THEY say South Africa is bakkie mad. “They” must be right, either the buying public or the manufacturers must be mad. In 2024 we will have at least 14 brands of double cabs, and 20 models.
Then you have to add 2×4 or 4×4; petrol, diesel, hybrid or battery; manual or auto and up to three trim levels. Mmm. Could be 20 variants per brand in some cases next year. The Toyota Hilux double cab has 19 variants at the moment.
There could be a wide choice of 200 variants by next year across the double cab market, not including single and extended cabs.
Here is a list of brands with principal double cab models:
. Ford Ranger and Raptor
. Toyota Hilux, Land Cruiser 79 and possibly half-tonner in 2025
. Nissan Navara and possibly new NP200 (Oroch)
. Renault Oroch and possibly Alaskan
. Peugeot Landtrek
. GWM Steed 5 and P-series
. Mahindra Pik Up and new ScorpioN
. Mitsubishi Triton (New in 2024)
. JAC T9 gets Hunter derivative
. Ineos Quartermaster
. Isuzu D-Max
. Volkswagen Amarok and Transporter
. Mazda BT-50
. Jeep Gladiator
. Hyundai has a single-cab bakkie, but already sells a double-cab in the US.
. Suzuki has the Carry, a little single-cab workhorse.
Prices vary quite dramatically from R375 000 for a workhorse to R1,7 million for a fully-equipped luxury bundu basher. Leisure models start north of R700 000 and high performance versions are around a bar. Where are the days when a Toyota Hilux cost R150k? The year was 2010, not so very long ago.
The new models, either announced or launched, are:
Mitsubishi Triton
Gets a complete makeover and is larger, in line with new Navara and the others. Electronics and suspension have been upgraded.
Reports suggest that it gives the top sellers a good run for the money performance- wise and now looks more mainstream.
JAC T9
The halo model will be the Hunter, a plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) with a petrol engine producing 168 kW and 380Nm.
The 4×4 has a part-time AWD system with low-range mode. The nose is a bit, shall we say, sudden for me. As if BMW designers got involved perhaps.
Ineos Quartermaster
Is the bakkie version of the Grenadier and as such has a choice of BMW 3 L turbo- petrol or diesel mill. Centre diff-lock is standard, but front and rear locks are options.
This is an amazing vehicle but certainly not cheap.
Mahindra ScorpioN Bakkie
The new bakkie is to be available early next year, and will be based on the ScorpioN platform, probably with the 2,2L mHawk turbo-diesel engine.
Much more leisure orientated than the existing Mahindra bakkies, it too is more mainstream in looks and if it is as well conceptualised as the ScorpionN SUV, will be a serious contender.
Renault Oroch
The Oroch is a smaller bakkie which can carry 680kg on the back, tow 710 kg and has a ground clearance of 206mm. It is 4719mm long (155mm more than a Duster) and 1 821mm wide.
The loadbay is 1 175 mm wide by 1 350mm deep. It has the Stellantis 1.3L turbo-petrol three-pot that delivers 115kW and a solid 370Nm with either six-speed manual or CVT. AWD will be an option.
It may also be badged Nissan in our market, possibly NP200 to replace the outgoing model. It may also get a bigger sibling, the Alaskan. Although the Oroch is new to our market, they have been on the market in South America since 2015.
We will be getting the new version. It will have a niche all to itself.
If you are looking for a slightly smaller bakkie, like say the normal size 10 years ago, the Mahindra ScorpioN and GWM Steed 5 are worth looking at.
If you are hankering for a Datsun 1400-like mini truck, take the Renault Oroch for a spin when it gets here. You may be pleasantly surprised.
I was pleasantly surprised by the Landtrek quite recently and the Steed 5 a few years ago when I tested them.
The Karoo and other leisure versions of Mahindra’s Pik Up have been refined and tuned to be pleasant highway cruisers, and are worthy of serious consideration.
Have fun choosing your bakkie. Remember that some of the new players do know how to build good trucks, and buying the old brands is not necessarily being wise. That being said, peace of mind and good affordable spares availability are worth a bit of a premium.
