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The new Foton Tunland is a mega ute for mini cash.
During my week of testing this new dual-cab behemoth from China, I had a neighborhood ask me “what type of Ram is that?”
You can simply see the resemblance. But once I defined to him that this was like a “much cheaper diesel-hybrid one – about a third of the cost of an actual Ram 1500”, I received a bemused look.
That’s the truth of this new Foton Tunland, although. Similar dimension to an enormous American pickup, however with a worth that’s arduous to fathom, given its sheer dimensions and the usual inclusions.
But is it good worth? Or is it low-cost? Let’s focus on that.
How a lot does the Foton Tunland value?
Here’s a rundown of the just-launched Foton Tunland vary, and it’s a peculiar lineup of merchandise.
| Model | Price earlier than on-road prices |
|---|---|
| 2026 Foton Tunland V7-C 4×2 | $39,990 |
| 2026 Foton Tunland V7-C 4×4 | $42,990 |
| 2026 Foton Tunland V9-L 4×4 | $45,990 |
| 2026 Foton Tunland V9-S 4×4 | $49,990 |
Why? Because the model has principally received two completely different trying vans with completely different rear suspension to swimsuit completely different wants.
The base grades – or the V7 line – are leaf-sprung on the again with a stay axle, and have greater than a tonne of payload capability.
The higher-spec variants – the V9 line examined right here – scores a classy multi-link rear with coil springs, which suggests they will’t carry as a lot, however meaning they might be a fringe advantages tax (FBT) win for patrons on the lookout for a lease car.
There is little question this can be a lot of truck for little cash, in comparison with a few of the decade-old utes in the marketplace that demand extra, provide much less, and are bodily lots smaller and fewer capacious for load-lugging.
It positions itself as a daring various to the (literal) massive boys on the market, and sure, you may purchase three of those for the worth of 1 US pickup. But you may additionally purchase considered one of these and nonetheless have change leftover when you’re contemplating most of the different Chinese choices, just like the GWM Cannon Alpha, MG U9 or LDV Terron 9.
It’s much more value-focused than some ageing challengers just like the KGM Musso, and in case you’re questioning… you’d be capable of get a 4×2 Toyota HiLux with rubber flooring, a plastic steering wheel, metal wheels and halogen lights for only a few grand greater than this!
But I observed some questionable components as quickly as I picked up the ute.
The paint? The worst I’ve seen on a brand new automobile for some time, with sufficient orange peel to make Con the Fruiterer wince. Press the panels, and it’s clear that the sheetmetal isn’t as thick and strong as another utes, both. It’s skinny, and I worry it’ll dent simply.
So perhaps that’s a method the prices have been constrained.
The actuality is, that is low-cost, however extraordinarily effectively loaded in the case of customary spec, as you’ll discover when you scroll down.
To see how the Foton Tunland strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability software
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What is the Foton Tunland like on the within?
The first impressions are superb. As quickly as you slide into this car, you are feeling such as you’re getting one thing that doesn’t value 45 grand, that’s for certain.
There’s a regular 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, which has a good bit of knowledge on the display screen. It appears as if perhaps it was impressed by Mercedes-Benz when it comes to the show and usefulness.
Then there’s the 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen, which incorporates wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, in addition to various built-in menus and controls.
I had just a few glitches with the software program, together with some fuzzy responses for CarPlay and some almost-freezes on the display screen when leaping between menus. It feels just like the processor perhaps isn’t as much as managing all of the work the display screen asks it to do.
There are a number of completely different settings that you may undergo on the display screen, from settings for the within and outdoors of the car, exterior lighting, driver help know-how, and extra.
There’s additionally a pair of drop-down menus – the highest left facet will get you to your security system settings and automobile controls, and the highest proper facet will pull you into the local weather settings.
There are various completely different drive modes, steering modes, and on-screen four-wheel drive controls. You even use the display screen to do the DPF regenerative burn cycle.
I had just a few points with the display screen additionally blasting the radio at me once I received again into the automobile, earlier than the system finally reconnected to my cellphone. So, there are some bugs that might be ironed out, and whereas there’s FM and AM, there isn’t a digital radio.
What the display screen does effectively is act as a show for the very clear surround-view digicam, which provides various completely different views – together with a 3D mode and clear-view, and the parking sensors will present you which of them a part of the ute is nearer to obstacles than it ought to be. There’s a full-screen digicam view mode, too.
Below the display screen there’s additionally various controls on your local weather system, and whereas I’m grateful there are buttons for all of the belongings you’d anticipate like fan pace, temperature and seat heating, the end may be very shiny, and displays in your eyes – making it arduous to see these icons at a look whenever you’re driving.
There’s a wi-fi cellphone charger under, with a canopy when you don’t wish to be distracted by your cellphone, good-sized air vents, and a set of bodily controls for off-road programs like hill-descent management, traction management, rear differential lock, and a 4×4 selector dial. Plus there’s a button to disable the engine cease/begin system, plus a quantity scroller.
The finishes are all a bit shiny and cheap trying, however I just like the chunky shifter, and the storage is effectively thought-out.
There are respectable sized cupholders with a slide-over tray, plus an enormous centre console bin with air flow to maintain snacks cool.
In entrance of the passenger is a glovebox, and there are massive pockets and trays within the doorways, with tender materials ending and configurable ambient lighting within the doorways so as to add some wow issue.
Back-seat area isn’t as massive as you’d assume, given the scale of this factor. I had the motive force’s seat set to my 182cm/6’0” place and I had sufficient kneeroom and good footroom, plus just a few inches of headroom – nevertheless it’s not cavernous.
The rear seat facilities are stable and embrace overhead lighting, seize handles, map pockets, bottle holders within the doorways, tender padding on the doorways, ambient lighting within the again, and twin adjustable rear air vents. There’s an armrest with cupholders, too.
There’s additionally an influence level with an inverter to energy digital gadgets, and USB ports as effectively.
The outboard seats function ISOFIX baby seat anchors and there are top-tether factors mounted down behind the seatback, relatively than simply that single top-tether you see in so many workhorse vans.
The seat base includes a helpful split-fold system to let you divide the area and use some for dry storage as required, and the backrest is a single-piece.
The jack and instruments are down there, however you’ll additionally discover the 48V lithium-ion battery pack in behind the seat.
As for the bathtub? It has a regular spray-in liner that’s sturdier than the plasticky slippery ones in another utes, and the scale are extraordinarily helpful for tradies and tryhards alike.
It measures up at 1577mm lengthy, 1650mm broad, 1240mm between the wheel-arches (making it Aussie pallet pleasant!), and 530mm deep.
There are just a few tie-down factors, and I actually like the actual fact the sports-bar/sail-plane part doesn’t impede you from accessing the tie-down on the headboard.
Under the physique of the Tunland is a metal spare wheel – full dimension, however not an identical alloy.
| Dimensions | Foton Tunland V9 |
|---|---|
| Length | 5617mm |
| Width | 2090mm |
| Height | 1955mm |
| Wheelbase | 3355mm |
| Tubsize | 1577mm |
| Tub width | 1650mm |
| Tub depth | 530mm |
To see how the Foton Tunland strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability software
What’s beneath the bonnet?
Like a higher-spec HiLux, it has a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that’s designed to help with clean restarting and operating the air-con/heating when the engine isn’t idling. It does an excellent job of that, and is clean in its operation.
| Specifications | Foton Tunland V9-L |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.0L turbo-diesel 4cyl with 48V mild-hybrid system |
| Power | 120kW @ 3600rpm |
| Torque | 450Nm @ 1500-2400rpm |
| Transmission | 8-speed auto |
| Drive kind | Four-wheel drive |
| Fuel economic system (claimed) | 8.1L/100km |
| Fuel economic system (as examined) | 9.3L/100km |
| CO2 emissions (claimed) | 211g/km |
| Fuel tank | 76L |
| Weight | 2315kg |
| Payload | 995kg |
| Braked towing capability | 3500kg |
| Gross car mass (GVM) | 3310kg |
| Gross mixture mass (GCM) | 6810kg |
It is value noting that the Foton co-developed engine program with Cummins – the truck engine builder! – continues for this unit, with the ‘Aucan’ diesel engine stated to be examined for ‘B10’ sturdiness. In different phrases, they reckon 9 out of 10 of those engines will exceed 500,000km.
And whenever you have a look at the numbers, you may see why – it appears that evidently, equally to Isuzu Ute – the model is making these engines low-stress, with comparatively modest outputs for a car of this dimension. That will be a difficulty, as I’ll focus on within the subsequent part.
But what about that gas use quantity? Is 8.0L/100km ok for a rig like this? Well, in my testing I noticed 9.3L/100km over a mixture of common day-to-day driving, with none off-roading or towing, nor any heavy load testing.
I’ll allow you to determine, however you should additionally recognise that this ute wants AdBlue – there’s a 12-litre tank, and it’s one other consumable you’ll have to contemplate in your operating prices and comfort calculations.
To see how the Foton Tunland strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability software
How does the Foton Tunland drive?
It’s an enormous dual-cab 4×4 pickup truck, nevertheless it doesn’t really feel prefer it.
In truth, my associate helped with some logistics, and he or she stated that “this doesn’t feel as huge as it is”, and “it was way easier to drive than I thought it would be!”.
That sums it up. This ute feels simpler to drive than the numbers counsel it ought to, and it drives higher than you may anticipate it’ll.
Full disclosure, I haven’t examined the leaf-sprung V7 mannequin, however the V9 with its coil-sprung rear-end felt effectively mannered in most conditions, particularly at greater speeds on the freeway, and on sooner flowing nation roads.
It nonetheless has a little bit of a agency rear when unladen, and the entrance suspension is woefully tender after an enormous compression like a highway gutter or pace hump, however for regular driving it’s an easygoing machine.
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The steering isn’t the final phrase in enjoyable or really feel, nevertheless it’s predictable sufficient, and whereas the turning circle – at 13.5 metres – is as massive as you’d assume it could be for a car with a wheelbase this lengthy, the lightness of the lower-speed motion makes it really feel nimbler than you’d assume.
There are just a few completely different steering weight settings you possibly can select from on the display screen, if you wish to fiddle with the texture.
But the powertrain is probably the largest consideration for consumers.
Urban driving? No worries. Easy executed.
There’s sufficient oomph from a standstill, it’s fairly quiet beneath throttle, and the gearbox is intelligent at managing progress, with clean shifts and little fuss.
The mild-hybrid system doesn’t interrupt issues a lot both, and the ute doesn’t shake violently to life when the engine restarts (although it does have an pointless chime every time it refires, which ought to be software program flashed out of existence).
The difficulty might be greater pace strikes the place you want all of the juice. It can really feel slower to react than different dual-cabs, and breathless when you’re actually asking the whole lot of it for an overtaking transfer on the freeway.
Be thought-about together with your expectations and it’ll get the job executed, nevertheless it’s not a firecracker.
This ute has four-wheel disc brakes, and the stopping energy is predictable and felt robust sufficient to me on my take a look at, however the precise pedal really feel is barely impacted by the regenerative braking system built-in into the hybrid setup (it’ll use that to assist enhance up the 48V battery).
Another sensitive topic? The security programs. But they’re truly higher built-in than different automobiles within the class, and simpler to disable when you don’t need them on.
For occasion, the pace signal recognition will go off and keep off when you disable it, whereas the lane-keeping system turns again on every time. I discovered it fouled my preferences a bit on the open highway, and likewise, the ahead distance warning system is fairly wanting to inform you that you simply’re tailgating, even when you’re not – plus the adaptive cruise leaves an enormous, cautious hole, even within the closest setting.
Again, total, I’ve to say I anticipated a worse expertise, contemplating the price.
| Off-road dimensions | Foton Tunland V9-L |
|---|---|
| Track entrance and rear | 1700mm |
| Ground clearance | 240mm |
| Approach angle | 28 levels |
| Departure angle | 26 levels |
| Ramp breakover angle | 21 levels |
| Wading depth | 700mm |
To see how the Foton Tunland strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability software
What do you get?
Here’s what that you must learn about the usual gear ranges within the new Foton Tunland vary, mannequin by mannequin.
2026 Foton Tunland V7-C 4×2 gear highlights:
- Spray-in tub liner
- Highway Terrain tyres
- Eco, Standard, Sport drive modes
- Electronic parking brake
- Auto maintain
- Automatic LED headlights
- Integrated dash-cam
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- 2 x entrance USB-A retailers
- 4-speaker sound system
- Single-zone air-conditioning
- 6-way manually adjustable driver’s seat
- 4-way manually adjustable passenger seat
The V7-C 4×4 provides:
- Four-wheel drive system
- Sand, Mud, Snow modes
- Locking rear differential
- All-terrain tyres
The V9-L 4×4 provides:
- Multi-link rear suspension
- ‘Premium’ facet steps
- ‘Premium’ 18-inch wheel design
- Sports bar
- Lockable tray
- Heated, power-folding exterior mirrors
- Heated entrance seats
- 6-way energy driver’s seat with 4-way lumbar
- 4-way energy passenger seat
- Dual-zone local weather management
- 6-speaker sound system
- 2x rear USB-A retailers
- 220V/300W energy outlet
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
The V9-S 4×4 provides:
- Locking entrance differential
- Roof rails
- Rear privateness glass
- Panoramic sunroof
- Ventilated entrance seats
- Driver seat reminiscence
- Heated outboard rear seats
- LED rear studying gentle
- Auto up/down for all energy home windows
To see how the Foton Tunland strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability software
Is the Foton Tunland secure?
There is not any ANCAP or Euro NCAP ranking for the Foton Tunland simply but.
Standard security gear throughout the vary consists of:
- Adaptive cruise management
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Pedestrian and bicycle owner detection
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Lane-keep help
- Lane centring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Surround-view digicam
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Safe exit warning
- Traffic signal recognition
The V9-S 4×4 additionally has a driver monitoring system.
All variations include eight airbags, consisting of twin entrance, front-side, entrance centre, driver’s knee, and full-length curtain airbag protection.
Fleet operators and companies will love the built-in dash-cam function, and all variations come customary with surround-view digicam know-how with a clear-view mode.
To see how the Foton Tunland strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability software
How a lot does the Foton Tunland value to run?
Foton is hitting the market with a powerful provide, on paper – the model is backing the Tunland ute with a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre guarantee for personal and enterprise clients.
| Servicing and Warranty | Foton Tunland |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 7 years, limitless kilometres |
| Roadside help | 7 years (conditional) |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
| Capped-price servicing | 7 years or 110,000km |
| Average annual service value | $641.80 |
| Total capped-price service value | $4492.59 |
There’s additionally a capped-price servicing program for seven years or 105,000km, with intervals pegged at 12 months/15,000km.
The present common servicing worth over that interval is on the upper facet, at $642 per service – however which will change.
There’s additionally a seven-year roadside help program, offering you service with Foton’s community of workshops.
To see how the Foton Tunland strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability software
CarExpert’s Take on the Foton Tunland V9-L
For the cash, this might be a high possibility for enterprise and personal consumers alike.
It’s removed from good, however you don’t get Sara Lee high quality when you’re shopping for Home Brand ice cream… so be reasonable about what you’re getting, and what you’re paying for it, and also you’ll be impressed.
Or you may go purchase a five-year-old HiLux with 150,000km on it for comparable cash. You determine.
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