2024 SA Bakkie of the Year: ISUZU

We’re excited to share some fantastic news with you! The ISUZU D-MAX 1.9 X-RIDER 4x4 AT has been awarded the Lowest Cost of Ownership Bakkie honour in the 2024 SA Bakkie of the Year Competition. Delivering unmatched value, fuel efficiency and

affordable maintenance, another example of how we Go X-TRA for South Africans.

Established last year, the purpose of the annual competition is to evaluate and appraise specific requirements, as well as expected critical performance measurements, addressed and evaluated in a comprehensive, yet measurable, repeatable, and verifiable manner, in order to select the best bakkie introduced in that country in the specific year.

As with the inaugural competition last year, the entrants were divided into three categories based on engine power output (Category A from 100 kW to 125 kW, Category B from 126 kW to 160 kW, and Category C from 161 kW and above). However, this year another category – the specialist category for purpose-built 4×4 double-cab bakkies – was added.

After rigorous evaluation in the different disciplines, all the points were tallied and audited (including the cost of ownership, as supplied by Lightstone, and value for money in terms of retail price, warranties and service plans); and the winners of the different categories were decided:

100 – 125kW category: Foton Tunland G7 4×4 8AT TLX

126 – 160kW category: GWM P500 2.4T 9AT 4X4 Luxury

161 – 200+kW category: GWM P500 HEV Ultra Luxury 4×4 9AT

Specialist category: Jeep Gladiator Rubicon 3.6 V6 8AT (petrol)

However, in terms of the lowest cost of ownership, the Isuzu D-MAX 1.9 X-Rider 4×4 AT was adjudged the best bakkie.

All double cab 4×4 bakkies introduced locally from September 2023 to August this year were eligible for participation in this second annual Bakkie of the Year competition. This disqualified manufacturers such as Volkswagen (winner of the inaugural Bakkie of the Year competition with the Amarok PanAmericana 3.0 V6 TDI 4MOTION 10-speed auto), Mahindra, Mitsubishi, Nissan and Peugeot.

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