IT is one of the quintessential debates around a South African braai: which bakkie really is better?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Is Toyota\u2019s sales-topping Hilux really the best, as the numbers suggest? What about the Ford Ranger? The Isuzu D-Max? Let\u2019s not forget the Mitsubishi Triton, the Mercedes-Benx X-Class, Nissan\u2019s Navara, Mahindra\u2019s Pik Up, Toyota\u2019s long-serving but popular Land Cruiser 79 and VW\u2019s Amarok.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now Leisure Wheels<\/span> magazine\u2019s 2020 Bakkie of the Year competition aims to finally find out which bakkie really is the best, using a comprehensive evaluation and scoring system. The new format is squarely aimed at the average bakkie consumer, and focuses on real-world, real-consumer needs and requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of measuring a frivolous 0-100km\/h acceleration time with a bakkie carrying no weight, the focus was rather on the in-gear acceleration performance of a bakkie carrying 500kg, as owners would typically encounter on the road when they have to overtake slower traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ditto with a braking test from 100-0km\/h, with a 500kg load. And a towing test, where each bakkie had to tow a loaded Bush Lapa off-road trailer, weighing just under 1 300kg, over the same route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Handling is an important element, too. All 10 bakkies were subjected to the ISO 3888-1 emergency lane change test, conducted by independent dynamic vehicle analyst Jakes Jacobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a challenging economic climate, fuel consumption is another vital ingredient. And again the focus was on real-world consumption. Each loaded bakkie completed exactly the same sequence at the Gerotek Vehicle Testing ground\u2019s high-speed oval: slow laps, fast laps, stop-and-go laps, and in-gear acceleration laps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The results obtained are what consumers can expect to achieve on their daily drives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Surveys were conducted for a selection of parts prices for each vehicle. Service, maintenance plans, warranties and service intervals also come into play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But buying a new vehicle is not only about data and numbers, it\u2019s an emotive choice. So a small panel of expert judges, including some of South Africa\u2019s top driving instructors, 4\u00d74 driving experts and a leading motoring journalist, evaluated all 10 vehicles over exactly the same 45km route. Later, they completed a 4\u00d74 track in all 10 bakkies, and scored the vehicles accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All the vehicles made a pit-stop at the Dastek headquarters in Tshwane, where they had a run on the company\u2019s dynamometers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe measured actual drivetrain loss in this test and it made for very interesting numbers,\u201d explains Leisure Wheels magazine\u2019s Danie Botha. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA manufacturer may claim its engine produces X amount of power but the actual power delivered to the driven wheels may vary quite a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat may be a stunning design for one person may be dreadful for another. So for the inaugural Bakkie of the Year competition we decided to focus less on subjective scoring, where personal preferences play a huge role,\u201d says Botha. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The winner of Leisure Wheels magazine\u2019s 2020 Bakkie of the Year will be announced early in 2020, once all the research elements have been completed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The bakkies are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n Ford Ranger 2.0 Bi-Turbo AT 4\u00d74 Wildtrak<\/b>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n Ford Ranger Raptor<\/b>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n Isuzu D-Max 3.0TD 4\u00d74 LX (manual)<\/b>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n Mahindra Pik Up S10 2.2CRDe Karoo edition<\/b>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n Mercedes-Benz X350d 4Matic Power<\/b>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n Mitsubishi Triton 2.4Di-D 4\u00d74 AT<\/b>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n Nissan Navara 2.3D 4\u00d74 AT Stealth<\/b>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n Toyota Hilux 2.8GD-6 4\u00d74 Legend 50 (manual)<\/b>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n Toyota Land Cruiser 79 4.5D4-D V8 Namib<\/b>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n VW Amarok 3.0TDI V6 4Motion Canyon<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" IT is one of the quintessential debates around a South African braai: which bakkie really is 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