It was one of the most remarkable places we’ve ever been. You can give it hell, and it will still come back and ask for more. The GWM Steed is currently being tested by our Editor Cameron Smith. The second transfer lever for engaging low range is a traditional approach to 4X4ing and I found it more reassuring than pressing a button to engage low range and hoping for the best. 4×4 driving aids: None You need a proper 4×4 (with at least one differential locker) and experienced spotter, a decent amount of experience and a support vehicle. or Best Offer. 13 watching. We like: Handsome looks, fuel economy, leather trim and other nice-to-haves, We don’t like: Middling performance, minor finishes, basic safety spec, Click here to compare the specifications of the Foton Tunland, Ford Ranger and JMC Vigus, Double-cab 4x4s were a mainstay of the South African new vehicle market even before compact SUVs became de rigeur. The Foton is a sizeable bakkie, which is advantageous in terms of its spacious cabin and broad, deep loading area, the latter of which proved very practical when a Cars.co.za tester needed to move all his detritus during a recent house move. Foton Tunland: diff-lock makes a difference The Foton Tunland is another intriguing newcomer from China , but at R339 950 it isn’t as affordable as the GWM Steed and it doesn’t have diff-lock. In retrospect, taking the modified Tunland turned out to be the right call, because there’s simply no way the standard bakkie, or any other standard bakkie for that matter, would have coped with the climb back up. FOTON TUNLAND DOOR/BOOT/GATE LOCK LH REAR, DUAL CAB, 2012-2017. And so, attempt number three was successful as the Tunland’s low-rev torque and articulation and the grippy Coopers all combined to get the Foton – in spectacular fashion it must be said – up and over that rock. This forced us to go as far left as possible, right onto the edge of the path. However, the extreme exterior dimensions are disadvantageous when utilising the Tunland as an urban family vehicle. We’d be using a modified Foton Tunland, so we at least had the added benefit of internal combustion. You can connect a phone to make calls, but it doesn’t allow for audio playback.

Another thing to consider is the fuel tank.

You are responsible for your own safety. The tester that put the Tunland through its paces commented that although diff-lock (which is not fitted) would not have been required under the circumstances, the bakkie could benefit from a trifle more torque at low revs and that a shorter rear overhang would have been more ideal. Foton Tunland got stuck on the articulation obstacle. So we engaged low range, slapped the Tunland in first and let the engine do all the braking work. Dante did it and he walked.

It’s a good idea, because the information currently available on this pass is sketchy at best. The 5-speed transmission is notchy, especially from a cold start, and an extra ratio would undoubtedly be a boon on longer trips. Central locking, adjustable, energy-absorbing steering, as well as ABS and EBD braking systems come standard. The Toyota Hilux remains the benchmark bakkie. Having said that, the engine is tractable enough and even if Foton claims an average consumption of figure of 8.3 L/100 km for the 2.8 Double Cab 4x4 Luxury, the highest indicated figure we saw was 8.0 (it usually hovered in the 7s), which was most impressive.

Presumably constructed as an access road to a copper mine next to the Orange River in the 1950s, the pass is a rocky, nasty affair with big drop-offs. It has a two-litre engine with a six-speed, manual gearbox (the only six-speed manual in the test fleet) and comes with leather seats. It’s a good-looking car though (quite similar to the Hilux), as big as the other contenders and has a … Foton Tunland: diff-lock makes a difference The Foton Tunland is another intriguing newcomer from China, but at R339 950 it isn’t as affordable as the GWM Steed and it doesn’t have diff-lock. The cabin is spacious with comfortable leg- and headroom in the rear seats, so your passengers won’t feel cramped on long journeys. Read Part 1 of the Double cab shootout here. The Foton Tunland 2.8 Double Cab 4x4 Luxury retails for R409 995, which includes a 3-year warranty and 5-year service plan. There is a restaurant and bar next door at the main Protea Hotel. Those examples now cost in the mid-to-high R500k range — they still sell, but only to a fortunate, well-heeled clientele…. As for fuel consumption, it’s good news. But the fact remained: the obstacle required plenty of momentum, combined with extremely accurate aim and a relatively calm driver. The ‘road to hell’ we’re talking about here is not the more touristy road to ‘Die Hel’ in Gamkaskloof. Engine: 2.8-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged diesel

To that end, the Luxury comes with fog lights, running boards, colour-coded mirrors and door handles (the former with integrated indicator lenses, the latter amended by chrome accents), a chunky chrome-look roll bar, as well as a tonneau cover. Unfortunately, inflation has put paid to the idea that if you want a double-cab, you can buy a big-engined bakkie that can rival conventional passenger cars for luxury and trounce them in terms of off-road ability.