Peugeot Landtrek: What you need to know about South Africa’s new bakkie

The Peugeot Landtrek, the French carmaker’s highly-anticipated return into the local bakkie foray, touched down in South Africa this week.

Available only as a double cab for now, Stellantis has positioned the attractive Peugeot bakkie as a leisure offering appealing to the higher specced end of the market.

Despite Peugeot’s rich bakkie heritage, especially in Africa, the reality is that the manufacturer has had very limited involvement in the segment on a global scale over the last few decades.

While the Landtrek might not give Mzansi’s three top selling bakkies, the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger and Isuzu D-Max a scare in terms of sales, it might even find breaking into the top 10 tougher than anticipated.

Despite the big renaissance by the PSA Group, which has since been incorporated under the Stellantis umbrella, back in 2019, many car buyers have not forgiven Peugeot yet for all their past sins.

Nonetheless, while traditional bakkie owners might never consider their favourite body type boasting a Peugeot badge, South Africa’s newest has nonetheless tickled the fancy of many. Here we try and break down the Peugeot Landtrek to answer all the questions you might have.

What is the heritage of the Peugeot bakkie?

Peugeot started building bakkies with the 202 in 1938 of which a limited number found their way to South Africa after World War II.

The following model, the 203 bakkie, never made it to South Africa even though the 203 car was locally assembled in Alberton in the 1950s.

The next Peugeot bakkie offered in Mzansi was the 403 in the late 1950s, followed by the hugely popular 404. Of the almost three million 404 series vehicles that was built, almost 800 000 were bakkies and production in Kenya carried on until 1991.

Its successor, the 504, was never offered in South Africa, despite its legendary status throughout Africa. The 504 won the African Rally Championship in 1984 and production in Nigeria lasted until 2006. The 504 became Peugeot’s first double cab offering by virtue of a four-door version sold in China and Argentina.

Following a hiatus of more than a decade, Peugeot re-entered the African bakkie market with the Peugeot Pick-Up, which is a joint venture with Dongfeng Motor Corporation. The current Peugeot Pick-Up is based on the third-generation Nissan Navara and sold in certain African countries.

Where is it built?

The Peugeot Landtrek was jointly development by Peugeot and Chinese manufacturer Changan Automobile. It shares a platform and bodywork with the Changan Kaicene F70. The Landtrek is assembled alongside the Kaicene F70 in Shenzhen in China.

How many models are there?

Only two for now; the top-end 4Action and the Allure. As its name suggests, the 4Action is four-wheel-drive and the Allure rear-wheel driven.

A single cab is offered in other markets, but will not be offered in South Arica just yet.

How much power?

Both models are powered by a four-cylinder, 1.9-litre turbodiesel engine which produces 110 kW of power and 350 Nm of torque and is mated to six-speed automatic transmission.

The Allure has a claimed fuel economy of 8.9 L/100 km and the 4Action 9.1 L/100 km, while both derivates have an 80-litre fuel tank.

What are its dimensions?

At 1 858 mm, the Peugeot Landtrek will be the highest bakkie in South Africa, and with a width measuring 1 963 mm, also the widest. Its length of 5 330 mm is only shorter than GWM P-Series and Ford Ranger, while the Landtrek’s 3 180 mm trails the same two in terms of wheelbase.

In terms of off-roading capabilities, the Landtrek has a ground clearance of 235 mm and a wading depth of 600 mm. The Peugeot bakkie has an approach angle of 29 degrees, departure angle of 27 degrees, breakover angle of 25 degrees and side slope angle of 41 degrees.

What is the Landtrek’s payload?

The Allure can carry a 1 085 kg payload, with the 4Action rated to carry 1 015 kg. Both have a towing capacity of 3 000 kg.

What does it cost?

The Allure costs R579 900 and the 4Action R669 900. A five year/100 000 km warranty and service plans are included in the price. Service intervals are set at every 10 000 km or year.

What about accessories?

Dealerships can assist in fitting the Landtrek with a full range of approved aftermarket accessories like canopies, loadbin rubberising, towbars, tonneau covers, roller shutters, nudge bars and side steps.

What colours are available?

Six colours are offered on the Peugeot Landtrek: Ceramic White, Silver Grey, Rockstone Grey, Magnetic Blue, Red Rubi and Olea Green.

How safe is it?

Standard safety specification includes six airbags, ABS with EBD, ESC, emergency brake assist, wheel traction control, dynamic stability control, Hill Descent Control, Trailer Stability Control, Park Assist with rear camera, tyre pressure monitoring and cruise control with speed limiter.

The 4Action gets Lane Departure Monitoring and Warning.

What are the specification levels?

Standard exterior feature includes 17-inch alloy wheels, chrome mirrors caps and handles, electric, folding and heated side mirrors, front fog lights, LED lightning elements, roof bars and style bar with third brake light and loadbin light.
In addition, the 4Action gets 18-inch alloys, side steps and chrome window trim.

Standard specification inside features a combination of cloth and TRP leather trim, dual zone climate control, glove box cooling, leather multifunction and tilt and reach adjustable steering wheel.

The rear seats feature a backrest 60/40 split as well as a base 60/40 folding split.

Standard technology features are a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with 10 GB storage and Bluetooth and smartphone connectivity, voice control, automatic lights and wipers and handsfree access and start.

The 4Action also gets six-way electrically adjustable driver and passenger seats, onboard navigation and 360-degree camera system.

ALSO READ: Stellantis gives glimpse of models heading to South Africa

What are the sales expectations?

Stellantis hopes to sell between 100 and 150 Landtrek’s per month. That number would not be enough to break into the current local top 10 monthly best sellers consisting of the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max, Nissan Navara and NP200, GWM Steed and Steed 6, Mahindra Pik-Up, Toyota Land Cruiser Pick-Up and the Volkswagen Amarok.

Who are the Landtrek’s main rivals?

In trying to compare the R579 900 Peugeot Landtrek Allure with like-for-like double cabs, you have to look at most rivals’ weaker engine option mated to automatic transmission in 4×2 guise.

Competition in this segment is tough with all three top dogs offering more affordable options albeit lesser specced. The options are Ford’s R506 500 Ranger 2.2 TDCi double cab XL Sport AT, Isuzu’s R538 000 D-Max 250 double cab X-Rider AT and the R546 300 Toyota Hilux 2.4 GD-6 double cab Raider AT.

Other options include the GWM P Series 2.0 TD double cab LT at R509 900, the Nissan Navara 2.5 DDTi double cab SE Plus AT at R534 000, the R574 995 Mitsubishi Triton 2.4 DI-D double cab and the R596 200 Ford Ranger 2.0 SiT double cab Hi-Rider XLT.

The R669 900 4Action also has some stiff opposition. In the stables of Mzansi’s two best-selling bakkies, you can get a Toyota Hilux 2.4 GD-6 double cab 4×4 Raider AT for R638 200 and a Ford Ranger 2.0 SiT double cab 4×4 XLT for R667 200. Isuzu and Nissan do not offer an equivalent in 4×4 auto guise.

Other options include the GWM P Series 2.0TD double cab LT 4×4 at R554 900 and Mitsubishi Triton 2. 4DI-D double cab 4×4 AT at R654 995.

What is the drive like?

The Peugeot Landtrek offers a comfortable drive albeit a bit on the firm side. Funnily enough, it felt much more at home on the gravel during the media launch drive this week than it did on imperfect tarred roads.

On smooth tar it was plain sailing, albeit some wind noise around the side mirrors when you start pushing the national speed limit. Off the road, its capabilities are on par with its rivals. It managed to complete a technical obstacle course in its stride.

The cabin is comfortable and although it in finished in the modern Peugeot style, hard plastics on the dash and in the centre console does ruin the SUV plushness it is claimed to offer.

The bottom line

The Peugeot bakkie is a solid product with lots of visual appear. And in bakkie terms, it offers a very decent set of specifications.

And while it might offer a viable left-field choice for adventure seekers, there is no denying that the price point is on the high side. Especially for what you can get in the usual suspects’ stables.

Even though the Landtrek might offer higher specification levels than the usual suspects, it is highly unlikely that this will be a trump card to sway buyers from their traditional brands. For that to happen, you would think the price would have to be as attractive as the Peugeot bakkie itself.

For more information on the Peugeot Landtrek, click here.