Volvo’s FH16 780 has taken out top honours at the 2025 International Truck of the Year Australasia Awards, held during the May 15-18 Brisbane Truck Show.
The flagship model stood out for its performance and drivability, delivering a class-leading 780 horsepower and 3800Nm of torque. The award was accepted by senior Volvo executives, including Roger Alm, president of Volvo Trucks, and Tom Chapman, vice president of Volvo Trucks Australia.
“780hp and 3800Nm are impressive numbers, and we can talk about these numbers as much as we like, but it’s that ‘seat-of-the-pants’ feeling which tells the driver whether the torque is doing the job out on the road,” International Truck of the Year Australasia jury chair Tim Giles says.
“These numbers definitely become real when the driver puts the truck to work. This level of power and torque makes tough freight tasks a relative breeze and the driver can always feel confident the driveline can handle our high masses in difficult conditions.
“The extra power and torque is coupled with the excellent driver experience which Volvo have developed over the years. There’s a quiet effortlessness which the driver feels as they get into a climb at those high masses, and the way the driveline copes in an unfussy way with varying gradients is impressive,” Giles says.
Volvo says the FH16’s high torque output not only ensures strong performance under heavy load, but also allows for taller final drive ratios, contributing to fuel efficiency. The model was showcased alongside the FH Aero I-Save and the FMX Electric, with the company highlighting that every internal combustion engine (ICE) model has an electric counterpart.
All trucks on display featured Volvo’s latest active and passive safety systems, including its new Camera Monitoring System (CMS), Volvo Dynamic Steering, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Corner Camera, Down Hill Cruise Control and Pilot Assist.
“When combined with Volvo Dynamic Steering, Pilot Assist provides active lane keeping while cruise control is engaged,” the company stated. “To make the most of the energy or fuel being used, I-See, Volvo’s map reading cruise control, will optimise gear selection for maximum efficiency.”
Chapman says the win reflected the strength of Volvo’s latest range.
“Over the last 18 months or so our range of vehicles has more than doubled giving our customers a wide range of options that can be tailored to deliver for their business.
“We are truly grateful to the International Truck of The Year judges for their recognition of what this truck has to offer Australian trucking operators.
“I believe that the current range of trucks is our best yet in terms of safety, efficiency and productivity and it’s great to see that rewarded. We really are working together towards zero,” Chapman says.
The International Truck of the Year Australasia jury includes five members from across the region, including Giles, former editor of PowerTorque magazine and NZ Trucking editor Dave McCoid.
