Affordable new Foton double cab coming to South Africa this year – Details

The new Foton Tunland G7 is heading to South Africa and is penned in to arrive in the second quarter of 2024, the Chinese automaker announced.

The bakkie will be available as a diesel first and later on as a fully-electric model, too.

While Foton could not provide public pricing for the new Tunland just yet, a spokesperson for the brand told TopAuto that it will be positioned at the more affordable end of the market – think single-cab pricing for a 4×4 double cab.

This will put the G7 in competition with the likes of the GWM P-Series, JAC T8, and Mahindra Pik Up.

The Foton bakkie will be distributed in South Africa by Mandarin Parts Distributors (MPD), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Combined Motor Holdings (CMH).

According to managing director Marius Smal, the introduction of the new Tunland will also see MPD “offer special assistance to owners of older-generation Foton light commercial vehicles, further solidifying our commitment to customer satisfaction and support.”

What to expect

The local features of the new Tunland have yet to be announced but it is already sold in several other markets, which gives us a good indication of its potential offerings.

The bakkie’s engine bay is filled with a 2.0-litre, turbocharged diesel unit that generates 120kW and 390Nm and is paired to either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic gearbox.

Fuel economy for this drivetrain is listed at 7.4l/100km and it is capable of propelling the double cab to 100km/h in 10.68 seconds. Eco and Sport driving modes are also available at the click of a button.

Power is delivered to all four wheels via a time-sharing 4×4 system with 2H, 4H, and 4L settings, a rear-axle differential lock is fitted as standard, and the G7 boasts a maximum payload capacity of 1,100kg.

The Chinese bakkie measures 5,340mm long, 1,940mm wide, and 1,870mm high – slightly larger than the dimensions of the fan-favourite Toyota Hilux.

The Foton’s interior is luxurious for any segment and includes an 8-inch digital driver’s display, a 10.25-inch central touchscreen, a leather Sports steering wheel, electric seats, automatic airconditioning, and push-button start.

Depending on the market, it further comes with an array of safety and assistance equipment including lane-keep assistance with forward-collision warning, parking sensors, a 360-degree camera system, blind-spot detection, downhill assist, and six airbags.

The final South African specifications and pricing of the new Foton Tunland G7 will be announced at launch.