Great Wall Motors Brings Affordability to the Table
In March 2006, Great Wall Motors (GWM) became the latest Chinese maker to bring cut-priced vehicles to South Africa when it launched its range of one-ton bakkies and SUVs.
The single-cab 2.2-litre bakkie sells for R89 990 and the double cab will cost you the same as a single-cab Toyota, Nissan or Ford. The double-cab is a four-door, 2.2-litre petrol engine bakkie with air conditioning, remote central locking and leather seats for the price of R129 990.
Let’s face it; you can’t get a better deal than that. The catch? The only catch is that it is no oil painting. It is not as smooth or sleek as its counterparts, but it can do the job just as well. It is a bit noisier than modern Japanese bakkies, but seems reasonably robust and well built.
GWM is marketing their bakkies as an alternative to buying second-hand bakkies with all its unknowns and uncertainties.
The chassis and body are based on the older Isuzu KB while the drive train comes from the old Toyota Hilux. Fuel injection is now used instead of carburettor-fed, raising its output to a claimed 78kW. The four-cylinder engine pulls adequately for a workhorse, and it drives just as well on the open road as it does off-road. The average fuel consumption is around 11 litres/100km.
The interior is plain and simple, and maybe a bit outdated. It relates to the older generation Hilux and the power steering has lots of play. When you get behind the wheel of this bakkie, you get the feel of a bakkie that will deliver years and years of service. Like a trusted Toyota Hilux back in the 90’s.
It even has reverse parking sensors that beep when you’re getting too close to an unsuspecting object and the electric windows and multifunction rear-view mirror that has cabin and exterior temperature displays reminds you that you’re not in the 90’s anymore.
So even if it’s not as smooth and luxury as some of the bakkies on the road today, this Chinese model might just surprise you with its value-for-money offer. It also has the benefit of using Isuzu and Toyota genealogy.
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