New-look Bantam swings to diesel

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Ford is banking on the new turbo-diesel to boost the sales of the new-look Bantam, particularly against the recently introduced Nissan NP200 which has a number of advantages over the baby Ford.

For a start, Nissan claims its pay-load of 800kg is the best in this class and a loading bay that is the widest and the deepest.

It also has better safety features than the Bantam, Nissan's top diesel model has a 1.5-litre engine compared to the Bantam's 1.4-litre engine and it's also less expensive that the Bantam.

But the fight is not only on between the NP200 and the Bantam. Let's not forget 1.7-litre TDI Opel Corsa utility which muscles in on this scene at R148,370 and rumours of a Fiat diesel bakkie also heading this way.

But back to the new Bantam range which offers no less than four 1.3-litre petrol engine models; five 1.6-litre petrol models and three 1.4 diesels to choose from, ranging in price from R101,950 to R171,750.

The Bantam last underwent major surgery about seven years ago so the new incarnation looks all good and clean and fresh tra-la-la with a new bumper, grille and headlights set-up, 14” alloy wheels and fresh new interior decorating, including new dial designs and more upmarket seat covers.

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What certainly will appeal to the leisure market is that the new model looks more like a play-thing than a work-thing. The ride is also smoother and more refined than the previous model.

As is the case with most bakkies, finding a comfortable driving position is not all that easy because the seats can only be adjusted up to a point and the steering wheel is not fully adjustable.

But of more concern is the fact that none of the models in the range have ABS brakes and only the flagship petrol and diesel models have airbags.

I drove various models of the new range during the Media introduction in Mpumalanga some weeks ago, but more recently I had the fancy XLT diesel model to run around in down in Cape Town.

The performance across the range up North was not exactly scorching and one had to pedal hard to keep the revs up. Down at the coast the going is easier and the 1.4-litre DuraTorq TDCI felt a little gutsier than the 50kW and 160Nm it churns out.

Strangely enough, on the launch drive I found the cabins quite well insulated and the engines relatively quiet, but down at the coast our little oil-burner sported quite a growl, although not to such an extent that it became intrusive or irritating.

In fact, I quite liked it because it gave the little half-tonner a nice cocky character.

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Our test vehicle had a fair full house of kit including a radio/CD system with four speakers, electric windows, sliding rear window, lights on warning buzzer, remote central locking, driver and passenger airbags and inertia reel seatbelts with pre-tensioners which not many of the other models have.

If you are thinking of acquiring a Bantam it's worthwhile checking out the list of features which are standard, optional or not available at all on the different models.

The one great advantage the diesel engine brings to this range is its economical use of expensive forecourt juice which, Nissan claims, is only between 5.0 and 6.0 litres per 100km -- good news for small operators who are going to saddle them up for labour duties.

The greenies will no doubt also be pleased with the diesel's low-emission rate of 134.3g/km.

And, ja boet, the Bantam is as South African as the Blue Bulls, Table Mountain and Biltong. Having been designed and developed specifically for local needs and conditions, the baby Ford bakkie is not on sale anywhere else in the world.

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Over the years the Bantam has built up a large and loyal following, thanks to its versatility, reliability and low running costs.

Boosted by the addition of the new diesel engine and stylish cosmetic surgery the blue oval badge fan club will no doubt continue to grow, just as it has been doing constantly since 1983.

All Bantams come with a four-year/120,000km warranty and a three-year unlimited km roadside assistance programme.