200 Great Wall X2012 Review

Great Wall is set to sell over 20,000 vehicles in this country, many of which were X200/240 SUVs. It sells for the price, but now there's a lot to recommend for the Chinese mid-size SUV.

VALUE

Still a bargain price, often up to $10,000 compared to similarly sized cars, the new powertrain gives the X200 much more appeal and starts at an enticing $28,990.

It is a five-seat turbodiesel SUV with on-demand XNUMXWD, four-star crash rating, leather, alloy wheels, climate control, air conditioning, Bluetooth phone, front and rear disc brakes, power windows and door locks, rain sensor. wipers and auto headlights and other goodies. 

Raise the price of something like the Nissan X-Trail to a similar level, and you're in for a good seat.

TECHNOLOGY

Topping the list of new attractions is the presence of a 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. The engine is a 2.0-liter turbo four with a maximum power of 105 kW and a torque of 310 Nm, the latter from 1800 rpm. 

Claimed fuel consumption is 9.2 liters per 100 km. The five-speed automatic transmission offers a sequential shift mode, and the drive is mainly through the front wheels, with the rear axle engaged as needed. The first X240 ran a 2.4-litre petrol engine with a manual transmission and was just fine. 

The diesel car is a game-changer for Great Wall as it takes the X200 into uncharted territory for the brand. Now it's knocking on the doors of its competitors, offering the turbo-diesel economy and strong mid-range throttle response, as well as the comfort and smoothness of driving a good (Korean) automatic. 

It also has on-demand all-wheel drive with 4WD lockout if you get into a slippery situation.

DRIVING

The X200 is built on the same ladder chassis as the Great Wall X240/200 ute, but you won't notice yourself driving down the road. The SUV has a much more compliant ride, lower noise level and better feel than the ute. 

The steering isn't quite where it should be, and depressing the accelerator causes some lag, so it's best to push it out of the way. The engine isn't as perfect as some, but it won't be annoying once you get it running. 

While the interior isn't as sleek as the competition, it's functional and the controls on the dash are easy to use. There is a capacious (expandable) cargo compartment and a full-size spare wheel under the floor. 

We like the look of the new X200 more than the first generation and it's almost comparable to something with a Japanese build plate. Like the diesel V200 we drove a couple of weeks ago, this new Great Wall is in many ways a big step up from earlier cars. 

VERDICT

Better ride, better look, better ride, better built. And, like ute, it's not far from full confrontation with its Japanese (and European) competitors. Let's hope Great Wall can keep a super-competitive price.

Great Wall X200 diesel

Cost: $28,990 per wheel.

Guarantee: 3 years, 100,000 km

Thirst: 9.2 l / 100 km; CO2 209 g / km

Accident Rating: 4 stars (This model has not been tested by ANCAP. The safety rating is based on the Great Wall X240 ANCAP rating) 

Equipment: 2 airbags, ABS, EBD

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

Transmission: 5-speed automatic. Selective all-wheel drive with single range, all-wheel drive with torque on demand.

Body: 4-door SUV, 5 seats

Dimensions: Length 4649 mm, width 1810 mm, height 1735 mm, wheelbase 2700 mm.

The weight: 2550kg

Tires: 17-inch alloy wheels