Introducing a bakkie to South Africa is a bit of a cheat code. Attaching a R330,000 price is just the cherry on top. Chinese automaker JMC has extended its line of bakkies in South Africa, bringing the Vigus Single-Cab to streets.
“Designed to handle demanding workloads while remaining refined for daily driving, the Vigus combines a powerful turbo-diesel engine with robust chassis engineering and modern technology,” said JMC. The single-cab variant is the cheapest of the lot, and joins the array of Double-Cab models currently available from the dealer.
Level Vigus
Like the double-cab, the new Vigus bakkie sticks the same 2.5L turbo-diesel engine under the hood. It’s powering the bakkie’s rear wheels, delivering 123kW and 410Nm of power and torque. JMC reckons the fuel consumption is as low as 7.0L/100km. Though with diesel costing what it does at the moment… we wouldn’t get too excited about the 73L tank just yet. It may be worth the cost to get hold of the double wishbone front suspension.
Saffas, more than anyone, have real standards when it comes to their bakkies. JMC’s gone for a cargo bed measuring 2,300mm long and 1,595mm wide, allowing for a 1,000kg cargo weight and 2,000kg towing capacity. The company promises a solid 210mm ground clearance, though some certainly wouldn’t mind it going higher.
Read More: Ford to launch an “affordable midsize” bakkie in international markets in 2027
Internally, it’s a pretty standard affair. Air-conditioning is present, as is Bluetooth connectivity and a single USB power port. Behind the wheel sits a 3.5in digital instrument cluster, while the centre console is home to a 12in touchscreen. The Single-Cab offers a host of internal features, such as reverse parking sensors. Not all of them, though. JMC’s saved some of the better features — like a reverse camera — for the pricier Double-Cabs.
The cheapest you’ll pay for the JMC Vigus Single-Cab is R330,000, with the bakkie currently available for a test drive. If you’re after more seats for butts, the next step-up is the Vigus Double-Cab (manual) for R400,000.
