Review Great Wall SA220 and V240 2009

It's been a while, but the Chinese have finally entered the local market with the Ateco launch of two Utes made in China by off-road and off-road specialist Great Wall Motors. Both models have a double cab and they follow a very successful affordable price formula coupled with a long list of standard features that Ateco used to sell the Kia brand before the Koreans brought it back.

Ateco Managing Director Rick Hull was the driving force behind Kia's early success at the time, making the Kia Pregio one of our best selling vans, and now he's driving Great Wall Motors into Australia. It shouldn't come as a surprise, then, that Hull is using the same formula to sell Great Wall cars, and he's confident it will bring the same results for the Chinese brand as it did for Kia.

“We have no idea of taking the market by storm, it will be a gradual process, but I think it will be easier than with the Koreans,” Hill said. "Everything we buy now is made in China, so it's convenient for people to buy Chinese."

Options and prices

The three-model Great Wall ute range starts with the SA220, which is an older generation 4×2 car aimed at those who buy a used HiLux or similar model from one of ute's established brands, but who might be tempted by a new car with lots of fruit and a full guarantee for less than $20,000 on the road.

For those who want a vehicle that can be used for both weekend commuting and work, and that has plenty to spend but not necessarily enough to get a high-end double cab model from one of the established brands, there's the V240 , which comes in two and four wheel options.

The V240 is a later generation of double cabs than the SA220 and is more conveniently placed next to the current models of the major ute brands. It also follows the proven Hull formula at an affordable price with many standard features. The 4×2 costs $23,990 and the 4×4 costs $26,990.

Style and finish

Both models are neatly styled and fit comfortably into the local countryside. The build quality, while not quite up to par with the mainstream Thai manufacturers on the market, is quite good, with decent paintwork and good panel fit. Since the SA220 is an older generation, the plastics inside are hard and lack the thinness of later models, but they all fit together pretty well.

Surprisingly for a model at this end of the market, the seat upholstery is trimmed in leather, but Hull said it's cheaper to keep the leather than to have it removed at the factory, so SA220 buyers will enjoy the luxury of leather.

They can also enjoy standard air conditioning, four-speaker CD sound with MP3 compatibility, power windows and mirrors, cup holders and a center console. Unfortunately, they do not have airbag protection in case of an accident.

Driving SA220

The SA220 gets its power from a 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine delivering a modest 78kW at 4600rpm and 190Nm at 2400-2800rpm. It's not a fireball and lacks mid-range growl, but after a short drive it feels like it can handle traffic or off-highway traffic. Ateco claims the SA220 will return an average of 10.8L/100km. A five-speed manual is the only option available, and it's a decent unit with smooth, albeit rather long, gearshift travel.

The SA220 is based on a conventional ladder chassis with the familiar combination of a torsion bar front suspension and a rigid elliptical leaf spring rear axle. It rides comfortably, but with a bit of the harshness found on most solid-ton bikes.

The standard power steering is well weighted, yet gives the rider a good sense of the road. A combination of front ventilated discs and rear drums provides stopping power, but unfortunately anti-lock braking system (ABS) is not available. With a payload of 855 kg and a drawbar pull of 1800 kg, the SA220 is ready to go.

Driving V240

The transition from SA220 to V240 is a journey through time from one generation to the next. While the SA220 has been in production in China for a few years, the V240 is a relative newcomer and is much more advanced as a result.

The interior looks softer and more modern, the plastics are higher quality than in the SA220, and the fit and finish is better. As with the SA220, the V240 comes with a long list of standard features, including air conditioning, six-speaker CD sound, leather seats, cup holders, center console, power windows and mirrors, but no airbags or ABS braking.

Power is provided by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 100 kW at 5250 rpm and 200 Nm at 2500-3000 rpm. Compared to the older, smaller engine, the SA220 sees a substantial power jump, but the torque increase is only a modest 10Nm, and it also suffers from mid-range sluggishness. It's quite frisky on the track, and when it does start it rolls fine on the highway, but struggles a bit when asked to accelerate at mid-range. Hull said he expects the diesel engine to be available in the coming months and that should improve mid-range performance when it arrives.

Like the SA220, the only transmission option is a five-speed manual, but in the case of the V240, there is a choice between two or four wheels. All-wheel drive is part-time high and low range with a two-speed transfer case and is selected by pushing a button on the dash.

Down below is a ladder chassis with torsion bar front suspension and elliptical leaf springs at the rear, with a combination of front discs and rear drums. On the road, it rides more confidently than the SA220, but in no way does it cause discomfort. The V240 has a payload of 1000 kg and a pulling force of 2250 kg.

Warranty and dealer network

All three models in the Great Wall ute range are warranted for a period of three years or 100,000 kilometers, 24/48 roadside assistance is provided during the warranty period, and Ateco will provide a free rental car if the Great Wall ute is under repair for more than XNUMX hours. .

Ateco had more than 40 dealers assigned to serve Great Wall vehicles in all major hubs at launch, and Hull expects more to come in the coming months.