over-dashboard storage and two compartments in the header shelf.
The deep and wide windscreen, with narrow pillars, provided excellent visibility from our air suspension seat, while the four mirror lay out offered a larger field of vision, creating a safer working environment, especially vital when operating in busy town and city streets.
The LF, by the way, has four-point cab mountings to maximise comfort, and nosie levels are also low, meaning you won’t feel so fatigued at the end of the working day.
Handling
Driving was also a delight, with a two pedal operation which is, we believe, the way to go for this size of vehicle, especially in urban driving. The LF has a superb gearbox in the tried and trusted ZF AS-Tronic 6 speed, featuring two extra crawler gears, forward and reverse. There is the option to go manual, if you like to play around!
Our truck was fitted with the most up to date software, providing a very slick and impressive gear change; better, I suspect, than what any of us could manage. Why anyone would bother with a manual box is beyond us - this was stress free driving at its very best!
The AS-Tronic option, the control panel for which is located on the console next to the driver’s seat, will set you back just over £2,100, but we reckon it is money well spent, money that you’ll recoup by way of residual value. It is the AS-Tronic, incidentally, which results, not just in better driver comfort, but also in better fuel efficiency, so it is money well spent all round.
You can also opt for EEV – that stands for ‘Enhanced Environmentally Friendly Vehicle’ – the emission standard set to promote cleaner engines that will lower operating costs even further. EEV engines have even lower emission values than those stipulated by the stringent Euro 5 standard, and even Euro 6 that comes into force in 2011. We believe EEV is a must, especially for inner-city distribution.
It was initially assumed that this standard could only be achieved with gas engines, but thanks to the impressive technological development undergone by DAF’s diesel engines, combined, in particular, with installation of an intelligent injection and combustion system, DAF’s diesel engines are able to achieve these lower emission values, without the need for a soot filter. (Just take a look at the accompanying ‘Emissions Standard’ table.)
Versatile
It is worth mentioning, too, that the LF Series is highly versatile. The strong but lightweight and totally flat chassis is designed for high payloads. Because it is flat, it makes body mounting easy and with a variety of wheelbases and axle configurations available, most distribution needs can easily be met.
But back to that thorny issue of economy and fuel consumption. How did we fare? Well, like we said, it is all relative, and there are so many variables to take into account, but with our mix of motorway and city driving over a 81 mile long route and an average speed of 26.3 mph we managed to return what we believe is a highly respectable figure of 21.5mpg. A professional driver might well improve on that!
Conclusion
If you are in the market for a dependable city or regional distribution workhorse that performs and handles well, that is capable of carrying a high payload, that offers a pleasant and even relaxing working environment and that is economical to run, take a closer look at the DAF LF.
Specification:
Model: DAF LF45.160 4x2 Rigid
Engine: Paccar FR 118
160 bhp Diesel Euro 5 SCR EEV 4.5 litres 4 cylinders in line.
Torque: 160 bhp @ 1900-2500 rpm
600 nm @ 1200-1800 rpm
Suspension: Parabolic leaf suspension with shock absorbers and stabiliser.
Transmission: ZF AS-Tronic automated gearbox 6AS800
Cab: Chassis day cab
Brakes: Full air brakes with discs front and rear.
GVW: 7.5 tonne – payload 3.5 tonne
Distance: 81 miles
Time: 3 hours 5 minutes
Average speed: 26.3 mph
Fuel consumption: 21.5 mpg
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