Foton 4x4 Offroad Tunland test and review
China's rate Tunland ute favorably against its rivals big names.
The budget ute market buds Down Under newcomers such as Chinese Foton built Tunland arrive to take stalwarts segment powered by a Cummins turbo-diesel and a mixture of components of domestic and imported powertrain, the Tunland offers a range of models price of 21990 and on road costs with an appropriate payload capacity of one ton, equipment levels and provided a surprisingly high standard of construction, the Tunland seems to have what it takes to face rivals big names provided that you ignore its ANCAP safety rating three stars.
It was fifty years ago, we all looked down our noses to new vehicles from Japan The Jap crap derogatory term was a common catch cry of those raised on a strict diet of American and British flavored pillars, built locally or other.
In the 1980s, it was the turn of Koreans and minor lesser degree European manufacturers who arrived in our established market with cheap and cheerful options for buyers on a budget the look now.
Since then, the models of these brands have grown to become established players Down Under, but today's new arrivals, India and China in particular, it's a familiar voice and non-acceptance that is strangely reminiscent critics once held for Toyota on the market.
As the automotive equivalent of a college hazing, these newcomers must earn their way especially in the rough and commercial dryer Justified or not, censorship brands as Foton China takes time to dissipate after all must be earned a good reputation, especially when it comes to tradies.
Which brings us to test drive this week Foton Tunland.
Look past the obtuse plate and find a vehicle that compares favorably with its competitors in big names, not least of all on the price and considering the brand is under 20 Foton was founded in Beijing in 1996, the Daimler Cummins held company has achieved much in a relatively short time.
The quality of construction Tunland stacks well against his Thai rival built from Ford, Holden, Isuzu, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Toyota and other welds of the ladder frame are clean much better than Indian source rivals recently sampled, while the cabin quality matches the best-selling Toyota Hilux and Nissan Navara.
driver ergonomics are well thought out, with primary and secondary controls reduce to easily reach There are grab handles on the A-pillars, which is a plus in my opinion, although the lack of a dead pedal is frustrating on more tips.
The weighting of the steering and pedals is appropriate, while the gear lever is mechanical, but said the hydraulic power steering is a little long in the rack, feeling similar to the Mitsubishi Triton s and provides a turning radius of 13 lefty 4 m.
The seats are adjustable through the usual beaches and the steering column allows a tilt adjustment only for a clear vision of the analog dashboard double concise dial Unfortunately, the meter accuracy is beyond the pale with genuine speed h to 92km recorded at 100 km h indicated.
The mixture of materials used in the cabin for two persons includes a regarded as a mixture of comfort and robustness steering wheel leather-bound is a nice touch, the cloth seats are cosseting and surfaces that could withstand the most wear floors such as door cards, console and upper dashboard are durable polyurethane He's screwed too, with no rough edges or ends usually found in vehicles at this price.
Foton HVAC system was just as admirable, with super-cold air conditioning making short work of a warm cabin air distribution is reasonably effective, too, but we found the recirculation function still leaves some fumes smoke vehicles before We also found the washer operation to be quiet and very efficient, and the scope of acceptable low beams, but perhaps not as good as the vehicles developed with Australian country roads to 'mind.
The only other real quibble comes from the poor reception of FM radio n The sound quality is not what you would call hot crash, either, and the Bluetooth phone system audio is low in spite of be a breeze to set up the trip computer is also basic, and unfortunately inaccurate display read 2L 9 100 km on the emptying of the tank 76 liters, we use actual calculated than 10 5 more a mixed town of week and highway driving.
It should be noted that 2 8 liter Cummins ISF engine was less than 700 kilometers to the old time of the test Turbo-diesel usually takes quite a few thousand kilometers to reproduce fuel consumption demands manufacturer 3L 8 100 ADR km combined, and we predict the Foton s will be no different.
The four-cylinder engine is managed by a fuel management system such as Bosch and most modern rivals has a high-pressure common rail direct injection delivery system outputs are estimated at 120 kW at 3600rpm and 360Nm of 1800-3000rpm They're reasonable numbers and nearly match those of three turbo-diesel HiLux liter 126kW 0 to 3600rpm and 343Nm from 1400-3400rpm.
In reality, however, we found the narrower torque band than was claimed the Tunland really needs to be on push to develop torque, we found the most accessible means 2100-3000rpm Thin duration of transmission Getrag five-speed is more frequently worked as lazy offers high torque as the Holden Colorado and Ford Ranger, while middle and high ratios are well suited to mixed duties, with low gearing range can -being too great for lugging load tasks.
Carrying 600 kg payload Tunland has a maximum rating of 1015 kg needed a few laps and a small slip of assisted hydraulic clutch to get out cleanly on the road, however, the distribution of reports and access to the couple they allow recorded unaffected performance, Tunland suffering only from poor calibration of gas that requires greater participation at higher road speeds as appropriate If Foton could find a six-speed tranny with a larger first speed, and an additional report on a sixth upper-driven increase the Tunland would probably feel more relaxed at each end of its operation.
Photon has a Borg-Warner transfer case and Dana diff at both ends in a limited slip rear the pushbutton driving system four-wheel drive works without fuss to the lower center stack, and together with the 200mm guard offers ground sufficient traction for off-road use, provided that s enough weight during the end of the back to maintain traction.
Like many in the segment, Tunland rolls on 16 inch steel wheels 245 with rubber 70 in the series, is stopped by the front disc and rear drum brakes and is suspended by a double wishbone suspension coil arrangement at the front and a live table sheet rocker axles under the tray 2400mm aluminum tray measures 1790mm wide long sides provide removable 250mm depth of the tray when in place.
With a guarantee of 100000 km of three years and three years of roadside assistance, Foton Tunland enjoys a similar level of after sales in its traditional competitors and offers service intervals of ten thousand kilometers of six months, but at the time of publication without service plan price ceiling was available.
It is also not available to commercial vehicles traction control or stability are not currently required by law to come with stability control and received ANCAP safety rating three stars at the last test in 2012.
It, however, have double airbags before, antilock brakes with electronic brake force distribution and adjustable seat belts in three points are currently no fastener to seat top tether child or ISOFIX available this means the Tunland not suitable for the transport of children under the age of four.
As an example of the new generation of vehicles often watching us much more in the coming years, it is nice to see the rapid development path up Tunland cases where security levels match the quality of construction the current model to the next generation, we see no reason why Foton won t be a day regarded as highly as brands once ostracized before her.
2015 Foton Tunland 4WD single price booth and specifications 24990 Price as tested, engine service chauffeur August 2 liter four-cylinder turbo diesel output 120kW 360Nm manual transmission five-speed Fuel 8 3L 100 km ADR combined CO2 NA Security Rating three star ANCAP.
Foton Tunland 2015 Review, Foton, tunland 2015.
Алегзандрия Нов. Юж. Уэльс 2015, Австралия