Hitachi ZX85USB-7 excavator 2024 Review

Hitachi has long held a solid reputation for well-made, good quality products ranging from electrical appliances to heavy machinery. In fact, the Japanese company’s over 100 years of history and experience within the industrial and heavy machinery space says it all.

It was 1949 when the company introduced its first excavator and now, 75 years later, its excavators have entered their latest stage of evolution with the introduction of the ZAXIS-7 range.

According to Hitachi, the ZAXIS-7 features improvement in four key areas: productivity, comfort, safety and maintenance.

Earlier this year, the first of the ZAXIS-7 range, namely the ZX75US-7 and ZX85USB-7 with operating weights of around eight and nine tonnes, were launched in Australia.

We took a closer look at the larger of the two – the ZX85USB-7 – that features a swing boom and short tail-swing design.

With an operating weight of 9.5 tonnes, the ZX85USB-7 sits at the top end of the brand’s small excavator line-up, offering plenty of power and weight to move materials while still being compact enough to navigate smaller job sites.

With an overall width of 2.26m, the excavator can easily be transported on a truck trailer and is narrow enough to squeeze through gates and between other machines on site with ease.

The ZX85USB-7 has reduced tail swing, which means there is only a slight overhang of the machine’s body past the undercarriage when it rotates, allowing it to work safely within perimeters with less risk of damage to the machine or surrounding structures and objects.

It also comes with a swing boom, which can be swung independently from the chassis of the machine. This allows for offset digging when operators are right up against walls with the boom pivoted left or right of the machine, while retaining full visibility of the work being done.

The ZX85USB-7 has a maximum dig depth of 4.5m, a maximum dig reach of 7.5m and a rated breakout force of 57.5kN.

A key step up with Hitachi’s ZAXIS-7 is the introduction of a more environmentally friendly, fuel efficient and powerful engine that comes in the form of Yanmar’s four-cylinder EU Stage V-compliant, water-cooled, common rail diesel engine.

It offers 67.6hp and features several emissions reducing tech such as a DPF and EGR for cleaner operation.

Equipped with a turbocharger, the engine is capable of providing that power boost to aid in better digging performance, which is a four per cent improvement over the previous model, Hitachi claims.

The fuel tank has a capacity of 125 litres for plenty of uptime and is made of resin for better durability. The unit also comes standard with an electric refuel pump for easier refuelling.

The ZX85USB-7 comes with a fully enclosed, air-conditioned cab with an adjustable air-suspension seat with heating.

The machines come fully kitted and plumbed from the factory and ready for work, so operators need not wait around for dealerships to fit their machines up before they can take it out to the jobsite.

Grouser shoe tracks with a width of 450mm come standard, as does a dozer blade. Four tie-down hooks allow for safe transportation.

There are plenty of wide, open spaces in the undercarriage between the tracks and blade to prevent dirt from getting trapped and clogged underneath the machine.

The ZX85USB-7 comes standard with a 0.28-cubic-metre bucket and quick coupler piping for easy installation of a quick hitch.

A comprehensive LED lighting package comprises two boom LED lights, three cab roof front LED lights and three ambient LED lights on the side. It provides plenty of illumination in lower light conditions, while rear cameras provide additional vision and safety.

The wipers have also been improved on the new model, with Hitachi claiming the new, additional lower wiper increases the swept area by 183 per cent compared to the previous model.

Two hydraulic pilot control joysticks with electric switches feature ISO controls for boom and bucket operation while standard travel levers control movement of the machine.

Being a compact machine, the ZX85USB-7 surprisingly has plenty of tech that makes it feel like it belongs in the upper echelons of the excavator world.

An 8-inch anti-glare screen displays machine information and can be controlled via a jog dial on the right armrest. Operators can save attachment settings such as required hydraulic flow using the screen to save time in each operation.

Creature comfort features such as Bluetooth, radio and climate control are also available and controllable via the screen and jog dial.

A microphone on the side of the USB power supply lets operators connect their phones via Bluetooth and use their phones hands-free.

When Hitachi says it’s making safety a priority in the ZX85USB-7, it’s not mucking around.

The 9-tonner is equipped with an Aerial Angle camera system that provides operators with a 270-degree bird’s-eye view around the cab.

It collates the vision captured by cameras located around the excavator and stitches it together into an aerial image that can be displayed via the 8-inch monitor in the cab, all at the flick of a switch. That way, operators can work with confidence while keeping themselves and their colleagues safe.

Operators can choose from five aerial image patterns to display on the monitor, depending on the job at hand or worksite in question.

That aside, the ZX85USB-7 also features a range of other standard safety features including an electric horn, pilot shut-off lever, seat belt and engine shut-off switch.

The cab is ROPS compliant; a front guard and top guard are available as options for added protection.

In the event of a rollover, operators can make their way out of the machine via an overhead polycarbonate window. During operation, the transparent window lets operators look out above them to monitor work being done.

The floor to ceiling glass windows offer excellent visibility right around the machine, which is important for operators to keep an eye on their surroundings.

There is plenty of leg room in the cab and ample room in the seat to get comfortable; this cab will easily accommodate larger operators.

The air suspension seat is great at absorbing shocks from the terrain, which is important for reducing fatigue.

Controls are all placed ergonomically, with the jog dial and switch box conveniently located next to the right armrest for easy reach and control.

The seats and armrest are all adjustable to suit the operator’s needs and preferences.

USB ports, cup holders, a 12V power outlet, storage trays and a hot and cool box to store beverages and lunches add to the machine’s appeal, ensuring operators have everything they need to work comfortably and productively for hours, if not all day.

Grabbing the joysticks, I was pleasantly surprised at the smooth and responsive nature of the hydraulics. In fact, this may be one of the smoothest diggers I’ve driven.

This is excellent in multiple ways. For one, it reduces fatigue for operators as it doesn’t require much effort to move the machine or the boom, allowing them to work for longer and not hop out with sore arms or cramped fingers.

Secondly, operators with less experience will find the ZX85USB-7 very pleasant to drive due to how smooth they are even at first go. Often, inexperienced operators or those who may not be used to a different brand of machine may find themselves making sudden lurching movements with the boom that could make the overall drive quite uncomfortable. They are certainly not going to have this issue in the Hitachi.

I did run into a slight hitch with the travel pedals at first as I couldn’t quite get them to work, but it turns out I just had to push down on them a bit harder.

All serviceable points are grouped together on ground level for easy access when it comes time to fill up the engine oil or clean the radiator.

All components are under doors that open wide and stay open to allow operators or technicians to do what they need to do.

A dustproof net on the radiator can be removed without the use of tools for cleaning purposes, and reinstalled easily, also without tools.

A toolbox, installed in the center of the upper structure, lets operators store their tools such as grease guns and air blow guns for quick and easy cleaning and servicing.

Hitachi has not divulged a price for the ZX85USB-7, as it differs depending on options and customisation, but I suspect buyers won’t be disappointed should they get their hands on one.

When Hitachi says it has improved the safety, productivity, comfort and maintenance of its excavators, it meant what it said.

Not only was the ZX85USB-7 very smooth and comfortable to drive, it comes with plenty of tech that is usually only present in larger excavators.

With its climate-controlled cab, you don’t have to worry about working in freezing cold mornings or scorching hot afternoons as you won’t feel the elements.

As far as I’m concerned this Hitachi ticks all the boxes for an excavator of this size, and perhaps more.

Operating weight: 9.5 tonnes

Engine power: 50.4kW (68hp)

Maximum digging depth: 4.5m

Maximum digging reach: 7.6m

Maximum dump height: 5.1m

Bucket capacity: 0.28-cubic-metres