As motoring scribes we get to drive some fast and exotic machines, which are absolutely useless when the task at hand is fetching a piano! This was exactly the case a couple of weekends ago when there would have been no point having access to even a La-La supercar…
GWM as a company:
GWM’s foothold in South Africa is gaining momentum as this Chinese brand is opening dealerships thick and fast and its product line promises excellent value for money. This fact was also reaffirmed when I noticed all the Steed 5 bakkies running around – mostly doing heavy lifting.
Petrol engine:
The particular example I sampled, the GWM Steed 5 2,2 MPI, was fitted with a “new” 2,2-litre petrol unit. The reason for the hyphenation is that the unit is actually based on a Toyota 4Y engine from yesteryear but updated with the likes of fuel injection etc. It now delivers 78 kW and 190 N.m and endows the vehicle with refinement unrivalled at the price range – no clattering diesel noises or excessive vibration. It is so quiet at idle that I actually tried to restart a running engine during my tenure.
The downsides of this engine are a lack of torque, unwillingness to rev (redline is at 5 000 r/min) and fuel consumption. On our standard fuel run the Steed 5 returned a figure of 12,1 litres / 100 km (unfortunately no trip computer), which is not outrageous by petrol bakkie standards but is easily eclipsed by equivalent diesel powertrains.
Interior:
The cabin is by now a known quantity and places function over style. No soft plastics in sight and that infamous Chinese car smell is hard to ignore. The seats are covered with faux leather and are quite comfortable up front. Space in the rear is adequate but the upright rear backrest tends to become uncomfortable for passengers in there for any great length of time. The driving position is slightly compromised for taller drivers as there is no reach adjustment on the steering column. Air-con, electric windows and mirrors, and a radio/CD/MP3 player are among the standard features.
The ride:
On the move the ride is firm but it gets better as the pace picks up, making motorway cruising at the national limit a pleasant enough experience. The long-throw gearshift is positive with the gear lever mounted directly on the gearbox. The front suspension is a modern, double-wishbone design and the steering is via hydraulic rack and pinion. This combination provides good directional stability once the driver gets used to the lightness of the steering.
Braking:
Braking is a different story. We seldom get to test vehicles without ABS and during our routine ten stop test from 100 km/h, the experience was interesting to say the least. One has to re-calibrate your right foot as too much pressure will lock the front wheels and see your braking times lengthen in plumes of tyre smoke before the pedal can be released and repressed. Be gentle with the pedal and increase pressure to just before lock-up to achieve the best results – easier said than done if imminent doom is looming ahead. It is a pity that ABS is not standard requirement on all new vehicles today in the name of safety.
Summary:
Back to the task at hand, namely the piano. Four people were needed to lift it on the back of the Steed 5 which barely noticed the weight. Even while driving, the most noticeable difference was the sight of large percussion instrument in the rear view mirror rather than vehicle’s behaviour. This is where the Steed 5’s appeal lies in the fact that it’s not shy of hard work. In my opinion this is where the main market for these bakkies lies. Companies that need a fleet of vehicles to get the job done. Here the perennial “rather buy a second-hand vehicle than a new Chinese one” option is out of the question as it’s difficult to argue with and asking price of R176 500 for a brand new double-cab bakkie. The three-year, 100 000 km warranty only sweetens the deal.
Specifications
Model: GWM Steed 5 DC 4×2
Price: R176 900
Engine: 2,2-litre, four-cylinder petrol
Power: 78 kW at 4 600 r/min
Torque: 190 N.m at 2 400 – 2 800 r/min
Transmission: 5-speed manual
0-100 km/h: 18,19 seconds
Top speed: n/a km/h
Fuel consumption: 10,2 L/100 km
CO2: n/a
