wtf, Where did the Tunland go?

Roger Waters in 2013
(Photo:.chicaconow.com)

Who is the strongest, who is the best
Who holds the aces, the East or the West
This is the crap our children are learning
But oh oh oh, the tide is turning
The tide is turning
oh oh oh, the tide is turning...

(Roger Water, from Radio Koas)

Because most of us have to compensate, we all it is important to know who is the strongest, who is the best, especially when it comes to our pickups. And the 4Q14 power comparison of the most affordable 4x4 doublecabs on sale in South Africa threw up two surprises.

The Navara's big diesel and low gear ratios are made to pull.

As two benchmarks, the strongest double cab 4x4s on sale in South Africa is Nissan's Navara V6 dCi, which makes 550 Nm, followed by Ford's 3,2 TDCi Ranger, which makes 470 Nm.

The third place on the power podium is where I had the first surprise.
For the past year and four moths, year, third place belonged to Foton's 2,8 Tunland, after I had in April 2013 tested the Tunland on a dyno. The 2,8 Cummins then made 379 Nm to stand proud as the most powerful bakkie from China -- a claim made all the more impressive because the 2,8 turbo diesel Cummins was officially supposed to make only 360 Nm. The is same Newtons as from the Land Rover Defender 130 Crew Cab and -- surprise -- the SsangYon Actyon Sports 2,0TD.
The current lists has the Tunland making a measly 280 Nm -- either clerical error or too many cluthces burned. The pee-arrs have since confirmed this is a clerical error, keeping the Tunland
as South Africa's third most powerful bakkie overall, closely followed by the SaangYong Actyon Sports as the most powerful "cheapie", in this category of the top 10th affordable bakkies list.

Top ten cheapest 4x4 double cabs in SA 

(Prices in ZAR, valid in 4Q14)

Xenon 3.0 TD 4x4 192,995 Steed 5 2,4i Mpi 4x4 239,900 Xenon 2.2 TD L 4x4 249,495 Scorpio 2.2 mHawk DE 4x4 266,995 Xenon XT 4x4 279,495 Actyon Sports 2,3 4x4 289,995 Mahindra Scorpio 2.2 mHawk DE 4x4 Adventure 298,995 Vigus 2,4 LX 4x4 355,990 Vigus 2,4 TD LX 4x4 355,990 Actyon Sports 2,0 4x4 359,995

The latest Chinese bakkie in SA, the JMC Vigus 2,4 TDi
(Photo:Jonathan Burton)

Then came...

The next weight lifting contenders are Toyota's diesel Hilux -- South Africa's best selling bakkie -- which makes 343 Nm from the 3,0 D-4D. The VW Amarok share this fourth spot with its 340 Nm.
Contending at the base of the power totem, South Africans have six strong options, either:
a Tata Xenon 2.2 TD, (320Nm) or the Xenon 3,0 (330Nm);
a Vigus 2,4 TD or Mahindra's 2.2 mHawk (290 Nm);
a Foton Tunland 2,8 ISF (280 Nm); or
a Vigus 2,4 petrol or a GWM Steed 2,4i MPi (200 Nm).