Affordable Chinese bakkies on sale in South Africa right now – With one more launching soon

It’s not only crossovers and SUVs that benefited from the recent surge in Chinese car brands entering South Africa, but also bakkies.

Buyers looking for an affordable bakkie that can tackle the job site just as easily as the campgrounds have several options across three badges – GWM, JAC, and LDV.

Another one is launching soon, too, this being Foton.

GWM

Perhaps the most well-known of the Chinese bakkie manufacturers, Great Wall Motors (GWM) currently offers two individual models namely the Steed 5 and P-Series.

Both these high-riders are available in single (SC) and double-cab (DC) body styles, with the Steed more pitched at the commercial sector whereas the P-Series appeals to lifestyle buyers.

Patrons of the Steed have two trim levels to choose from spanning S and SX, while all variants of the bakkie feature the same 2.0-litre, turbo-diesel powerplant generating 110kW and 320Nm.

It is exclusively sold with a six-speed manual transmission whereas the top-spec derivative is the only one with four-wheel drive.

The P-Series is on the market in five grades ranging from spartan to luxurious, comprising SX, DLX, LS, LT, and LTD; as well as in SC and DC guises.

Like its sibling, all derivatives are equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-litre diesel mill pumping out 120kW and 400Nm, however, there are quite a few drivelines on the table.

You can get a 4×2 or a 4×4 with low range, both obtainable with a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic shifter. The top-spec models also bring a rear diff lock to enhance their off-road prowess.

For those who don’t need a new bakkie right away, it’s worth mentioning GWM is adding another one to its fleet later this year in the form of the P500 which will be its flagship product.

The table below details the pricing and model selection of the current GWM bakkie portfolio:

JAC

JAC’s most affordable bakkie is the T6.

There are two versions of the double-cab separated only by their underpinnings, as both are shipped with the same nice-to-haves and driven by the same 2.8-litre, turbocharged diesel plant with 68kW and 210Nm of potential.

Hence, what separates the T6 entries is the fact that one is 4×2 and comes with a five-speed manual gearbox, while the other is 4×4 and sees a six-speed manual.

Between the T6 and T9 sits the T8, a value proposition in the bakkie segment.

Buyers have an assortment of four T8s to peruse, spanning Lux and Super Lux as well as 4×2 and 4×4 specifications.

Despite having a smaller powerplant than the T6 at 2.0 litres, the T8 generates a higher 104kW and 320Nm and was on the receiving end of a manual six-speed box across the line-up.

The pinnacle of what JAC has to offer is the recently-introduced T9, which you can get in Lux and Super Lux flavours.

One engine powers the entire range consisting of a 2.0-litre diesel with forced induction generating 125kW and 410Nm, and an eight-speed auto-box delivers drive to the rear or all four corners, depending on the T9 you go for.

Within the short term, JAC plans to introduce two more powertrain options into its T9 line-up including a plug-in hybrid and battery-electric.

The table below details the pricing and model selection of the current JAC bakkie family:

LDV

LDV is South Africa’s newest Chinese automaker and currently only has one model in its catalogue namely the T60, which is exclusively available with four doors.

At the bottom of the range sits the Elite specification which is the workhorse in the family, then comes the Pro, the Max Pro, and right at the top is the Max Luxe.

The more affordable versions get a 2.0-litre, single-turbo engine running on diesel which produces 120kW and 375Nm. They are sold in 4×2 and 4×4, and feature either a six-speed manual or automatic cog swapper.

Meanwhile, the “Max” units sport a bi-turbocharged motor that elevates power output to 160kW and 500Nm, which is delivered to all four wheels via a part-time 4×4 system. The automatic option has eight gears whereas the manual has six.

An electric cousin of the T60 is also on the market called the Maxus T90EV, though its R1.1-million asking price puts it out of reach for most buyers.

The table below details the pricing and model selection of the current LDV bakkie range:

Foton

Foton is introducing the new Tunland G7 to South Africa on 25 June, but it’s not so much a launch as it is a re-entry.

The Tunland was on sale in the country in the 2010s but never really caught on to the extent Foton would have liked, so it was discontinued locally for the time being.

Now, the new generation has been unveiled and the domestic automotive landscape has all but completely transformed since the previous Tunland left, and Foton saw its opportunity to take another stab at South Africa.

The automaker has yet to divulge any details about its upcoming G7, however, it is expected that the double cab will be fitted with a 2.0-litre, turbocharged diesel unit that generates 120kW and 390Nm, combined with a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission.

We know there will be rear-wheel and four-wheel-drive powertrains available, too.

Pricing for the Tunland G7 will only be announced at launch, but the company promised that it will be one of the most attainable vehicles in its class.