After a 10-year hiatus, Chinese manufacturer Jiangling Motors Corporation (JMC) has returned to South Africa with the budget beater Vigus Pro bakkie, writes The Citizen’s Charl Bosch.
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The JMC Vigus Pro range spans three models, a solitary single cab and two double cabs, both powered by different displacement versions of the earlier Ford Puma turbodiesel engine.
Opening the range up, the single cab only comes in one trim level, with drive going to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox.
No plans currently exist to offer it with an automatic box or four-wheel drive.
Up front, motivation comes from the Blue Oval’s 2,4ℓ oil-burner once used in the previous generation Land Rover Defender.
In the Vigus though, JMC has upped the engine’s power from 90kW to 103kW, but reduced the torque from 360Nm to 310Nm.
On the specification front, the single cab is equipped with 17” alloy wheels, a sports bar, LED daytime running lights, fog lamps and a rubberised load bin.
Inside, the list of creature comforts includes a multi function steering wheel, air-conditioning, 3,5” instrument cluster display and cruise control.
Safety and driver assistance systems consist of rear parking sensors, ABS and EBD, electronic stability programme and a driver’s side airbag.
Double cab
For the pair of double cabs, the Vigus swaps the 2,4ℓ engine for the newer 2ℓ mill that shares relations with the 2,2ℓ once used in the Ford Ranger and Mazda BT-50. Given its reduction in displacement, the unit develops 104kW/350Nm and is connected solely to an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
Compared to the single cab, the double cab’s added specification includes imitation leather seats, side-steps, paddle shifters, a passenger side airbag, reverse camera, and a 9,7” infotainment display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Solid in the dirt
Physical switchgear, thankfully, still dominates and while ergonomics are easy to fathom, the switch from left- to right-hand drive has seen the handbrake remain fixed on what is now the passenger’s side.
Given its price and intended segment focus, build quality, and fit-and-finish, no untoward noises were noticed during the off-road escapade on the media launch drive. Once switched to 4H and later, 4L, the Vigus easily negotiated the rutted and rocky uphill sections of the course.
The ride felt hard, with the result that the Vigus lacks the comfort of most newer legacy brand bakkies.
Steady flow of power
On-road with the two-wheel drive, the Ford-sourced engine is no firecracker and delivers a steady rather than earth-pounding flow of power.
Slightly unnerving was the whirring noise the engine emitted at low speeds, which can only be assumed is characteristic, and not a defect.
Despite its firm ride, the Vigus still felt planted on the road, which could possibility be attributed to the two-wheel drive having had different pressure compared to that of the four-wheel drive.
What’s the verdict?
The JMC Vigus Pro isn’t targeted at the upper-end legacy brand bakkies, or even the GWM P-Series, but the lower-end frequented by the GWM Steed, Mahindra Pik Up, Foton Tunland G7, and JAC T6 and T8.
It offers good value and, given the rapid rise in acceptance of especially Chinese bakkies, it is a real threat to the locally made Mahindra, as well as its other countrymen.
Pricing
Vigus 2.4D single cab R299 900
Vigus 2.0D double cab AT R439 900
Vigus 2.0D double cab 4×4 AT R499 900
Pricing includes a five-year/100 000km warranty, with three-year/50 000 km service plan included on the double cab, but optional on the single cab.
