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MOTORING

Watch our video review
of the Landwind 5 here:
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=75IHQ2ZBw8k
LANDWIND 5 All versions share the same 2L turbo

petrol engine pushing out 140kW and
250Nm, respectable numbers. The
Flagship has an 8-speed automatic

version gives the choice between the
BY ALAN ROSENMEYER transmission, although the lower Lux
auto and the 6-speed manual. Here I
must repeat my personal preference for
The Landwind 5 Flagship SUV is spacious inside auto boxes, especially in SUVs.
and provides excellent luggage space as well. The engine is smooth, with the
reservation that you MUST be aware of
turbo lag, so overtaking must allow for
this factor. As for the auto box, it is a bit
sticky when cold but very smooth once
alue for money is an extremely warmed up. Probably due to the gearing,
relative concept and never more the box does tend to hunt between gears
Vapparent than in the motoring when cruising at our national speed limit.
world. Not only are prospective buyers
faced with a plethora of choice in the As the Flagship model, the test car
market, but the price ranges are equally is loaded with standard luxury spec
mind-boggling. including items like leather interior with
electric adjustment on both front seats,
As always, it has taken the Chinese sunroof, cruise control, auto-folding
manufacturers to return some sanity to mirrors and (optional) touchscreen
our world with products that certainly including navigation and reverse camera.
do meet the value criteria. There have On the safety front, you get 4 airbags
been a few false starts in SA with some plus ABS and EBD plus ESP.
brands arriving with, simply put, sub-
par products and, even worse, sub-par On the road, the very spacious SUV
service and back up. In many of these provides space for 5 plus a very large
cases, the market speaks and the brands boot for family holidays and, barring the
concerned have disappeared with their gearbox hunting, will cruise comfortably
tails between their legs. all day long.
On the positive side, there are a few brands In summary, although there may be a bit
that have established themselves and are of hard plastic evident on the dashboard,
very quickly building reputations for solid at the end of the day it’s all about value
offerings at relative bargain prices. for money. Special deals available at the

time of writing will put you behind the
JMC bakkies have been around for wheel of the Flagship for only R299 880
a number of years now and are well with the touchscreen included (usually
regarded. In mid-1997 they entered the R10 000 extra). The Lux manual is
SUV market very quietly with a single currently on special at R241 990. These
model in the medium SUV category. are discounts of approximately R20 000
Meet the Landwind 5. I attended the on the list prices.
local launch and have since tested a few
of these models. Over the holiday period, Throw in a standard 5 year/100 000km
I had an extended test in the range service plan and 3 year/100 000km warranty
topping “Flagship” version. and I simply leave the decision to you.
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18 Kyalami Estates • CONNECT • Issue 2 • 2019
Kyalami Estates • CONNECT • Issue 12 • 2018