Great Wall Motors (GWM) became the latest Chinese maker to bring cut-priced vehicles to South Africa when it launched its range of one-ton bakkies and SUVs in March 2006.
And I mean cut-priced; its single-cab 2.2-litre bakkie sells for R89 990 while the double-cab version reviewed here costs about the same as a single-cab pickup from Toyota, Ford or Nissan.
The GWM double-cab's R129 990 price tag buys you a four-door workhorse with a 2.2-litre petrol engine, air conditioning, remote central locking, leather seats, and even reverse park assist.
For many people that'll settle the argument right there, and they'll scoot off without needing to read any further to their nearest GWM dealership, of which there are currently 29 in South Africa with more to follow,
The question is, does cheap also mean nasty? After spending a week driving the GWM double cab the short answer is no.
It's a little rough around the edges, and drives and feels like a typical previous-generation workhorse. It's cruder and noisier than modern Japanese bakkies, which are becoming increasingly more refined and SUV-like.
But while it's not particularly sexy or smooth, neither is it a flimsy rattletrap; it and seems reasonably robust and well built.
It comes with tried and trusted mechanicals; its chassis and body are based on the previous-generation Isuzu KB while the drive train comes from the old Toyota Hilux.
GWM is marketing it as an alternative to buying a second-hand bakkie, but with zero kilometres on its odometer.
GWM SA managing director Henri Meistre said: "The buyer who previously would have to consider a two to three-year-old vehicle with all its unknowns and uncertainties can now move into the new-vehicle market."
GWMs come with a one-year or 60 000km warranty and a year's worth of roadside assistance.
The engine bay is occupied by Toyota's familiar 2.2-litre petrol engine, as already mentioned, but now fuel-injected instead of carburettor-fed, raising its output to a claimed 78kW.
That's mediocre compared to its rivals, but it's backed by a class-leading torque figure of 190Nm.
This is how it compares against its rivals:
- Ford Ranger 2.2 - 77kW/174Nm.
- Isuzu KB 200i - 88kW/174Nm.
- Mitsubishi Colt 2000i - 90kW/165Nm.
- Nissan Hardbody 2000i - 92kW/174Nm.
- Toyota Hilux 2.0 VVT-I - 100kW/182Nm
The four-cylinder engine pulls adequately for a workhorse, with respectable cruising ability on the open road and reasonable punch in the urban jungle. Its power delivery is fairly linear although the engine wants some revs before giving its best.
Our test vehicle averaged just under 11 litres/100km.
Noises and vibrations
There are noises and vibrations in the drive train which make the GWM feel like a bakkie from one or two generations ago. The notchy gearshift also doesn't like being hurried and grates when you attempt a quick shift, particularly into third.
The power-assisted steering is light but has lots of play; at higher speeds the bakkie tends to wander. Ride quality when unladen is choppy, like any workhorse with leaf-spring rear suspension.
The cabin also reveals the Chinese bakkie's older design. The fascia looks very previous-generation Hilux or KB, with sliding lever ventilation controls instead of the more convenient modern rotary switchesones.
And there's no reach-adjustment to the steering, so you have to sit in the orang-utan position (short legs, long arms). But leather bucket seats spruce it up to look less workhorse-like.
Multifunction mirror
It also has a radio/tape audio system, electric windows, and a multifunction rear-view mirror that has cabin and exterior temperature displays and a door-open warning light.
The reverse parking sensor beeps frantically when you're getting too close to an unsuspecting object, accompanied by a warning display in the mirror. Very James Bond for a bakkie, though surprisingly there's no clock in the cabin.
The rear bench is spacious enough for a couple of adult passengers but they won't be particularly comfortable as the low seat forces them to sit with their knees at about chest level.
The boxy workhorse styling has been spruced up with side running boards, colour-coded front bumper with fog lights and alloy rims.
The rubber-lined load bay is rated to take a full ton and the tailgate opens with a convenient central latch. It all feels quite solid and robust, and the Chinese bakkie gives the impression that it'll put in a few years of hard, honest labour.
VERDICT
Value for money? Yes, seemingly. There is of course a certain nervousness attached to a new player in the market as after-sales service and support are unknown quantities.
But the Isuzu and Toyota genealogy is a point in the GWM's favour.