by Rebaneilwe Semakane
Bakkies are a fan favorite in South Africa, and the more options there are to choose from, the merrier. We recently tested the GWM P-Series LTD 4×4, and although a Chinese bakkie is still relatively uncommon, it is not hard to see why we have a few gracing our roads.
On the exterior, this is a massive car – imposing and large in stature, with the black paint our test unit came in, making it even more menacing. The LTD was fitted with a snorkel that can assist when wading through water, 18-inch wheels, and a large front and rear steel bumper that adds to its very beastly look. The snorkel, however, decreases the noise insulation as you an hear it take in air whilst driving. If you are not keen on all that wind noise, I think you can omit the snorkel.
The interior is nothing short of being functional. You are met by a multifunction steering wheel, a 9-inch infotainment system screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a bunch of leather donning the cabin, giving the bakkie a more comfortable feel. The climate control menu and center console had a lot of grey buttons which mimicked a washing machine (I said it), so there is some sort of dated element to it. However, the P-Series is roomy on the inside, great storage space in terms of the door bins and cabby hole, and ergonomically it is laid out quite well. Compared to its rivals, it lags behind. The Isuzu D-Max and Toyota Hilux arguably also have dated interiors, but their saving grace is how they have managed to improve slightly over the years. The P-Series may need to kick it up a notch if they want to play in the highly congested bakkie segment.
The GWM P-Series is powered by a 2.0l turbocharged diesel powerplant that produces 120kW and 400Nm. Compared to other bakkies, these figures seem quite menial, and it shows. The P-Series is quite a heavy car to haul around, almost struggles to pull its own weight, overtaking is a chore and a half, and the turning circle could be better. Dare I say, it is underpowered. The ride quality is also not entirely up to par, perhaps this is a better-suited off-roader, but you do feel the bumps and dips on unpleasant surfaces.
Priced from R644 950, it seems to be the most affordable of the lot, and I think it could work as a regular workhorse, such as moving house or bulk grocery/agricultural goods purchasing. The Isuzu D-Max remains the champion of a value-for-money bakkie and still performs excellently on all fronts – fuel economy, drive and capability. GWM should work on the little bits that let this car down, other than that, it is such a superb effort.