We review the Steed Pick-up from price to economy and all its features
CHINA is now the world’s biggest car market — selling more than 18MILLION last year.
To put that into context, it’s almost six million ahead of the previous world’s biggest market, America. UK sales for 2011 were 1.9million.
Big bargain ... the Steed Pick-up
But despite their booming market — which is expected to rise to 20million this year — Chinese firms are determined to crack the UK for kudos. And it would be foolish to laugh off another value-for-money Asian metal invasion.
Us Brits scoffed at the Japanese firms 40 years ago but now Toyota are the world’s top car manufacturer.
Not so long ago we also dismissed the Koreans, yet Hyundai/Kia are the fourth biggest-selling firm in the car world.
Now it’s the Chinese.
That has kicked off this week with the arrival of Great Wall Pick—Up Steed at Chathams in Edinburgh — the first fully Chinese passenger car to go on sale in the UK.
Chathams are experts in brand building — they were the first to stock Honda, Suzuki and Skoda in the UK in the 60s, 70s and 80s.
Great Wall is one of the few Chinese car companies in private ownership and they announced they were coming to the UK two years ago — we revealed the partnership in Scottish Sun Motors in November, 2010.
It’s taken some time but now International Motors, who already import Subaru and Isuzu to the UK, are official distrubutors.
So far, two models have been earmarked — the Steed and a city car concept called the Voleex C10.
Geely are also on the verge of bringing their cars to the UK — but already own Volvo. They started out making fridges in 1986, cars followed in 2001 but after incredibly rapid growth, they are now ready to enter a tough UK market.
The Emgrand EC7 hatchback will take on the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra, with a target price around £10,000.
Geely’s importer is also a familiar name — Coventry-based Manganese Bronze Holdings, which had production of its distinctive London Taxi cab moved from Coventry to China last year. It’s expected that ex-Rover dealers could stock the Geely models.
Shanghai Automotive Company are China’s largest volume car maker and they own MG cars which is based in the former Austin/British Leyland/Rover HQ in Longbridge, Birmingham.
The MG6 GT hatchback was launched in 2011, MG’s first all new car in sixteen years, which was joined by a saloon variant, the MG6 Magnette.
Despite having some development completed in the UK, the MG6 is mainly made in China.
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It’s been a slow start for sales although they had a good January with 167 sales. The MG3 and MG5 hatches are planned for later this year, an MG7 SUV-crossover for 2014 and MGTF-replacement roadster by 2016.
Finally, the Dongfeng Motor Corporation and Yuan Vehicle Co, are bringing small vans and trucks to the UK. DFSK UK’s move to import to this country is led by chairman Jim Tyrrell, who used to be managing director of the UK importer of Mitsubishi.
The small vans range starts from just £7,999.
Don’t have any doubts, Chinese cars are here to stay. They might lack of bit of quality and kudos but bargain basement prices will make up for that.
The Japanese and Koreans were laughing stocks when they started in the UK. Expect the Chinese to get the last laugh in a few years too.
First drive - Steed Pick-up
GREAT WALL might be a new name on our shores but they have been building Pick-Ups for almost 35 years in their native China.
That makes launching the brand in the UK with a tried and trusted vehicle a very clever move. They have sold more than 700,000 in China, making them the biggest SUV producer in their homeland. This Pick-Up, amusingly named the Wingle in China but called the V-Series in Australia, is already exported to 60 countries. It’s also been a success in Italy, the only other Euro market they have tried so far.
In the UK they will be imported by IM Group and the first to go on sale is at Chathams in Edinburgh — and we’ve had an exclusive first drive. It enters a sector where badge snobbery doesn’t really exist. That gives this new marque a fighting chance.
You might not think it’s the ideal time to launch a new manufacturer given the global economic crisis. But that is the greatest selling point.
This new Steed Pick-Up double cab costs just £13,998. That compares very favourably against the Toyota Hilux at £17,470, VW Amarok £18,995 and Mitsubishi L200 £19,498 — all excluding VAT.
Suddenly the Steed looks a very decent proposition for core Pick-Up buyers — construction workers and small business owners.
Perhaps the most striking aspect of the Steed is that it’s so huge. It feels like a big, brawn American monster truck. The driver and passenger’s leather seats are comfortable and, behind them, three more can sit in comfort. Then there’s the gigantic load space.
The plastics aren’t of the highest quality in terms of feel but they’ll stand the test of time. The dash is basic, but controls are well-placed and the dials are clear. There’s no doubt you’re driving something big. The steering and gearbox lack refinement. Great Wall claim the agricultural 2litre diesel does 34mpg and 220g/km — with performance to match their rivals’ 2.5litre outputs.
Producing 150bhp and around 310Nm of torque, it’s estimated the Steed will hit 60mph in 12.5 seconds and go on to a top speed of around 100mph. It has switchable two- and four-wheel-drive and I drove it round Knockhill’s tricky off-road circuit — and it coped comfortably. I drove the top spec Steed SE which gets air conditioning, a CD player, electric windows and mirrors fitted.
Optional extras on this test model included a hard top for the pick-up, side steps, chrome bull bar and a lockable compartment — but even this model starts at just £15,998 plus VAT. That’s still cheaper than anything on the market.
The Chinese car invasion is imminent and this is a perfect example of how they may exploit a cheap niche. This Great Wall is building for the future.
PHIL LANNING