Honda Acty Truck Guide (UK, 2026): Generations, Attack, Import

The Honda Acty is the odd one out — and the cult favourite. While every other kei truck hides its engine under the seats, the Acty mounts it mid-ship, under the bed, driving the rear wheels. Honda built it until 2021, making it the last mid-engine kei truck ever made. This guide covers all three importable generations and what makes the Acty special — and where it falls short.

This is the long version: the generations, the brilliant Acty Attack off-road trim, the timing-belt reality, an honest word on parts supply, and importing in 2026.

The short version: 656cc, mid-engine, rear-wheel drive, ~38–46 PS — the slowest but most characterful kei truck. Belt-driven engine (not chain — budget for cambelts). The Acty Attack trim adds ultra-low crawler gears and a diff lock and is the off-road weapon of the class. The catch: parts are the hardest to get of any kei truck in the UK, because Honda never badge-shared it.

Image to addA Honda Acty kei truck parked on a green lane, three-quarter front viewThe Acty: mid-engined, rear-drive, and the last of its kind.

What is the Honda Acty Truck?

Three generations matter to UK importers, all 660cc:

| Generation | Codes (2WD / 4WD) | Years | Engine | |---|---|---|---| | 2nd (660cc) | HA3 / HA4 | 1990–1999 | E07A (carb, then EFI) | | 3rd | HA6 / HA7 | 1999–2009 | E07Z (EFI) | | 4th | HA8 / HA9 | 2009–2021 | E07Z (EFI) |

The even number is always the 4WD (HA4, HA7, HA9). Honda ended production in 2021 and never replaced it — and crucially, never badge-shared it. There's no Toyota/Subaru/Mazda/Nissan Acty, unlike the Carry and Hijet. That's part of its charm and the root of its biggest weakness (parts — more below).

The mid-engine layout — the Acty's signature

The engine sits under the load bed, ahead of the rear axle, driving the rear wheels. This is unique in the class and has real consequences:

Quieter cab — the engine isn't under your seat
Different handling — light front end, traction-friendly weight over the rear
A service panel in the middle of the bed — you access the engine through it

That last point is the one that matters for builds: any canopy or camper floor must leave that access panel usable — you can't permanently seal it. It's the single biggest difference when planning an Acty build versus a Carry or Hijet.

Image to addThe mid-mounted Honda E07 engine accessed through a panel in the centre of the Acty load bedEngine lives under the bed — keep that access panel usable in any build.

The engines: E07A and E07Z (and the belt warning)

Both engines are Honda's own 656cc SOHC three-cylinder. Don't be misled by the odd source calling the E07Z "DOHC" — Honda's own spec sheet confirms SOHC for both.

E07A (HA3/HA4): early trucks (pre-Oct 1993) are carburettor-fed (~38 PS); later ones got PGM-FI fuel injection (~44 PS). The carb versions are reliable but need carb tuning and regular valve-clearance checks.
E07Z (HA6/HA7/HA8/HA9): fuel-injected throughout, ~45–46 PS. Largely trouble-free; watch the idle-air-control valve and the cooling system (long coolant runs to a front radiator — prone to air-locks).

Both Acty engines use a timing BELT — not a chain. This is the big difference from the chain-driven Suzuki Carry and Daihatsu Hijet. Honda specifies replacement at ~100,000 km / 10 years, and the E07A is an interference engine (a snapped belt bends valves) — treat the E07Z as interference too. An Acty with unknown belt history is a pre-purchase replacement job. Always get documentary proof of the last belt change, or budget £150–£300 to do it straight away.

The 4WD system and the Acty Attack

Standard 4WD Actys are selectable part-time (2H/4H), high-range only, open diff — fine for mud, snow and lanes, like a basic Carry or Hijet. The special one is the Attack:

Ultra-low (UL) forward gear AND ultra-low reverse — separate crawler ratios, lower than a typical Hi/Lo transfer; the UL reverse is unique to the Acty
Push-button rear diff lock — but it only engages in UL range
Always 4WD

For genuine low-speed technical work — steep loose descents, deep mud, soft sand — the Attack's UL gears are arguably the best off-road feature of any kei truck. The honest caveat: because the diff lock only works in UL range, moderate-speed off-roading (a rutted track at 15–20 mph) is done open-diff. For that mid-speed stuff a diff-lock Hijet is marginally more flexible. The Attack wins at the slow extreme.

One trim note: the early HA4 Attack is a 4-speed (plus UL) — limited top speed; the later HA7/HA9 Attack is a 5-speed (plus UL), much better on road. For UK use, the 5-speed Attack is the one to have.

Image to addA Honda Acty Attack 4WD with the ultra-low gear lever, working a steep muddy slopeThe Acty Attack: ultra-low crawler gears and a diff lock — the off-road cult pick.

Specifications

| Specification | Honda Acty (HA8/HA9 shown) | |---|---| | Engine | E07Z 656cc SOHC 12v (E07A on HA3/HA4) | | Power | ~38 PS (carb) / 45–46 PS (EFI) | | Layout | Mid-engine, rear-wheel drive / selectable 4WD | | Transmission | 4- or 5-speed manual / auto | | Length × Width × Height | 3,395 × 1,475 × 1,745 mm | | Wheelbase | 1,900 mm | | Kerb weight | ~770 kg (2WD) / ~830 kg (4WD) | | Payload (rated) | 350 kg | | Bed | 1,940 × 1,410 mm | | Ground clearance | 185 mm (HA8/HA9) | | Tyres | 145R12 |

Top speed and UK road use — be realistic

The Acty is the slowest kei truck here, and you should know that going in:

HA3/HA4 carb (38 PS): ~56–62 mph flat out; happy at 40–47 mph. A-roads are hard work.
EFI Actys (45–46 PS): ~62–68 mph; happy at 47–53 mph. Dual carriageways (60) doable; motorways only in short bursts.
HA4 Attack 4-speed: slowest of all — really a farm-to-trail vehicle.

If you regularly need to cover 30+ miles of A-road, a turbo Suzuki Every or a Carry/Hijet is a better daily tool. The Acty earns its place as a farm truck, a trail vehicle, and a thing you simply enjoy owning.

Importing an Acty to the UK in 2026

The age picture:

HA3/HA4 and HA6/HA7: all well over 10 years old → MOT only, no IVA.
HA8/HA9: straddles the line — examples first registered before ~mid-2016 are MOT-only; 2016–2021 examples need an IVA test (and modifications) before registration. If an HA9 is close to its 10-year date, it's often worth waiting for the anniversary before registering to skip the IVA.

Otherwise the usual: export from Japan (already RHD), ship, NOVA within 14 days, MOT (fit a rear fog light), V55/5 to DVLA.

Tax and duty — check, don't assume. VAT is 20% on the landed (CIF) value. Import duty is the moving part: from January 2026 the UK–Japan trade agreement zero-rated duty on many Japan-built cars, but goods vehicles like a kei truck may be classified differently (N1) and still attract duty. Confirm the commodity code with HMRC or your customs agent.

ULEZ, parts and insurance

ULEZ. This one varies by generation: HA8/HA9 are Euro 4 and ULEZ-compliant; HA3/HA4 are not (too old); HA6/HA7 are borderline — 2006-on examples are likely compliant, earlier ones may not be. Check any HA6/HA7 individually on the TfL checker.

Parts are the Acty's real weakness in the UK. Because Honda never badge-shared it, there's no sister-platform parts pool and no UK dealer network like the Hijet has. Consumables (filters, plugs, belts, gaskets) are gettable through specialists (Tegiwa, actydream) but most mechanical and body parts come from Japan with 1–2 week lead times. It's manageable — keep a small stock of service items — but it's a genuine ownership consideration. If easy parts supply is your priority, the Hijet or Carry is the smarter buy.

Insurance. Same specialist-broker landscape as the others (Adrian Flux, Brentacre, Advance). The Acty is economical to run (~47–49 mpg), with the timing belt being the main scheduled cost.

What to check before you buy

Timing belt history — the #1 check. No proof = budget to replace immediately (interference engine).
Engine ID: HA3/HA4 = E07A (and is it carb or EFI?); HA6+ = E07Z.
Open the bed access panel and inspect: cam-cover oil seepage, coolant condition/level, hose condition.
Attack checks: UL gear selects cleanly; diff-lock light works in UL at standstill.
Rust: chassis rails aft of the cab (engine mounts), cab floor under seats, sills, bed cross-members, and around the access-panel lip.
Carb cars (pre-93): idle quality, no fuel smell (cracked diaphragms are a fire risk).
Paperwork: odometer in km (÷1.609), auction sheet (grade 3.5+).

What does an Acty cost in the UK?

Indicative (mid-2026), usually + VAT:

| Spec | Indicative price | |---|---| | HA4 2WD, carb, high km | ~£3,500–£5,000 + VAT | | HA4/HA7 4WD SDX/Town, EFI | ~£5,500–£9,000 + VAT | | HA4/HA7 Attack (UL + diff lock) | ~£7,000–£13,000 + VAT | | HA9 4WD (2009–2016, MOT-route) | ~£8,000–£14,000 + VAT | | Acty Crawler (HA5, 6-wheel) | collector unicorn — £20k+ |

The Attack commands the biggest premium in the class — its UL gears and diff lock are unique, and values have firmed since production ended in 2021. A documented timing belt always adds value.

Overland and build notes

The bed (1,940 × 1,410 mm) matches the Carry and Hijet, so sleeping-flat works for adults up to ~5'11". The mid-engine access panel is the unique constraint — build a hinged/removable floor section over it. The Acty's lift-kit aftermarket is thinner than the Hijet's (largely community/DIY rather than off-the-shelf UK kits), and practical tyre upgrades top out around 13" wheels with 155/70 or 175/65 rubber. Same 350 kg payload discipline and DC-DC second-battery approach as the rest of the range.

Frequently asked questions

Why is the Honda Acty special?

It's the only mid-engine, rear-drive kei truck, and the last one Honda made (production ended 2021). That layout, plus the cult Acty Attack off-road trim, gives it a character and collectability the others don't have.

Does the Acty have a timing belt or chain?

A belt — both the E07A and E07Z. It needs periodic replacement (unlike the chain-driven Carry and Hijet), and it's the most important thing to check when buying.

What is the Acty Attack?

An off-road trim with ultra-low crawler gears (forward and reverse) and a rear diff lock. It's the most capable kei truck for slow technical off-roading, though the diff lock only works in ultra-low range.

Are Acty parts hard to get in the UK?

Harder than the Suzuki Carry or Daihatsu Hijet, because Honda never badge-shared the Acty. Consumables are available through specialists; most other parts come from Japan with a 1–2 week wait.

Does an Acty need an IVA to import?

HA3/HA4 and HA6/HA7 don't (all over 10 years). HA8/HA9 do if first registered after roughly mid-2016 — check the date.

Looking for one? Browse parts for the Acty, check the accessories, or see the model pages for the HA6/HA7, HA8/HA9 and HA3/HA4. Want help finding an Attack? Get in touch.

Honda Acty Truck: The Complete UK Owner's Guide (HA3–HA9)