Great Wall Wingle

Made in China’ has never meant so much in the last few years for motor industry. Every large motor manufacturer, including BMW and Mercedes have set their sights on this highly populated sub-continent to up their sales and increase marketshare. While they are looking in, China is looking at Africa as a growth area for affordable motor vehicles. The recent introduction of models like the Foton, Lifan, FAW and Gonow are a sign of what to expect. Things can only get better because now you can snap up a five-seater saloon like the Lifan (full with 520i label) for less than a million bob.

While the Chinese may be going for luxury European brands, here we are in need of affordable commercial vehicles to spur our economy. After driving  the Great Wall Wingle, I think the established motor industry will have to do more to wiggle out of the tight spot they will find themselves in when more Chinese automobiles grip the price-conscious Kenyan motorist.

Exterior
At first glance the Wingle has a classy macho look. The front end has been designed to showcase it’s sultry yet powerful nature. The deep bumper and large gapping air vent resembles the new Audi design language. The small fog lights seem misplaced in a large 4x4 workhorse but add to the class act that is playing out here. Everything about the design of the Wingle’s front end would fit perfectly unto an up-market saloon car. That should be a good thing. The long wheelbase of 3050mm means it should be a practical luggage mover. The aggressive front grill is split by body coloured registration plate holders. The headlight cluster houses two high-intensity lamps as well as the indicators. Chrome trimmings on the bonnet and side mirrors add to the visual appeal of the Wingle. The rear cargo space measures 1380 mm× 1460mm × 480mm which is ideal for a dual-purpose twin cab.  Large silver coloured wheel arches look rather nice and trendy. They also provide good clearance for the 16 inch tyres. As is now common in twin cabs, the third brake light also takes pride of place. Alloy rims add character and complete the exterior trim.

Interior
The driver’s space is more saloon than pickup in layout. It sits two with a generous holdall compartment between the seats. Headroom is sufficient and the adjustable seat makes it a breeze to achieve a comfortable driving position. The dashboard features, AC, headlight adjusters, power windows, its two-speaker CD player/FM radio is nothing to write home about but will do for now. Other features include cup holders, spacious glove compartment and an electronic side mirror adjustment. There is even a 12V outlet to charge your cell phone in addition to the cigarette lighter. Shifting between two and four-wheel drive is a simple button push away. The rear cabin is configured for two passengers though three can be accommodated in a pinch. No complaints from the knees department at the back as legroom is sufficient.

The engine
The Wingle is powered by a GW2.8TC diesel engine which is the first high pressure common-rail electrical direct injection diesel engine in China developed by Great Wall Motors. The four stroke engine has a maximum torque of 225Nm at 1800-2000 rpm with the Bosch common rail system ensuring a quieter ride. It has a claimed top speed of 140kph but without the benefit of safety technology like airbags and ABS, I was happy at 80kph because I really want to see my children grow.

The Ride
The engine growls in a satisfying manner when started. Revving it, you can feel the power of the 2.8l turbo diesel. They describe it has self creative power and promise that it will give you an exciting ride. You get the feeling that the 94 bhp is urging you forward, tempting you to floor your right foot. Large side mirrors provide a good view of vehicles eating your dust. The ride is characterised by a firm suspension that makes driving through potholes a delight. The 5-speed manual transmission engages obediently and smoothly. Charging around in the Wingle you feel immune to dilapidated roads. Indeed you feel tarmac roads are boring and some off road driving would be in order.

Overview
The Wingle provides power and comfort but has some niggles that you can’t help but see. A running board would have been a nice value-for-money add-on to ease embarking and disembarking considering the 194mm ground clearance. The Wingle is available in standard, luxury and super luxury trim. The main difference between them is the equipment onboard. Dual airbags and Antilock Braking System are only available in the super luxury variant. Getting into the back of Wingle it felt like the rear bumper was going to snap under my 85kilos. Not very reassuring.

If you are looking for a workhorse that can manage both urban and rural roads, the Wingle is worth looking into. If it is indeed in direct competition with the luxury models available in this market then it is a real bargain, but judging by the quality of interior finish and the omission of vital safety features, it has a great wall to climb before it can hope to worry the established Japanese brands.