It used to be said that the man who drives a Great Wall bakkie, doesn't own it - he works for the man who owns it. That's no longer true with the release of the GWM Steed 5 2.0 VGT double-cab on the South African market this week.
While still very competitive on pricing, this is no longer a basic workhorse, featuring as it does standard features such as leather upholstery, remote central locking, power windows and mirrors, a radio/CD/MP3 player with satellite controls on the steering wheel and individual bucket front seats.
The styling is also less boxy than previous GWM products, with a sloping front treatment and front foglights over 16” alloy rims.
Practical considerations are still there, however, in the shape of a double-skinned load box and built-in mud flaps.
Standard kit also includes dual front airbags and antilock braking with electronic brake-force distribution.
HEART OF THE MATTER
GWM's new bakkie also has a more sophisticated engine than previous offerings, a two-litre turbodiesel with dual overhead camshafts, common-rail fuel-injection and a variable-geometry turbocharger.
It's rated for 110kW at 4000rpm and 310Nm from 1800-2800rpm, and drives either the rear wheels or all four via a six-speed manual gearbox.
This engine - first seen in the H5 2.0 VGT SUV in 2011 - was developed entirely in-house, says Great Wall, and meets Euro 4 emission standards.
PRICES
Steed 5 2.0 VGT Double-Cab - R224 990.
Steed 5 2.0 VGT 4x4 Double-Cab - R242 990.
Prices a three-year or 100 000km warranty and two-years' 24-hour roadside assistance.