Up until very recently, it’s been China’s best keep secret: Great Wall produces excellent 4x4s and SUVs for rock-bottom prices.  Actually, it hasn’t been that much of a secret, given that this is China’s #1 selling SUV manufacturer and 4x4s from Great Wall’s daughter marque, Haval, have made very respectable showings in the Dakar rally, twice placing in the top ten.  Now in Australia, drivers who want a good drive without paying the earth for a whole bunch of extra odds and ends (which hardly ever get used and some of which you can get on your smartphone anyway) can make the most of the Great Wall X-Series.

To look at, the Great Wall X-Series has classic no-nonsense 4×4 looks, with nice high ground clearance emphasising the 17-inch alloy wheels.  The general looks are chunky without being boxy, possibly tending a little towards the bland side, but this may easily be on purpose.  The Great Wall X-Series is likely to be a hit with tradespeople who own small businesses, and the large expanses on the side make a great background canvas for any logos.  White is the obvious background choice, but blue, grey and black are the other paint colour options.  The Great Wall X-Series has a payload of 660 kg in the X200 and 475 kg in the X240.

The main decision you have to make if you decide that the back-to-basics ethos of the Great Wall X-Series is for you is whether you prefer the X240’s 2.4-L 4-cylinder petrol engine or the X200’s 2.0-L 4-cylinder diesel.  However, if you prefer an automatic transmission over a manual, then you will have to go with the X200, as the petrol variant only comes as a five-speed manual.  Of the two, the diesel engine is the better performer, as it beats its petrol-powered brother’s power output by 5 kW (diesel: 105 kW at 4000 rpm; petrol: 100 kW at 5250 rpm) and, as you would expect from a diesel, has a much higher maximum torque (diesel: 310 Nm; petrol: 200 Nm). Both engines have a flattish peak to the torque curve, with the petrol variant of the Great Wall X-Series seeing the torque peak in the mid-range at 2500–3000 rpm while the diesel has the low-down torque peaking where you want it to for towing throughout 1800–2800 rpm.  Speaking of towing, either variant of the Great Wall X-Series can tow 1700 kg (braked load) with ease.  And, of course, the Great Wall X-Series is a full-time four-paw for extra grip and off-roading ability.

The Great Wall X-Series is likely to appeal to the driver who likes things hands-on and prefers not to have a car that tries to think for itself with a bunch of driver aids that beep, buzz, flash and take over like some sort of robotic mother hen.  It does have power steering, it does have ABS brakes with EBD, it does have air-con and steering-wheel mounted controls, it does have keyless entry and it does have power mirrors.  It’s also got a nicely set out dash with a nicely visible display screen.  In the audio department, the Great Wall X-Series can handle CD and USB input as well as playing the radio.  It’s got enough tech to keep you happy but not too much.

In a lot of ways, this is the car that would be great for people learning to drive. Yes, you have to get used to turning your head to check the blind spot yourself, calculating your own following distance, and mastering the arts of parallel parking and backing all by yourself without cameras and sensors.  However, in the long run, this makes for a better driver sitting on the leather-trimmed seats of the Great Wall X-Series (or any other car), as responsibility for all driving comes ultimately down to the driver, not the car.  I’d certainly be happy about my teenagers learning to drive in the Great Wall X-Series and not just because it’s a big 4×4 that’s 1.73 m high and 4.65 m long.

From the passenger’s perspective, the Great Wall X-Series is nice and roomy all round and the amount of storage space is pretty generous (love the specialised drink bottle holder in the door and the glasses holder on the cabin roof!)  A sunroof is an extra option for either variant, which lets in extra light into the cabin, along with plenty of fresh air and the sounds of the great outdoors.  It’s a great vehicle for just getting on and doing the job, whether you’re on the road or off it, driving for work or driving for pleasure.

Great Wall’s presence in Australia is growing, so keep an eye out for a Great Wall X-Series on a road, beach, mud track or building site near you… or take it there yourself with one of your own!

Current model series include:

• Great Wall X-Series X240 4×4 Manual
• Great Wall X-Series X200 4×4 Manual
• Great Wall X-Series X200 4×4 Automatic

For any more information on the Great Wall X-Series, or for that matter any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181. If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quotes requests out to our national network of Great Wall dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours. Private Fleet – car buying made easy!