As Chinese carmakers continue their rapid expansion into the South African car space, the country’s beloved 4×4 segment will have to contend with new entries looking to make a name for themselves with their attractive price tags and feature lists.
One such example is the new JAC T8, which is one of the most affordable double cabs in South Africa, yet offers an extensive list of talking points to bring up during any bakkie comparison.
At a starting price of R449,900, it will have to contend with another BRICS brand, GWM, and its popular P-Series, where the equivalent model retails for R444,650.
With so many double cabs to choose from in today’s market, it’s worth checking out exactly what China’s automakers are bringing to the table.
Performance
The JAC and the GWM are both powered by a 2.0-litre, turbocharged diesel engine, with the former having an output of 104kW and 320Nm, while the latter boasts a higher 120kW and 400Nm.
The tradeoff here is that while the P-Series is more powerful, it has a thirstier fuel consumption of 9.4l/100km, compared to the T8’s 7.8l/100km.
Both vehicles are available in 4×2 and 4×4 specifications, though regardless of your choice of brand and wheel layout, you can expect a six-speed manual gearbox to connect to the drivetrain.
As for their practical aspects, the JAC can carry 900kg in the back and tow 2,000kg, while the GWM can only manage 650kg in the rear tray and tow up to 1,375kg.
On the other hand, the P-Series has the higher ground clearance at 232mm, compared to the T8’s 220mm.
Features
Beginning with what you can expect from both bakkies, customers receive LED daytime running lights, side steps, multifunction steering wheel, manual aircon, USB and 12V ports, rear parking sensors, cruise control, a tyre-pressure monitoring system, ABS, rear parking sensors, hill start and descent control, traction control, and two airbags.
Items unique to the P-Series include 17-inch alloy rims, cloth seats, a 3.5-inch colour driver display, and a hands-free Bluetooth entertainment system.
The T8, on the other hand, gets xenon headlights, larger 18-inch alloys, a sunroof, leather upholstery, and a 9-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.+
Pricing
The South African pricing for the new JAC T8 is as follows:
- JAC T8 2.0CTi double cab Super Lux – R449,900
- JAC T8 2.0CTi double cab 4WD Super Lux – R499,900
This includes a 5-year/150,000km warranty and roadside assistance plan, and a 5-year/60,000km service plan.
The local pricing for the GWM P-Series is as follows:
- GWM P-Series 2.0TD double cab SX – R444,650
- GWM P-Series 2.0TD double cab SX 4×4 – R497,750
Each purchase comes with a 5-year/100,000km warranty and service plan.
JAC T8
GWM P-Series
Keyword: New JAC T8 vs GWM P-Series – R450,000 Chinese bakkie showdown