November sees a global shift towards focussing on men’s health including mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer, supported by the widely popular Movember campaign. Movember sees men channel their inner Tom Selleck and cultivate their best moustache possible and in doing so creating awareness for this very important yet often overlooked cause.
While a moustache goes hand in hand with a Ferrari 308 as immortalised by Tom Selleck in Magnum PI, South African men prefer a bakkie and these are the six hottest prospects on the market today.
Toyota Hilux
It is impossible to have a conversation about bakkies without mentioning the Toyota Hilux. The Hilux nameplate has been SAs top selling vehicle for many years now and with good reason. The Hilux perfectly blends everyday useability with practicality and in doing so strikes a great balance between a workhorse and a leisure companion. The Toyota Hilux is also available in many different derivatives across three body shapes including single-cab, xtra-cab and double cab along with more leisure focussed models and derivatives that are designed to get the toughest jobs done, ensuring that there is a Hilux to meets every man’s desire or need.
The Toyota Hilux offers Japanese reliability and is economical to maintain through Toyota’s extensive dealer network and when it does come time to sell, a Hilux has one of the best resale values on the market, further adding to the value for money proposition.
Pricing starts at R361 700
Ford Ranger Raptor
The Americans coined the term trophy truck, for bakkies that feature ridiculous suspension travel and shock absorbers that are designed to smooth out undulations at speed. While these bespoke vehicles are designed purely for competition purposes such as competing in rally raid events and racing across the deserts and beaches of Mexico, the Ford Ranger Raptor offers a similar type of vehicle in a road legal package.
Ford’s Ranger Raptor is loosely based on their Ranger bakkie platform but features a variety of upgrades to transform it into an impressive off-road performer. The biggest change is underneath where the Ranger Raptor uses specially developed wishbones upfront, and a completely bespoke suspension set up at the rear to enhance off-road performance. This setup is paired with a set of Fox racing shock absorbers which ensure superior comfort and control when traversing rough terrain at speed.
Under the bonnet is a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 engine that boasts 292kW at 5650rpm and 583Nm at 3 500rpm and which ensures stonking performance both on road and off-road.
The beauty of the Raptor is that it allows drivers to experience a vehicle at the edge of its dynamic envelope at a relatively slow speed and in a safer, more controlled off-road environment than a traditional supercar.
Pricing starts at R1 184 100.
Nissan Navara
The Nissan Navara is one of a handful of bakkies that are built in South Africa and this built in South Africa for South African men stance offers a number of advantages for South African men.
Nissan recently expanded their Navara line up to include new double cab models with XE badging at the entry point into their range and in doing so they are making the Navara available to more South Africans.
XE models are available with the same engine as its counterparts, although it has been tuned for mid-level performance. In the Navara XE model this engine offers 120kW at 3 600rpm and 403Nm at 2 000rpm and is mated to a six-speed manual transmission paired to either a 4x2 or a 4x4 drivetrain that can be configured via in-cabin switching between 4x2, 4x4 High and 4x4 Low range modes.
Under the skin the Navara XE utilises leaf spring rear suspension, which is a departure from the coil spring set-up used in the rest of the Navara double cab range. This does however give the XE the ability to handle tough conditions and heavy loads with ease, as it boasts a load capacity of 1 148kg on 4x2 models and 1 067kg on 4x4 derivatives. Despite these changes the Navara XE boasts the same off-road credentials in terms of ground clearance, approach, departure and breakover angles as its siblings.
The addition of the XE models to the offering means that the Navara range is now one of the most comprehensive on the market, totalling 14 derivatives. The range starts with the newly launched entry-level XE models.
LE models now feature roof rails as standard while LE Plus derivatives feature premium options such as Nissan’s Intelligent Mobility suite.
The range topping Pro-2X (4x2) and Pro-4X (4x4) models offer top-tier performance and design and deliver the highest levels of comfort and safety along with unique paint options and design features.
Pricing starts at R493 600.
Mitsubishi Triton
Mitsubishi will finally be launching their all-new Triton in South Africa later this month and while the exact specification and model range is yet to be confirmed, this is what we know so far.
The Triton features an all-new modern design which is backed up by a completely redesigned interior.
The interior is classy and is finished with high quality, soft touch materials, detailed stitching and leather finishes. A black roof lining and piano black surfaces paired with aluminium further accentuate the switchgear. Physical buttons have been minimised with toggle switches for the controlling of major functions. The centre console houses a traditional automatic gear selector and rotary dial for the 4x4 system, a drive mode switch, hill descent control switch and a traditional handbrake.
Mitsubishi's well-known Super Select 4WD-II system and drive modes remain and the revised suspension setup retains a double wishbone structure for the front while the rear layout utilises a lighter leaf spring, together with thicker shock absorbers.
In other markets the new Triton is available with a newly developed clean-diesel engine which is offered in three different outputs. The high-output variant features a new turbocharger and combustion system that offers 150kW and 470Nm. Lower specification versions offer 135kW and 430Nm or 100kW and 330Nm, respectively. The Triton is equipped with either a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission. However we will have to see which options are made available to South Africans once the model is officially launched.
Pricing still to be announced.
GWM P500
GWM recently launched their P-Series P500 in South Africa as the brand aims to go after a slice of the high end bakkie market with a highly specced, luxury and uniquely designed model offering.
The P500 features a bold front design that includes a large grille and square, distinctive headlights. At the rear LED taillights with smoked black glass and a high mounted brake light add to the premium feel. The P500 has an imposing presence, in addition to the aggressive styling it also measures 5400mm nose to tail and is 1991mm wide, along with a wheelbase of 3350mm.
The interior offers extensive comfort and luxury along with attractive finishes and user-friendly high-tech advancements. A 12.3 or 14.6-inch, multimedia touchscreen takes centre stage in the cabin and facilitates access to the myriad of features, functions and settings.
Wide and thickly cushioned seats are covered in Nappa leather and driver and front passenger seats are electrically adjustable while also featuring heating and cooling as well as an eight-option massage function.
The sizeable exterior dimensions result in a particularly spacious cabin, which also translates into good space and comfort for rear seat passengers.
The new P500 will be offered with either the 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol self-charging hybrid or a new 2.4 litre turbodiesel powerplant.
The top of the range P500 HEV offers an impressive 255kW and 648Nm, paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard 4x4 capability across the range.
The P500 HEV’s intelligent hybrid drive system makes use of a 78kW and 268Nm electric motor and a 2.0-litre 180kW and 380Nm petrol engine resulting in the combined output of 255kW and 648Nm.
The P500 is also a fully capable 4x4, with selectable low range and front and rear diff locks, all of which can be electronically selected via switches on the centre binnacle.
Pricing starts at R799 900.
Volkswagen Amarok
The current generation Volkswagen Amarok is now also built in South Africa, in a joint venture with Ford.
The Volkswagen Amarok shares underpinnings with Ford’s Ranger, which is one of the most modern bakkies on the market today, but the German brand has ensured that their model retains Volkswagens standards for quality and styling which is why the Amarok is differentiated in terms of styling, engines and the interior, the result is an overall more premium package.
The front end is striking and features a very upright bonnet and clear Volkswagen brand DNA while the horizontal, upper radiator grille features crossbars that are concisely integrated and home to narrow LED headlights. Half round wheel arches that form a straight line are an Amarok characteristic that has been retained while the rear features a wide tailgate with embossed Amarok lettering that is framed by standard LED rear lights.
The Amarok is available with a variety of 2.0 and 3.0-litre TDI engines with outputs ranging from 110kW to 184kW and in single-cab and double-cab body shapes as well as a variety of models that either prioritise style or off-road driving ability.
Pricing starts at R599 000.
