The Renault Oroch compact bakkie is anticipated to reach South Africa in 2024, around a year after the initial projections, the local subsidiary of Renault confirmed to TopAuto.
Rumours about the Oroch making a local appearance have been floating around since as early as 2019, but there was never an official launch date set in stone.
This time it might be different, as for the first time Renault is showing off a “prototype” version of its double-cab Oroch on local soil for visitors to the Nampo Harvest Day in Bothaville, Free State from 16-19 May.
What to expect
The Oroch is based on the popular Duster crossover with the looks inspired by the first-generation Duster while the cabin was updated in 2022 to be more akin to the more modern second-generation one.
It’s worth noting the Duster is expected to be refreshed in 2024, so it remains to be seen whether the Oroch will follow suit.
For now, the current-generation Oroch is rolling around in the South American market and boasts appealing credentials.
The model coming our way will be in a four-door, double-cab body style and Renault confirmed that power is derived from the new 1.3-litre, turbo-petrol drivetrain that made its debut early last year.
The motor generates 115kW and 270Nm, and Renault said it will be sold in both six-speed manual and CVT spec in South Africa.
This layout ensures 100km/h is attainable in 9.8 seconds with a maximum of 187km/h on the cards, while fuel consumption comes in at 6.0l/100km. The load box is further rated to hold up to a maximum of 650kg, and depending on the model, it will also have four-wheel drive.
In early 2022, the bakkie’s cabin was overhauled to resemble that of the new Duster with a slightly differentiated design.
As such, potential buyers can expect an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, multi-information driver’s display, leather multifunction steering wheel, electric windows, leather seats, automatic airconditioning, cruise control, a reverse camera, and rear parking sensors.
Standing 4,719mm long, 1,821mm wide, and 1,634mm tall – with a ground clearance of 206mm – the Oroch is smaller than just about anything currently offered on the South African market, except for the Nissan NP200.
NP200 successor?
The only competitor currently taking part in the compact bakkie arena is the Nissan NP200, which has been on the market for around 15 years.
The bakkie is expected to slow down production towards the end of 2023, with no replacement confirmed as yet.
However, in light of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance that the three automakers entered into many moons ago, a Nissan-badged Oroch (with a different name, of course) could be the perfect candidate to fill the gap left by the NP200.
In a press statement in February 2023, the Alliance said it is working on a “new half-ton pick-up, developed by Renault Group and shared with Nissan in Argentina.”
While not yet confirmed, this hints at the possibility that South Africa may not get one, but two new compact bakkies in the near future.
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