200 Great Wall V2012 Review

Great Wall has overhauled the diesel XNUMXxXNUMX double cab (and SUV). And work makes it so much better. The first Great Wall poop was rough around the edges and looked strange in the frontal area - like a duck. 

This was fixed some time ago, and now the six-speed manual transmission has been improved in the 2.0-litre turbodiesel to an acceptable level comparable to its competitors.

An indirect, long flap that was too far away from the driver gave way to a much more precise mechanism. This makes a big difference to the driving experience. The engine has been tweaked to offer better response and fuel economy, but the slight reluctance to rev down when shifting gears is annoying. You can live with it with an eye to the purchase price. 

It has come a long way, and while not quite up to the level of "Japanese" Thai utes in terms of engine performance and sophistication, the current Great Wall is closer.

VALUE

And there is always a price to bear in mind. The twin-cab 4x4 diesel we rented sells for $27,990, tens of thousands less than an equivalent "Japanese" model with similar specs.

This makes a big difference in the monthly rental payment when you are a small business owner or fleet operator. That's why Great Wall members are marching out the door.

You get a lot of kit for the price, including alloy wheels, air conditioning, power windows, rear bumper with remote central locking, steering wheel audio controls, and leather upholstery to name a few goodies. Upgrade a Hilux or BT50 to that level, and by the time you get it on the road, it'll cost over $50.

DRIVING

The first GW ute steering was confusing, but this time it was fixed. If I were a Great Wall engineer, I would give the ute a much tighter turning circle to overtake other cars in the class, all of which turn like double-decker buses.

We rode a Great Wall 4x4 twin cab turbodiesel last week and it was interesting to mentally compare it to the first 2.4-litre petrol unit we drove a couple of years ago.

We found the car's ride to be good even without a load, and the power from the 2.0-litre engine was acceptable. Power and torque are rated at 105 kW/310 Nm respectively, while fuel consumption is rated at 8.3 l/100 km.

It's the same size as other monotoners, offers decent cargo space and a one-tonne payload. We couldn't take it off-road with us, but the 4x4 system offers a choice of high and low range 4WD and high range 2WD - a button selectable on the dash. 

The pulling force is two tons with braked trailer. Great Wall provides a three-year 100,000 km warranty with three years of technical roadside assistance. The car has not been crash tested but is equipped with dual front airbags and ABS. It wouldn't have gotten a five-star rating if it hadn't at least added more airbags and a stability control system.

Great Wall V200 diesel 4WD

Cost: from $ 27,990

Guarantee: 3 years, 100,000 km

Thirst: 8.3 l / 100 km; CO2 220 g / km

Accident Rating: 2 stars

Equipment: 2 airbags, ABS, EBD

Engine: 4-cylinder 2.0-liter. 105 kW/310 Nm

Transmission: Manual, 4X4 Dual Range.

Body: 4-door ute, 5 seats

Dimensions: Length 5040mm, width 1800mm, height 1730mm, wheelbase 3050mm, front/rear track 1515mm/1525mm

The weight: 2835kg

Tires: 16-inch alloy wheels

Spare: Full size (alloy)