Latest news with #GreatWallMotors'
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Automotive
- The Citizen
GWM P300 is hard to ignore when you are bakkie shopping
This improved double cab beats Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux and Nissan Navara in sprint race. A bakkie is a bakkie is a bakkie. Right? In most cases, yes. But when it comes to the leisure side of owning a bakkie, a bakkie is not always just a bakkie. In almost all cases it's a personal choice and not a business one. And this means your bakkie must do more than just haul goods. It must offer a high level of spec and comfort. It must be powerful enough to tow your toys around. And it must also look good parked in your driveway. Today's bragging rights go to the Great Wall Motors' updated P-Series bakkie, that now wears a GWM P300 badge. The model you see here is the top-of-the-range P300 2.4TD LTD 4×4. And in typical Chinese fashion, it has a ton of spec and is exceptionally well priced at R699 900. But we know that this does not automatically translate into a bakkie that you would want to own. Some Chinese bakkies offer even better value, but they are not pleasant to drive or live with on a daily basis. The GWM P300 2.4TD is not one of those bakkies! ALSO READ: VIDEO: GWM P300's tailgate makes it easy to climb on a bakkie New engine does the trick The starting point is probably the all-new 2.4-litre turbodiesel that has completely transformed this GWM P300 over the old 2.0-litre P-Series turbodiesel. The simple numbers of 135kW and 480Nm don't tell the full story. On paper it is outgunned by he 2.0-litre bi-turbo Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux 2.8-litre, and even Nissan's 2.5-litre Navara. It's out on the road where it is a different story. The P300 badge has replace the P-Series moniker. Picture: Mark Jones I know 0-100 km/h times are not the only ways the qualities of a bakkie should be measured. But every manufacturer on earth sets a 0-100 km/h benchmark time for their products. And here I can tell you that with a time of 10.85 seconds in The Citizen Motoring's test, the GWM P300 is quicker than the likes of a Ranger Wildtrak X, a Nissan Navara Pro-4X, and even the Toyota Hilux GR-S. It's only the Toyota Hilux GR-S that gets past the P300 after 100km/h, and this Toyota makes a proper 165kW. Where the GWM P300 continues to score highly is in that is offers an intelligent 4WD System that is equipped with Electronic Differential Locks, Off-Road Expert Mode, a Front Winch, and Crawl Control. Plus, a smooth shifting nine-speed automatic transmission for everyday convenience. ALSO READ: New P300 ups GWM's premium bakkie onslaught significantly more Loads of features A towing capacity of 3 500kg puts it on par with all its competitors. The suspension is double wishbone at the front and leaf spring rigid axle at the rear. Is it as smooth as say the Ranger? No. It's a bit firm, but it's streets ahead of the P-Series it replaces. Inside the GWM P300 there has been a step up in terms of quality and spec. Leather seats that are heated and ventilated up front, a heated leather steering wheel, and ambient lighting do duty. In front of you there is 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. A 7-inch digital instrument cluster that feeds you all the key driving info. Push-button start, wireless charging, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto complete the package. The cabin features lots of creature comforts. Picture: Mark Jones On the safety front with the P300 you have the likes of Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Keeping Assist & Lane Departure Warning, right down to Intelligent Cruise Assistance and various other Collision Avoidance Systems. With all this said, the GWM P300 2.4TD LTD DC 4×4 is impossible to ignore at R669 900. GWM P300 test results
TimesLIVE
20-06-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Updated Haval H6 pushes value agenda in crowded segment
A more 'bling' grille and snazzier headlamps for the revised H6. Image: Supplied It could be argued that the big turnaround point for Chinese cars in South Africa was ushered in by the 2021 Haval Jolion. Eurocentric design flair, a progressive cabin with decent materials, above average refinement and pricing that was hard to ignore, made the model a success for Great Wall Motors' (GWM) SUV brand. After the Jolion set expectations, a follow-up came in the form of the larger H6, which eyed a slice of the hugely competitive C-segment arena. Four years later the H6, much like the Jolion, continues to demonstrate its popularity. This week the Chinese carmaker released the updated H6 on local shores. We attended the launch in Cape Town. The manufacturer took the opportunity to remind us that GWM has been in business locally for 18 years, with an uninterrupted run, making it the oldest Chinese player in the Mzansi motor market. A reminder that Haval is one of many brands under the GWM umbrella, including the Tank, P-Series and Ora. According to brand executives, the H6 appeals to a demographic ranging in age from 30 to 50, with incomes ranging from R600k to R900k per annum. The brand describes the average H6 buyer as well-educated, opting to make their purchasing decisions on virtues of quality and value, rather than being driven by emotional impulse. So what can these rational, level-headed shoppers look forward to with the updated model? First up, the design. Note the trapezoidal grille with its glittering finish, revised headlamps with integrated daytime running lights, as well as the fitment of black 19" alloys across the board, using run-flat tyres. Gone is the integrated lightbar design at the rear, with individual tail lamps now deployed. The colour palette remains conservative, joined by a new Noble Gold launch colour resembling the colour of champagne. On the inside, black leatherette upholstery is the default hue. Look out for a thicker steering wheel, ambient lighting and a more simplified centre console design. There are larger screens on offer, ranging from 12.3" to 14.6". The old rotary gear selector inspired by Land Rover has been axed in favour of a column-mounted shifter, just like you would get in a Mercedes-Benz. The GT version of the H6 has a different visual identity, but also benefits from the same list of subtle stylistic and cabin enhancements as its regular counterpart. Rich specification has been a trump card of the H6 and the latest version appears to maintain that standard. A 50W wireless charger, panoramic roof, nine-speaker audio system, heated and ventilated seats, heated steering wheel, as well as semi-autonomous driving aids are among the list of goodies punted by the brand. There are 30 cabin storage spaces, while boot capacity is a commodious 560 l. There are three derivatives in the range, all using turbocharged petrol motors. We had a chance to spend time with each version. First up is the conventional 2.0 l model which has gained 20kW/60Nm over its predecessor, now taking things to 170kW/380Nm. It is linked to a nine-speed dual-clutch automatic. The model felt reasonably punchy, if not as potent as the on-paper figures suggested. It proved to deliver a pleasant cruising experience, though excessive tyre roar was noted at higher speeds down the quiet straight leading into Franschhoek Pass. We spent about 120km of seat time with this version, through traffic and mountain roads. Next up is the 1.5 l hybrid model, which has a combined output of 179kW/530Nm. We drove this for a brief 20km stint. Its range readout displayed an impressive estimate in excess of 900km. Performance from standstill was undeniably punchy and the handover between electric motor and engine was imperceptible. The GT plug-in hybrid model serves impressive outputs. Image: Supplied And then we had a short turn with the flagship of the H6 range, the electrified GT model, on a private circuit. Boasting rakish coupé-like lines, the model is armed with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. It also uses the 1.5 l but with a 35.4kWh battery and electric motor enabling a combined output of 321kW/762Nm. Haval claims a 0-100km/h sprint time of 4.9 seconds. The all-wheel drive GT plug-in hybrid is remarkably quiet and drama-free as it dashes off the line, without a hint of wheelspin. According to the brand, it can be driven on electric power for up to 180km, able to cruise at 120km/h in zero-emissions mode. The new H6 is served in Luxury, Super Luxury, Ultra Luxury and GT trims, with pricing kicking off at R495,500; topping out at R799,900 for the plug-in hybrid GT. A seven-year/200,000km warranty and seven-year/75,000km service plan is included. The hybrids get a separate eight-year/150,000km warranty for the associated high-voltage components. The H6 plays in a tough segment, with familiar favourites such as the Volkswagen Tiguan, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and Mazda CX-5. But there are also Chinese rivals such as the JMC-sourced Ford Territory and Chery Tiggo 8 Pro. As before, pricing for the H6 remains competitive. This, coupled with the fresh design and healthy list of amenities, should keep the model towards the top of shopping consumers' lists.
