Aimed squarely at the thinning wallets of fleet owners and small business operators who need something tough on the road but light on the pocket, the new T8 2.0L CTi Comfort 4x2 double-cab from JAC Motors SA squeezes in at R349 900 to be the lowest cost double-cab on the market.
Karl-Heinz Göbel, the CEO of JAC Motors South Africa, says their bakkies have always kept ownership costs low thanks to fuel efficiency that owners notice every day. Göbel adds after nearly 10 years in South Africa, the company decided to introduce the new T8 Comfort derivative following detailed market research.
“It sits in the mid-R300 000 price bracket alongside the T6 2.0L CTi single cab, which starts at R299 900 including VAT, helping make the whole range more affordable.”
A varied selection of JAC T8 derivatives can be found right here
Under the bonnet, the T8 Comfort uses JAC’s 2,0-litre common-rail turbo diesel engine, which comes with an intercooler and an electric variable geometry turbo-charger that was added to the range in 2023. The same engine does duty in the T6 single cab, pushing out 104 kW at 3 600 r/min and 320 Nm between 1 600 r/min and 2 600 r/min.
A six-speed manual gearbox handles the shifting and average fuel consumption is claimed at 6,5 l/100 km, and with a 76 litre tank, the range works out to roughly 1 100 kilometres.
On the chassis side, the T8 comes with double wishbone front suspension and coil springs, which helps with handling and comfort while cutting down body roll. The rear gets leaf springs for durability and load support. The bakkie is built on a proper ladder frame with a rear integral bridge.
Wheelbase is 3 090 millimetres, ground clearance is 210 millimetres and the wide body measures 5 325 millimetres long, 1 880 millimetres wide, and 1 830 millimetres high. Payload is rated at 900 kilograms, and the load box is double skinned and corrosion resistant, measuring 1 520 by 1 520 by 470 millimetres, with four tie down hooks. Braked towing capacity is 2 000 kilograms.
Safety kit includes driver and passenger crash bags, traction control, vehicle dynamics control, electronic stability control and hill start hold control. There are also front and rear disc brakes, a four channel anti lock braking system, electronic brake force distribution, a brake override system, hydraulic brake assist and a tyre pressure monitoring system.
The T8 Comfort comes with an immobiliser, remote central locking with auto lock, child locks, electric mirrors, a high mounted stop light, LED tail lamps, fog lamps and rear parking sensors.
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Inside, the T8 Comfort gets hydraulic power steering, a leather bound multifunction steering wheel, an adjustable steering column, cruise control, air-conditioning and power windows. The seats are covered in durable leatherette, and the driver gets a one touch window. A multi information display shows key vehicle data, while Bluetooth, a radio and MP3 player, and six speakers keep people entertained. USB and 12 volt sockets live inside a closable centre console.
JAC Motors South Africa currently has more than 70 dealers across Southern Africa, covering Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique through independent partners.
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
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