2016 Great Wall Steed review

What is it?

After a two-year absence from the Australian market, Great Wall has returned as a factory distributor with this all new dual-cab ute, the Steed, which features new styling, upgraded performance, increased safety and boasts a longer list of standard features.

How does it drive?

It's an improvement over the old model and when driven in isolation it is okay. However, when compared to latest-generation mainstream utes, the Great Wall is still several steps behind. The unladen ride is a little busy even on smoother roads; hit a decent bump and you know about it especially if you are a rear passenger. The steering isn't linear in its progression across the ratio; it's vague and slow off centre but then becomes faster at a point which then makes the steering a little too sharp and the vehicle becomes darty. As for performance, you will be able to keep up with traffic but for a diesel it is sluggish with a noticeable amount of turbo lag making it feel as though it lacks low-down grunt. Then, by the time the boost arrives it quickly runs out of revs and it's time to change gear on the notchy six-speed manual transmission.

What's the interior like?

It presents well and looks decent, with materials that are mostly hard plastics except for the top cover of the instrument panel which is faux leather as well as a small area on the door trim to rest your elbow. The front seats are heated and the driver's is electrically adjustable which sounds good on paper, but they are hard to sit on and have minimal bolstering, while the back seat is even harder with less support. There's a pretty good list of standard equipment for the money, including cruise control, auto lights and wipers, CD, USB and auxiliary inputs, Bluetooth and tyre pressure monitoring. The reversing camera and sat-nav fitted to our vehicle are a $1000 option but reversing sensors are standard. The headlight adjustment and instrument dimming controls are easy to get to, the doors have good-sized storage pockets and drink bottle holders and the glove box is adequate. The overall quality of the cabin is much better than previous Great Wall utes we've tested.

What's the payload and towing capacity?

Great Wall claims a total payload of 1010kg and a braked towing capacity of 2000kg.

What about load space dimensions and anchor points?

The tray is 1545mm long, 1460mm wide and 480mm deep. There are four tie-down points and the tub has a liner which is standard.

How does it perform under load?

Not as well as we hoped, as the engine struggled with our 600kg of weight. It's lack of bottom-end torque - at least until the turbo boosts up - makes it difficult to drive in some situations; get caught daydreaming when a hill arrives and you will be going back through the gears to try and maintain speed. Smaller bumps are dealt with, but it doesn't take much more for the Steed to bottom out or have the rear-end wallow around, and with the weight on board the steering feels even more disconnected. The brakes had a long and soft pedal feel that didn't inspire too much confidence when fully loaded - although they did the job. It handled the 600kg load, but some competitors can carry double the weight better and it's difficult to comprehend how it would handle its full 1010kg pay load.

Any special features worth mentioning?

It now has good standard safety features with six airbags - dual front, front side and full-length curtain bags protect passengers - and electronic stability control which includes hill-start assist. The Steed is lower than most 4x4 utes which makes loading easier.

Any criticisms?

There is a snarl/snore noise every time you change gear, which at first we thought was related to the engine intake but after spending more time in the ute we realised it came from the clutch or gearbox. It's unsure whether this was a characteristic in all vehicles or unique to our test vehicle, but it didn't seem right.  Also, the screen on the entertainment unit/camera is so hard to see during the day it's almost useless. It's 2000kg braked towing capacity is pretty poor by today's dual-cab standards. The traction control is very aggressively calibrated cutting power too early and for too long. 

How does the warranty and servicing costs rate?

Coverage is rated at three-years or 100,000km and there's three years of free roadside assistance available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year. Great Wall has yet to offer a capped price servicing scheme.

What else should I consider?

The Great Wall ute is currently the best ute at this bargain end of the segment against the likes of the Tata Xenon and Foton Tunland, but if you need a 4x4 dual-cab and can stretch the budget you will find better options and be better off in the long run. For example a base Mitsubishi 4x4 dual-cab Triton is currently $33,490 driveaway after a $2000 factory cash back offer or step back to a 4x2 and you can currently driveaway in a Mazda BT-50 dual cab for $34,990.

Verdict:

People buying this ute are buying to a budget and for under $30-grand it is a lot of car and looks like excellent value. But it is still a few steps behind the rest of the competition in terms of quality, presentation and performance. 

The Checklist

0-60km/h time: 8.1 seconds (unladen), 10.3 seconds (loaded)

0-80km/h time: 11.3 seconds (unladen), 14.9 seconds (loaded)

0-100km/h time: 17.2 seconds (unladen), 24.2 seconds (loaded)

Load testing weight: 600kg

Safety rating: Not yet tested

2016 Great Wall Steed Price and Specifications

Price: $29,990

On sale: Now

Engine: 2.0 litre four-cylinder turbo diesel

Power: 110kW at 4000rpm

Torque: 310Nm at 1800-2800rpm

Transmission: 6-speed manual

Fuel usage: 9L/100km (we averaged 9.5L/100km)