GWM Adds P-Series LTD to Local Range
The P-Series has set the bar high for Chinese manufacturer GWM as a bakkie that is impressive enough to change our perception towards Chinese vehicles since its introduction in 2020.
When it arrived, the P-Series immediately offered a lot of standard equipment for less money and, at the same time, a benchmark for budget bakkies in SA, but it lacked a rugged model for those seeking to take some time off the tarmac.
GWM has found a solution by introducing the P-Series LTD, which slots above the LS and LT trim levels.
Rugged-ready
Aesthetically, it looks ready for action, and GWM has added off-road bits and pieces to make the LTD look rugged, thanks to a black sports bar, off-road steel front and rear bumpers as well as assertive off-road wheel arches that are home to 18" gloss black sports alloys wrapped in all-terrain rubbers.
Other LTD-specific features include body colour door handles and mirrors, a black roof rail, a snorkel, a front winch that can pull up to 4.2 tonnes as well as a 12-Volt accessory connector in the engine bay and a 120-Watt, 220-V socket in the load bay.
Updated off-road drive
What stands out, though, is the P-Series LTD's employment of a newly-developed four-wheel-drive system that incorporates driving modes such as 2H, 4H, Snow, Mud, Sand and 4L instead of the torque-on-demand system. Interestingly, the system has what GWM calls Cross-Country Expert Mode and Drive Mode Memory, which links to both front and rear diff locks.
Though a model of the LTD's calibre should come with a bespoke interior setup, it pretty much remains unchanged, and you still get the same 7" LCD driver display, 9" infotainment system, a wireless charging pad, a total of three USB ports and a 360-degree camera.
The clincher here is that the P-Series LTD still utilises the same 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine as its counterparts with 120 kW and 400 Nm, whereas other bakkies playing in the same league sit closer to 150 kW and 450 Nm or more for that matter. If we're honest, the 2.0-litre engine is ultimately not enough to dynamically haul the 2.1-tonne behemoth.
Not a bugger enough? Well, it sits behind with a towing capacity of 3,000 kg while the default for competitors such as the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger XLT, to name a few, are rated at 3,500 kg.
In its defence, it has a slick-shifting ZF 8-speed automatic gearbox that delivers linear shove and is priced competitively at R694,950.
That said, it offers compelling value and ownership credentials that have always been associated with Chinese cars, and if it possesses the same qualities as its counterparts, it's definitely worth a look.
The pricing includes a standard 5-year/100,000 km warranty and service plan, and 5-year unlimited mileage Roadside assistance.
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