How much a 3-tonne truck costs – and what you get for your money

You can buy yourself a new 3-tonne truck for just over R300,000 in South Africa.

This is the same price as a modern hatchback – although these large vehicles offer less in the comfort and features departments.

Where they stand out is in terms of size and the load they can carry, aiming them squarely at business owners and work-focussed users.

JAC N56

To provide a practical example of what an entry-level 3-tonne truck looks like in the country, we selected the JAC N56.

The company said the N56 is built to be the “best urban logistics solutions to transport operators across various industries”.

It packs a 2.8-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-diesel engine which produces 80kW and 240Nm, and sports an “easy-shifting” five-speed manual transmission.

This combination produces a fuel consumption figure of 8.5-litres per 100km in sub-urban environments, and an average combined-cycle fuel consumption figure of 10-litres per 100km.

“A trademark of the N-Series trucks is its excellent fuel economy across the range. The N56’s powertrain design ensures that peak torque is delivered at low revs, reducing the need for frequent gear shifting.”

The truck also features an exhaust braking system for improved stopping power, along with ABS, said the company.

Chassis

The chassis of the N56 uses a heavy-duty ladder-frame design which makes it rugged and lightweight, said JAC.

This allows the truck to offer a payload weight of 3,020kg – with its overall dimensions coming in at 5,995mm x 1,900mm x 2,330mm.

The load area then measures 4,230mm x 1,790mm x 400mm.

Inside the cabin there is space for a driver and two passengers, and the interior features a “neat, functionally designed” layout.

“An adjustable driver seat and wide steering wheel, which is fully rake-and-reach adjustable, make driving pleasurable,” said JAC.

“Electric windows, air-conditioning and a radio/MP3 player with Bluetooth functionality are standard features to contribute to a productive work environment.”

Pricing

South African pricing for the JAC N56 range is listed below.

• N56 Chassis Cab – R314,900
• N56 Dropside – R329,900

With this you will receive a 5-year/150,000km warranty and a 5-year/60,000km service plan.

Service intervals are every 10,000km.