Steed 5 2.0 is the answer

WORKHORSE THAT REDEFINES THE NOTION OF VALUE

When GWM first debuted on the South African market 10 years ago, it comprehensively redefined the term “value for money”. Indeed, while the naysayers might have initially muttered darkly about this then-unknown Chinese brand, in the space of a decade GWM (now trading as Haval Motors South Africa) has sold well over 55 000 vehicles.

Along the way even its most vociferous critics have been silenced by the fact that these machines didn’t just boast purchase prices that made the competition seem, well, expensive, they also met and exceeded the highest expectations placed on them in terms of durability.

GWM vehicles initially gained traction in the South African market for their appetite for hard work, be it on the construction site or farm. And these roots haven’t been forgotten with the Steed 5 range of bakkies that have the same propensity for tough work.

There’s a quartet of hard-working Steed 5 Single Cabs to choose from, and all boast utterly unbeatable prices. But it’s the Steed 5 2.0 Single Cab 2.0 WGT 4X2 Workhorse that redefines the notion of “value”.

This machine is the most affordable turbodiesel pick-up on our market – but its affordability doesn’t mean compromises on anything from power to equipment. Under this never-say-die machine’s bonnet lives a proven, punchy 2.0-litre turbodiesel good for 78kW at 4 000rpm – and 225Nm of torque between 1 400 and 2 800rpm.

Useful indeed when it comes to serious load-lugging, which is something the 2.0 WGT revels in, with a payload of over one ton and a double-insulated load bed with several useful tie-down points. The load box itself measures a generous 2 280mm by 1 520mm by 460mm.

Other kit includes fog lamps front and rear, air-conditioning, power-steering, and rake-adjustable steering wheel. Comprehensive colour-coding and 16-inch steel wheels round off the package, while the interior space is generous.

It gets better. In the combined cycle the 2.0 WGT is said to consume just 8.1 litres of diesel per 100km. This not only goes a long way to lowering operating costs but is vital in this constrained economic climate where margins in business and agriculture are often slim.

But it’s the 2.0 WGT Workhorse’s price that is sure to impress most, at R179 900.

This is a 10th Anniversary Special price that represents a R20 000 saving. The package also includes a three-year/100 000km warranty and an optional service plan, while service intervals are every 15 000km. The Steed 5 range starts at just R149 900 for the Single Cab 2.2 Mpi 4x2 Workhorse.