This myth about Chinese car’s safety is an old tired, cliché. Stru…
During the test drive, this all new beau introduced last year, displayed little body roll in corners, while its brakes performed efficiently. Yes, safety cannot be questioned on this China-made any longer.
Packed with 140kW of power at 5 500 rpm, plus 250Nm of torque, available between 2 800 rpm and 4 400 rpm, this 17-inch wheels alloy wheels also boast all-new eight-speed automatic transmission, which transfers the grunt and torque to the rear wheels.
City car, if you like but you may challenge my assertion.
The exterior comes with folding side mirrors, silver roof rails, dual-pipe exhausts and an electrically operated sunroof. Inside, it offers just about everything that can click or bang, not that any banging took place- LOL…
Adjustable leather seats, multi-function leather steering wheel, electrically operated windows and side mirrors, central locking, reading lights front and rear, map pockets, central floor storage and cup holders, a power outlet in the luggage compartment, a single disc CD player, MP3, plus a radio with six speakers and auxiliary ports, shows time and the length the manufacture went into investing resources and features.
As we took this SUV to Soweto for the Budweiser World Cup activation, it made my job easy to drive, complemented by its 5.3-metre turning radius, reversing camera and park distance control systems. As indicated on safety, it has dual front and side airbags.
Ours was not to drive it frugally, but an overall fuel consumption of 9.6 litres per 100 km was impressive.
We did have two problems with the new eight-speed transmission system. Generally, it performed up-shift and down-shifts smoothly and without fuss.
But it would, after being parked for a while, display symptoms of what we would in the past have called clutch slip, with the engine revving freely while waiting for the transmission to join activities.
We do not have the technical knowledge to figure out the cause, and it only occurred when first setting off on a journey, but it did not inspire confidence.
Secondly, while cruising on the highway on cruise control at 120 km/h at 2 000 rpm in eighth gear, the Landwind would discern an upward gradient change, gear-hunting, and get back to 120 km/h in sixth gear.
At such times, the body felt too heavy for the power plant, and one wondered if eight gears are not too many. But that’s for JMC to figure out.
Worth owning one- why not, we need that land and a bit of wind or kanjani?
All the Landwind 5 SUV vehicles come standard with a five-year/100 000 km service plan, a three-year/ 100 000 km warranty and 24- hour roadside assistance.
Verdict:
Performance (1-10) 4
Fuel (1-10) 3
Various model prices:
| Model | Price (R) | Emissions g/km |
| 2.0T Lux | R 241 990 | 201 |
| 2.0T Lux auto | R 272 880 | 201 |
| 2.0T Flagship auto | R 299 880 | 201 |
