GWM Poer300

FIRST DRIVE Diesel-only Chinese pick-up aims to woo buyers with its pricing, practicality and strong list of standard equipment

- Dean Gibson [e-mail]

THERE have been some significant changes in the pickup truck market over the past few years, and for Chinese maker GWM, this is the perfect opportunity to launch a new model into the sector. It's called the Poer300 (pronounced Power), and is part of a wave of new models from the firm.

While Ford and Toyota move forward with hybrid powertrain options, and Isuzu has revealed an all-electric D-Max, the Poer300 is a traditional diesel machine. It has a 2.4-litre four-cylinder unit under the bonnet, and this is connected to a nine-speed automatic transmission with selectable four-wheel drive and low-range gears.

This is the sole configuration on offer in a double-cab body that has hints of the last-generation Ford Ranger pickup truck about it, to our eyes, while three trims are available and prices start from a competitive £31,495 (excluding VAT). That makes it one of the cheapest double cabs on offer in the UK, and even the highest-spec Vanta model tested here comes in at £36,830 excluding VAT.