Foton Tunland 4x4 Luxury 2013 Review

Name: Foton Tunland 4x4 Luxury 2013 Review
Brand: Foton

Cummins diesel engine heads list of quality parts in new Chinese ute

Foton Tunland 4x4 Luxury

What we liked
>> Large cabin and cargo tub
>> Performance of engine
>> Sharp pricing

Not so much
>> Equipment and features coming next year
>> Notchy gearbox
>> Still room for improvement

OVERVIEW

>> A new combatant in a tough battle

It’s been a long time coming but the Foton Tunland has arrived from China to be just the second Chinese one-tonne ute imported to Australia. Six months later than originally expected, the Tunland joins one of the most competitive new vehicle segments here; one that is currently led by the hot selling Toyota HiLux with daylight second and the likes of Nissan Navara, Holden Colorado, Ford Ranger fighting for the lower podium places while Volkswagen Amarok and Great Wall find new buyers. It’s among these lower players that we expect the Tunland to fight its battles.

Foton Automotive Australia (FAA) is using the Tunland’s large size and a cache of well known brand name mechanical components to ensure its point of difference in an ever-crowding segment and it’s a package that comes together well.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT

>> Performance at a price

Foton has launched the Tunland 4x4 in two specification levels it is calling Quality and Luxury and it’s the higher spec driven here. At $35,000 it is priced just $500 more than the lower spec but adds leather seat trim, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, higher quality audio system (with Bluetooth from early 2013) and defrosting exterior rear view mirrors. The 4x4 models cost $6500 more than the equivalent specification 4x2 variants.

All variants are well equipped with power windows including auto-up on the driver’s window; auto dimming interior rear view mirror; air conditioning; remote central locking; 16-inch alloy wheels including the spare; daytime running lights; rear fog lights; metallic paint; and a rear bumper bar all standard equipment. A monitor tells the driver the temperature and pressure of each individual tyre on the in-dash trip computer display and this is a great safety feature at this price point.

MECHANICAL

>> Big name brands should spell reliability

Any Chinese auto brand entering the Australian market will have to battle public perceptions of quality and Foton has partially countered this by sourcing its mechanical package from brands known for their quality and reliability. And while some of these components might be manufactured in China by their relative companies, they are not Chinese knock-offs as some will have you believe.

The Cummins ISF engine is a case in point. Made in a state-of-the-art factory alongside Foton’s Beijing headquarters, it is constructed using the best practices from the diesel engine specialist’s various plants around the world. The 2.8-litre, intercooled turbocharged diesel makes a modest 120kW at 3200rpm and 360Nm at just 1600rpm. It has that honest reliable feel of an old diesel that gets along without fuss and while not as sprightly as some newer technology engines it did the job in the unladen Tunland we drove. It can feel a bit flat below 2000rpm but wakes up above that. It feels its strongest when used in low range off road.

The five-speed gearbox from Getrag has ratios well matched to the engine and is the only transmission offered. The gate on this very low kilometre vehicle we drove was a bit stiff and notchy but we would expect this to loosen up a bit with use and familiarity. A six-speed ZF automatic transmission is another feature FAA is planning to introduce next year.

Adding to the brand names is a transfer case from Borg Warner in the 4x4 Tunland and axles from Dana including a limited-slip differential in the rear axle. Operation of the transfer case is electronic by using buttons on the dash and we had some trouble with the test car when it wouldn’t disengage from low range 4x4 after the off road section of the test drive. This required a wheel to be jacked up to release tension on the driveline before we could continue on in two-wheel-drive.

PACKAGING

>> A bold statement

The Tunland is a big ute and similar to the Mazda BT-50, Ford Ranger and VW Amarok in size. It’s 5310mm long and at 1580mm wide it’s 100mm wider than the Toyota HiLux – and this makes for a spacious cabin. Rear seat room is adequate and not as generous as some in the class. The fit and finish looks and feels good though the doors don’t close with a solid thud like those on a Ranger or Amarok. A smattering of faux-wood and chrome add some pizzazz to the interior.

Styling is always subjective but those who saw the Tunland on this day said they didn’t mind its looks. There are similarities to HiLux and Foton freely admits that it benchmarked Tunland against the market leader. Alloy wheels are a nice touch on both grades.

The 4x2 and 4x4 models share the same 210mm ground clearance and both have a metal protection plate under the engine.

Payload is 1000kg or above depending on specification, while towing capacity is an average 2.5-tonne figure, but again, FAA hopes to upgrade this specification next year to be more competitive.

SAFETY

>> Close but not five-star

While many of the recent arrivals in the ute class have achieved a five-star ANCAP safety rating the Tunland as we see it here won’t reach that goal. It will score four stars at best, but FAA is hoping the 2013 upgrades will raise its tally. Its shortfall comes primarily because there is no electronic stability control (ESP) offered, there are only two front airbags and no side or curtain SRS protection, and the centre position in the rear seat has only a two-point lap belt.

Anti-lock brakes are standard as are driver and passenger SRS airbags and seatbelt pretensioners with force limiters for the front seats. FAA spokesman Daniel Phelan says that side intrusion bars and all the structural necessities for a five-star rating are there. Phelan says he hoped to have electronic stability control, side airbags and the other required details to achieve a five-star rating at the time of launch but they are now expected mid-way through 2013. Also not on the cars yet, but coming early in 2013 are provisions for child seat anchorages in the rear of the cabin.

COMPETITORS

>> A tough market to crack

Sitting as it does smack in the middle of the ute segment in terms of pricing, the Tunland will have many competitors either side of it. From the Great Wall, Ssangyong Actyon and Mahindra double-cabs, to the new Holden Colorado and Isuzu D-Max, old players from Mitsubishi Triton, Toyota HiLux and Nissan Navara and the big Ranger, BT-50 and Amarok; it’s a crowded market and there are more Chinese players yet to arrive.

Foton’s pricing and its origins will have it competing at the bottom end of the segment, but its equipment level, size and price should see it steal buyers from established brands such as Mitsubishi, Holden, Isuzu and even Toyota.

ON THE ROAD

>> Ready for work and play

The Tunland felt big, with plenty of space up front in the cabin and wide visibility around the car. The Cummins engine sounded noisier than most but we suspect that was due more to a lack of sound deadening than the engine itself. The clutch action was light and it took up very high, which, along with the tight gearshift required a bit of getting used to. The power train pulled strongly through the Broadbeach traffic and out to the open roads of the Gold Coast Hinterland.

Many utes with a full one-tonne payload ride firmly with no weight in the tray and the Foton was no exception – getting jittery over high frequency bumps and sharp potholes. The steering was precise for a ute and the handling barely rated a mention. The ride felt better at lower speeds once we hit the gravel roads and the steep climb into the hills. The engine again felt strong on the ascents and the gear spacing was just right.

Low range 4x4 was selected as the track got steeper and more rutted and the engine felt better again in lower ratios as it kept the revs a bit higher while still allowing slow crawl speeds over the washed out sections of track. Good wheel travel from the leaf sprung rear end allowe the tyres to stay in touch with the track on the uneven ground and the limited slip rear diff ensured traction was never lost.

You couldn’t call the Tunland’s performance polished, although it did show potential for things to come once the full gamut of features and a bigger range arrives next year. FAA has possibly jumped the gun and released the Tunland too early, as it would be a far better option with a bit more refinement and the promised 2013 upgrades.

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Foton Tunland 4x4 Luxury 2013 Review

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