Great Wall Motors, commonly referred to as GWM, entered the South African market some 7 years ago and has slowly been making inroads. Now, however, investments by the China-based headquarters, with a particular focus on rapid product development, are coming to the fore. Locally, the company’s growth in terms of infrastructure and people appears to be well managed to coincide with a strengthening vehicle portfolio emerging from China.
When I visited the Johannesburg International Motor Show back in 2011, the vehicles on display from the Chinese manufacturers stood out for their shortcomings: lack of quality, consistency and focus or direction. For one or more of these reasons, the demise of Chana in 2012 came as no surprise.
It would be foolish to paint all Chinese brands with the same brush, however, and although the sceptic within warns me to ‘approach with caution’, the realist in me knows that one or more Far Eastern manufacturers will eventually get it right. In 2013, GWM South Africa seems to be leading the charge, with the C20R spearheading a new product offensive.
The C20R is a ‘toughened up’ version of the GWM C10 sub-compact hatchback. The styling is easy on the eye, with the headlight units and grille blended to form an assertive ‘face’, together with deep fog light surrounds, air dam, as well as a faux scuff plate for a sense of robustness. Black trim surfaces that flow from the base of the bumpers, through the side skirts and around the wheel arches, add to the solid appearance. With 172 mm of ground clearance and short overhangs, the C20R also pulls off a stocky stance to back up its crossover pretensions.
The interior is where the C20R and GWM have raised the bar significantly from that of years gone by. From the doors and their rubber seals, to the switchgear and plastics, the C20R feels as solid as its exterior styling might suggest. The plastics are hard, but snuggly fitted and left no room for creeks or rattles during our test period. The radio/MP3/CD-player, ventilation and other controls, are all very simple to operate with a ‘no frills, no fuss’ appeal. Slightly larger door pockets and possibly another cup holder would be welcomed up front, but otherwise interior head and legroom are ample in a car that sits on a 2 460 mm wheelbase.
The seats are comfortable, offer adequate support and, while the driving position is acceptable, a reach adjustable steering wheel would do well to compliment the range of height adjustment available on the driver’s seat and steering column. The clutch pedal on our test unit also stood proud of the brake and accelerator, making gear shifts a little more cumbersome than necessary, although I’m told this pedal travel can be adjusted.
The C20R will seat four adults, with space reserved for a fifth and ideally smaller person in the centre of the rear bench seat. All passengers are strapped in with 3-point safety belts, while the driver and front passenger each benefit from the protection of an airbag in the case of an accident.
An anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) will help to prevent such ill fortune in the first place and ISOFIX child seat anchor points will ensure your pride and joy is where you left him or her once you’ve come to a stop.
The rear seats offer a refreshing range of adjustment in this segment too. From the inclination of the backrest, to the two-stage folding arrangement, as well as fore/aft adjustment, the C20R is able to offer anywhere from 300- to 1 100-litres of cargo space.
The 1.5-litre petrol engine is equipped with variable-valve timing (VVT) to help produce 77 kW at 6 000 r/min and 138 Nm of torque at 4 200 r/min. The naturally-aspirated 4-cylinder needs to be revved for best results and is a little noisy while doing so, but remains free of any undue vibrations. In addition, although GWM claim a kerb weight of just 1 120 kg for the C20R, the car feels a little heavier from a power-to-weight point of view, but even so, the speedo never disappointed.
The front wheels are driven via a 5-speed manual transmission, which is sufficient in its accuracy, if a little rubbery in its action. GWM claim an average fuel consumption figure of 7.7 l/100km, which isn’t unrealistic if you drive reservedly. While the power may be high up in the rev range, the delivery is a smooth one, as the VVT system works in a progressive manner.
The ride is a comfortable thanks to relatively soft spring and damper settings. The 172 mm ride height together with slightly longer suspension travel, mean the C20R doesn’t easily bottom-out over the countless urban obstacles such as speed bumps and ramps. Though offering a compliant ride, it doesn’t do the car any favours in the corners, where the higher centre of gravity becomes noticeable and the amount of body roll needs to be considered before ‘diving in’. That said, the C20R isn’t a car that inspires zealous driving, but it did inspire me to take a few of the roads less travelled through the Swartland.
On dirt, the additional ground clearance and suitably cushy 195/60 profile 16-inch wheels turned ruts, bumps and potholes into a series of non-events by small car standards. The supple suspension didn’t allow the car to be shuffled unduly off line over nasty bumps and, while some bobbing around was apparent at higher speeds, the little C20R behaved predictably, making it an agreeable sightseeing companion.
Overall it must be said that the GWM C20R has left me pleasantly surprised in the areas of fit and finish, interior and ride comfort, as well as specification. The cherry on top (no pun intended), is of course the R154 900 asking price and 3-year/45 000 km service plan.
What we like…
- A new level of solidity not previously associated with Chinese brands.
- A number of simple and functional value added features for the price.
- Versatile rear seat functionality.
What we would like…
- For the GWM to banish the smell of fresh epoxy.
- Reduced engine whine.
- Better quality plastic for the steering wheel, gear lever and handbrake.
| Quick Facts | |
| Base Price | R154 900 |
| Warranty | 3-Year/45 000km |
| Engine Capacity | 1 497 cm³ |
| No. Of Cylinders | 4-cylinders, In-line |
| Aspiration | Naturally Aspirated |
| Power | 77 kW @ 6 000 r/min |
| Torque | 138 Nm @ 4 200 r/min |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual |
| Drive type | Front-wheel drive |
| Acceleration | 0 – 100 km/h in 11.1 seconds (claimed) |
| Top Speed | 175 km/h (claimed) |
| Fuel Consumption | 7.7 l/100km (claimed / combined) |
| CO2 Emissions | 179 g/km (claimed / combined) |
