Features / 21 November 2024 / Michael Taylor

Every double-cab bakkie you can buy under R400,000 in South Africa

There are only three double-cab bakkies left in South Africa that cost less than R400,000.

While five-seater pickups may be the most popular segment in the country, the average price of models has continued to trend upwards, favouring premium lifestyle units like the Ford Ranger and VW Amarok that can fetch more than R1.2 million.

These vehicles may be a nice option for those who can afford it, but the reality is that most South Africans are currently paying around R391,000 for a new car as of 2024, so it’s sad to see that there are so few units left in the double-cab scene that fit this price demographic.

Today, motorists will need to commit at least R359,900 to purchase a four-door bakkie in the form of the JAC T6, which is the second most affordable vehicle produced by the Chinese carmaker after the commercial X200.

This unit is fitted with a 2.8-litre turbocharged diesel engine with 68kW and 210Nm, which allows it to tow 2,000kg and carry 900kg in the back.

This power is then transmitted to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox, resulting in an average consumption of 7.9l/100km.

If this isn’t to your tastes, JAC also launched a more affordable version of the mid-range T8 earlier this year, which barely makes it below our price threshold at a rate of R399,900.

The T8 uses a smaller 2.0-litre turbo block but actually achieves a higher output than its smaller sibling with 104kW and 320Nm, though both vehicles end up with the same towing and hauling stat.

Combined with a six-speed manual transmission, the T8 consumes an average of 7.8l/100km.

The only other budget double-cab in South Africa is the Foton Tunland G7, which also costs R399,900.

While it is also equipped with a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel plant, it boasts the highest power ceiling of the group with 120kW and 390Nm.

This gives it the edge with regards to load carrying, as it can tow 3,000kg and take 1,000kg in the rear tray.

The Foton also uses a six-speed manual stick, and averages 8.0l/100km.

Important to note is that all three models are rear-wheel-drive with a manual shifter, meaning you will have to spend over R400,000 if an automatic or four-wheel-drive variant is important to you.