The latest bakkies from the major manufacturers are powerful and refined, but they are also expensive. So, where should you turn if you’re looking for an affordable yet effective workhorse? These six bakkies offer a lot of bang for your buck.
The modern bakkie market is an interesting one. A top-spec double cab 4×4 now goes for around R600 000. And then you have the Amarok V6 and the upcoming Mercedes-Benz X-Class, which is pushing the bakkie market into proper premium territory. Once upon a time, a bakkie was an austere and tough workhorse built for daily work. Nowadays, a bakkie is as much a lifestyle vehicle as an SUV.
But, while the vehicles have changed, and a market undoubtedly exists for upmarket lifestyle bakkies, there are still loads of buyers who need an affordable workhorse. If you recoil at the thought of chucking building materials and plumbing equipment into the back of a R600 000 vehicle, here are six bakkies than can get the job done without breaking the bank.
Chinese heavyweight: 2013 Foton Tunland 2.8 Off-Road Luxury
The Foton Tunland is a large and well-equipped double cab bakkie. While its cabin is certainly basic, it has all the features you want, like a radio, air con and electric windows. More importantly, it is powered by a 2.8-litre Cummins engine that delivers 120kW of power and 360Nm of torque. So, while this is a Chinese product, it does have some well-known and respected technology behind it. And it does indeed seem as if the Tunland is robust and reliable. While doing research for this article, we found one for sale with 412 000km on the clock.
Overall, the Tunland is a reasonably good buy. Worth keeping in mind is the fact that after-sales support could be an issue, since this isn’t a massive brand locally. One of the big issues with Chinese vehicles is resale value, and while this is indeed a valid concern, it does mean that you can get some great second-hand buys. This is certainly the case with the Tunland, which is a bit of
a bargain at R189 900.
Price R189 900
Year 2013
Engine 2.8-litre Cummins turbodiesel
Power 120kW
Torque 360Nm
Mileage 55 000km
Transmission Five-speed manual
Drive 4×2
Service history Partial
Luxury bakkie: 2016 GWM Steed 5E 2.0VGT SX
Here is another interesting Chinese buy. This is the Steed 5E from GWM, a company that has been in South Africa for a decade and has built up a solid reputation. The 5E is similar to the standard Steed 5, but adds some comfort features, such as climate control and a fancy radio. Like the Tunland, it’s powered by a good oilburner, in this case a 2.0-litre mill that delivers 105kW of power and 305Nm of torque. While the Tunland is larger and more powerful (similar in both respects to a popular vehicle like the Hilux), the Steed is the more comfortable and refined. At R219 900, it’s rather pricey, but then again, it is a 2016 model with very low mileage and a full service history. It also benefits from the fact that GWM has a respectable dealer network in place.
If you’re looking for an affordable workhorse that’s plush enough to double as a family vehicle, the Steed 5E is worth looking at.
Price R219 900
Year 2016
Engine 2.0-litre turbodiesel
Power 105kW
Torque 305Nm
Mileage 34 590km
Transmission Six-speed manual
Drive 4×2
Service history Full franchise
Dependable workhorse: 2012 Mahindra Scorpio Pik-Up 2.2 CRDe
Few vehicles can compete with the Mahindra Scorpio Pik-Up in terms of value for money. It’s rough around the edges with a Spartan interior, but it is well priced and has a great reputation. The headline feature is its 2.2-litre mHawk oilburner, which delivers 89kW of power and 290Nm of torque. Sure, it’s not incredibly powerful, but it has a robust feel to it and can lug a heavy load when needed. Indeed, the Scorpio has a great old-school feel that appeals to many. While quite long, it’s a narrow vehicle with a high driving position, so it feels similar to driving an old Defender. The Scorpio is a quintessential workhorse.
Price R149 900
Year 2012
Engine: 2.2-litre mHawk turbodiesel
Power 89kW
Torque 290Nm
Mileage 95 221km
Transmission Five-speed manual
Drive 4×2
Service history Full franchise
Value for money: 2015 JMC Vigus 2.4TDCi 4WD SLX
Our third Chinese vehicle on this list is the JMC Vigus. Like the Foton Tunland, it has the size and dimensions of a modern mainstream double cab. It is large, quite stylish and well equipped. As with the other vehicles on this list so far, it lacks some refinement, but you get a lot of bakkie for your money. You get leather seats, a large touchscreen infotainment system, steering-wheel controls, electric windows and air conditioning. You even get a 4×4 system, which is something no other vehicle on the list has. Under the bonnet it has a 2.4-litre oilburner that delivers 88kW of power and 290Nm of torque. The most impressive thing about the Vigus, however, is the price. This example is R179 990, which is an excellent price. On the downside, you’re dealing with a relatively small brand that doesn’t have a massive presence in South Africa.
Price R179 900
Year 2015
Engine 2.4-litre turbodiesel
Power 88kW
Torque 290Nm
Mileage 42 500km
Transmission Five-speed manual
Drive 4×4
Service history Full franchise
Traditional choice: 2009 Ford Ranger 3.0TDCi Hi-Trail XLE
While these new bakkie contenders offer great value for money, many buyers instead opt for similarly priced vehicles from the more established brands. If you go for a more mainstream brand, though, it goes without saying that you won’t be getting the same amount of bakkie for your money. Generally speaking, you’ll need to settle for an older and more basic vehicle if you want to pay the same sort of price. A typical example is this 2009 Ford Ranger. It’s close to a decade old now, but looks to be in decent condition. You don’t get the same features as with the other bakkies here, but the cabin is still in an okay state, and you do get leather seats. The best thing about this bakkie, however, is its engine. The 3.0-litre TDCi engine is a lovely powerplant that is reliable and provides excellent torque. As you’d expect, it’s got a lot of kilometres on the clock (172 910km), but it has a full service history. Buying an old vehicle like this with a lot of mileage is a bit of a risk, but then again, so is investing in a vehicle from a company with a short track record. Moreover, some buyers just feel that a vehicle like this Ranger offers better performance and reliability, despite its age.
Price R199 990
Year 2009
Engine 3.0TDCi turbodiesel
Power 115kW
Torque 380Nm
Mileage 172 910km
Transmission Five-speed manual
Drive 4×2
Service history Full franchise
Old reliable: 2007 Toyota Hilux 3.0D-4D Raider
It’s worth ending this list by looking at the Toyota Hilux. The Hilux is phenomenally popular, has a reputation for being reliable and has an excellent resale value. So what sort of double cab Hilux can you get for R200 000? This 2007 3.0D-4D Raider is a good example. It has a great engine (that D-4D oilburner that develops 120kW of power and 343Nm of torque) and is still in reasonable condition. On the downside, it is more than a decade old, has 321 000km on the clock and only has a partial service history. But then again, it’s a Hilux, so someone will undoubtedly buy it at this price. The Hilux is a great new buy, but it is pricey on the second-hand market. It doesn’t offer the best value for money, but it has a great reputation and benefits from a large dealer network. For some,
the pros will undoubtedly outweigh the cons.
Price R199 999
Year 2007
Engine 3.0 D-4D turbodiesel
Power 120kW
Torque 343Nm
Mileage 321 000km
Transmission Five-speed manual
Drive 4×2
Service history Partial