MATCH-UP out


that may not appeal to the tastes of, well, Americans, but are ideal for local requirements and well in tune with modern trends towards frugality. One of these vehicles is the Gran Max. The name might seem exotic for a pick-up, but this is not your basic ho-hum bakkie… The front-end may look a trifl e


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AIHATSU excels in manufacturing compact and reliable vehicles


generic and less than substantial, but the rear aspect creates the impression of a hard worker. The Gran Max might seem cute and its 1,5-litre engine modest in terms of displacement, but don’t be fooled – this little number can take a major load and the powerplant’s gutsiness will surprise. Its gearshift positioning, for example, is “sporty” – right next to the non-adjustable, thin- rimmed steering wheel – and the cab can seat three occupants with relative ease. Visibility is generally good; a


boon for the sort of manoeuvring that bakkies are required to cope with. However, the rear window isn’t particularly big and doesn’t


FEATURES Airbags


– – –


Air-con –


Driver seat adjust Foglamps reach


Sat-nav –


LCV May 2011


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Audio system Cruise control radio/CD/MP3


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Folding rear seat Headlamps auto-on –


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Headlamp wash Isofi x anchorages Mirror dim (int) Park assist –


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Tyre sensors Upholstery Windows –


cloth manual –


Steering adjust Steering audio ctrl Trip computer –


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Wipers auto-on –


Daihatsu Gran Max Don't be fooled by its cuteness and small engine, the Gran Max performs its workhorse role with aplomb. Great value.


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Hyundai H100 2,6 Deck Bigger than the Grand Max, with a slightly better payload, more torque, higher price, but less power. The Hyundai has a few more basic features than the Gran Max.


Kia K2700 Workhorse This cousin to the H100 has similar specs and fea- tures. Like the H100, it is offered with a three-year service plan. The two Koreans have 60-litre fuel tanks for increased range.


Daihatsu Gran Max


price cyl/capac (cm³) power (kW/r/min) torque (N.m/r/min) gears/drive 0-100 km/h (secs) max speed (km/h) fuel index (L/100 km) payload (kg) serv/maint plan


R122 995 4/1 495 71/6 000 134/4 400 5/R 12,15 155 9,0 1 055 –


Hyundai H100 2,6 Deck


R159 900 4/2 607 58/4 000 170/2 200 5/R 21,2 est n/a 11,8 est 1 335 S5/60 000


Kia K2700 Workhorse


R158 995 4/2 665 62/4 150 175/2 400 5/R 21,2 est n/a 11,9 est 1 300 S3/60 000


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slide open either. The cloth seat upholstery is rudimentary with fl at cushions and upright backrests and the odd-looking headrests are bolted to the rear panel. That confi guration may prove uncomfortable for long journeys, but it’s acceptable for shorter trips. Despite the lack of steering wheel adjustment, the driving position is quite acceptable and the pedals, though offset to the left due to wheel arch intrusion, are reasonably positioned. Instrumentation consists of a


very large speedometer, supplemented by an analogue temperature gauge and a smaller digital fuel gauge plus odometer. Only one sunvisor is fi tted (on the driver’s side, fortunately) and the interior mirror has no dipping ability. Furthermore, the side mirrors can only be adjusted by winding down the windows and moving them by hand. This is


not really a problem for a commercial vehicle, but a more serious omission is the lack of interior storage space. All that’s on offer is a glove compartment and a handy pull-out cup holder to the right of the steering wheel. Door pockets and an overhead shelf are omitted too, but there is a small gap between the metal windscreen surround and the roof lining where a thin clipboard could be squeezed. The metal edge is sharp however, so this is by no means ideal. Other items on the list of unavailable features are a 12V outlet and air- conditioning, and you have to remove the face of the radio/CD player if you are nervous about security. Once you hit the road in the


Gran Max, snappy cog shifts are the order of the day, courtesy of an excellent synchromesh. Hydraulic power steering is fi tted although thanks to the vehicle’s


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