The GWM P500 HEV Ultra Luxury 4x4 9AT is the 2024 South African ‘Bakkie of the Year’ (SABOTY) following extensive testing of the vehicles entered, with the winner announced at the NAMPO Cape exhibition in Bredasdorp recently.
Entrants in the four different categories were assessed in three distinct disciplines (4×4 driving and capability tests, off-road performance tests and towing performance on and off-road), the outcome delivered the first hybrid vehicle winner in the country and the first win by a Chinese manufacturer.
The new Great Wall Motors (GWM) P500 HEV Ultra Luxury 4x4 9AT, which was introduced in South Africa very recently, impressed the Bakkie of the Year jury teams, consisting of leading specialist motoring journalists and industry experts, with its high-quality interior, ultra-high specification level, comfortable on- and off-road ride performance, impressive handling dynamics and superior towing capability.
GWM's Conrad Groenewald with the spoils of victory
As with the inaugural competition last year, the entrants were divided into three categories based on engine power output (Category A from 100 kW to 125 kW, Category B from 126 kW to 160 kW, and Category C from 161 kW and above). However, this year another category – the specialist category for purpose-built 4x4 double-cab bakkies – was added.
In terms of the categories, the Foton Tunland G7 4x4 8AT TLX and Isuzu D-MAX 1.9 X-Rider 4x4 AT competed in the 100-125 kW class, the Ford Ranger 2.0 Bi-Turbo Tremor 4WD 10AT and GWM P500 2.4 9AT 4x4 Luxury in the 126-160 kW class, the GWM P500 HEV Yltra Luxury 4x4 9AT (hybrid) and RAM 1500 5.7 V8 HEMI Rebel 4x4 RHD (petrol) in the 161 kW to 200 kW plus class and the Jeep Gladiator Rubicon 3.6 V6 8AT (petrol) and RAM 2500 6,7-litre Laramie (diesel) in the Specialist class.
After rigorous evaluation in the different disciplines, all the points were tallied and audited (including the cost of ownership, as supplied by Lightstone and value for money in terms of retail price, warranties and service plans); and the winners of the different categories were decided:
Get your very own pristine pre-owned GWM P-Series model right here
100 – 125 kW category: Foton Tunland G7 4x4 8AT TLX
126 – 160 kW category: GWM P500 2.4T 9AT 4X4 Luxury
161 – 200+ kW category: GWM P500 HEV Ultra Luxury 4x4 9AT
Specialist category: Jeep Gladiator Rubicon 3.6 V6 8AT (petrol)
However, in terms of the lowest cost of ownership, the Isuzu D-MAX 1.9 X-Rider 4x4 AT was adjudged the best bakkie.
Jeep's product manager Janus van Rensuburg with the Rubicon
There are plenty of Jeep derivatives on our books - click here
All double cab 4x4 bakkies introduced locally from September 2023 to August this year were eligible for participation in this second annual Bakkie of the Year competition.
“While we would have liked to see representation from all the brands with eligible models, we did receive a credible list of entries this year, with interesting contestants, such as the two models from the highly pedigreed American brand RAM, as well as the first hybrid bakkie model available locally,” says Director and Convenor of the Bakkie of the Year competition, Dirk Gallowitz.
“Although the competition this year again was aimed primarily at double cab leisure bakkies, the new specialist category brought a new dimension to the contest, allowing for specifically designated bakkie derivatives to be entered,” Gallowitz added. “What this fascinating mix of models have showed, is how far and fast things have moved in the bakkie market, in only one year…”
All dynamic tests (acceleration and brake tests) were conducted back-to-back on the same road and captured with VBOX technology.
All measurements, including unloaded weight, wheel articulation, as well as approach, departure and breakover angles were taken, and here the Jeep shone, as can be expected of a bakkie developed for off-road purposes. However, its long wheelbase made crossing sharply angled obstacles tricky, while the RAM 1500 Rebel with its big standard tyres, easily dealt with any hurdle.
Remarkably, all the contenders proved very capable in off-road conditions, with the ride quality of the two GWM P500 models and the RAM 1500 Rebel a standout factor.
The towing tests – with a fully equipped Mobi Lodge Continental off-road caravan with a base weight of roughly 1,5 tons hooked to the towbar – was conducted in wild and windy conditions and here the huge RAM 2500 Laramie with its big 6,7-litre diesel engine excelled. Even so, the bakkies with smaller displacement engines such as the Isuzu and Foton held their own as none of them struggled to pull the 1,5-ton caravan even on uphill slopes.
Get your very own Ford Ranger Tremor just by clicking this link
In terms of dynamic handling, the Ranger Tremor made its mark in the standard double-lane and slalom tests, while the recently launched GWM P500 models as well as the RAM 1500 Rebel impressed with their high equipment levels in the interior as well as the exterior, and their superior ride quality over all kinds of terrain.
“For the evaluation, every conceivable aspect and feature a bakkie owner would consider, was taken into account,” says Gallowitz.
“With some 150 questions in total on the score sheet, not only are all the basic amenities and characteristics covered but factors such as cost of ownership is taken into account,” he added. “This includes cost of insurance cover, tyre replacement costs, fuel costs over time as well as deprecation in value over time. All this comes into play before the scores are tallied and checked, in order to determine the class winners, as well as the overall winner of Bakkie of the Year.”
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
proudly CHANGECARS
