I have an aversion towards pickup trucks, but I try my best to like them. I like the power, the capability, and when they look prim and proper like the Mazda BT-50. They fit my lifestyle but I always dread driving them because of the lack of ride comfort. Some, like the Ford Ranger Raptor, are a step better but there’s still that hint of stiffness in certain road conditions. Same for the BYD Shark that boasts of a multi-link rear suspension but not any better than the years-old Nissan Navara - which is considered the best riding pickup truck.
Then came the Changan Hunter 4x4. I drove it from my pickup point in Pasig to my place in San Rafael, Bulacan and the ride was simply outstanding. I drove different pickups through this route and the Hunter was the best of them all (as of time of testing). It felt like the truck lane of C5 wasn’t as bad and Bulacan wasn’t “lubakan.” It was immediately better than other ladder frame based pickup trucks in the country, at least in my book.
For P 1,970,000 this seemed like a bargain. The ride comfort is plush and the driver’s seat is comfortable but a closer look reveals the Hunter is bursting at the seams for not so good reasons.
The Hunter had to make itself stand out. Its Range-extended EV (REEV) nature can’t be seen at a glance and so they made this front end that reminds me of Crush Gear. I like its broken DRL pattern and the Olive Green color is also low-key fancy. But I saw this in all black and as a fan of Batman, I absolutely love it.
Running the Hunter is a 2-liter turbocharged gas engine paired to 2 electric motors. It has a combined output of 268 horsepower which is far more than the usual diesel pickups in the segment. Torque isn’t far off with 470 Nm available here. It also has a 31.8-kWh battery capacity that gives it an EV only range of 180 km and up to 1,031 km combined. In my experience it can theoretically fulfill the combined distance it mentioned.
Back to the looks, the face is new but the sides and rear have a classic pickup aesthetic. There’s the cladding on the wheels, step board, chunky roof rails, and sports bar on the bed. It even has an included bed cover for this 4x4 trim.
Its tailgate also offers something new. It can be broken down into 2 pieces so you have a lower step to get onto the cargo bed. Alternatively, it can be a quick tambay spot as it can accommodate 2 to 3 people depending on how wide they are. The 495kg cargo capacity is a non-issue for me since I’m a musician and I haul large but not very heavy stuff. The same goes with my wife’s mobile cart business.
What’s an issue here is the plug-in sockets at the cargo bed. Yes they allow you to use your laptop, Starlink, air fryer, or any other appliance you can bring on the go. Problem is, you’ll need an adapter since they conform to a different country standard.
Simplicity was called upon the second row. There’s not much flair in terms of design but it is a good space to be in. There’s enough recline on the seats leading to a good seating position, enough headroom and legroom, there’s 2 air vents, a single USB-A port, and grab handles on both sides.
As you move to the front of the cabin, you’ll be greeted by hit after hit of quirks from the Hunter. It has a significant learning curve that even an experienced, multi-car owner will find familiarity tricky. First off, there’s no ignition button. Just press the brake pedal and if you have the key, it will automatically turn on. The hassle comes when you need to turn it off. You’ll have to do a swipe on the touchscreen to see the menu that has the turn off option. If you have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto activated, you’ll have to get on the Home Screen first before you can swipe the menu with the off function. Why didn’t they just allow that menu to be accessed while using AC/AA?
Unlike the Q05, the Hunter’s shifter is on a stalk. They did so to free up space on the center console, which isn’t very cluttered even if you put a shifter there. Aside from the now-unusual position, another trait of its shifter is the engagement. It won’t act if you operate it too quickly. You have to be slow and assertive rather than quick and sleek. It’s very annoying especially if you’re making 2- or 3-point turns, or a tight parking space and you’re blocking the traffic.
It also doesn’t work smoothly with the ignition. If you step on the brakes, the Hunter will turn on, but if you immediately shift to Reverse or Drive it won’t let go of the handbrake. You’ll have to lift your foot from the brake, before stepping on it again, THEN you shift to Reverse or Drive. Good lord I hope they included this in the manual.
There are good points for the front section of the cabin. They retained controls for the drivetrain, physical controls for the aircon, and a knob for the drive modes unlike the Q05. They also unified the left stalk with the traditional turn signal function, as well as the wipers, and flash of lighting. You’ll just have to fiddle with it one time to get it.
As cumbersome this front section is, it all fades into the background once you’re on the road. The Hunter is a truly mesmerizing experience whether on asphalt, bare cement, or unpaved road. It’s even better than its crossover brother, the Q05. What makes this even better than the Nissan Navara is the steering that is light but firms up when needed. You also have a choice between standard, comfort, and sport for its response.
You can select a drive mode on the go, but you’ll have to select a power mode before you go on a drive. EV Priority is self-explanatory, while Fuel Priority still uses the batteries first, but lowers the threshold on when the engine activates. In Auto, it’s almost the same as EV Priority but will wake up the engine at around 70+ kph. There’s also Forced EV and Forced Injection for long steep climbs or pulling (or carrying) something heavy.
The system is complicated which is why it yielded only 13.5 km/L on Fuel Priority at the highway. The engine only revs high once it wakes up and won’t rest even if you’re just coasting at 85 kph. What seems to be most economical is Auto Mode so you should not pass up on the free wall chargers if offered one. Sport mode is also a good alternative since it hastens the charging of the batteries provided you can get up to speed.
Another catch-up the Hunter has to do is in the safety department. It only has Standard Cruise Control, and there’s no Lane Keeping System, only a warning. I also hope they change the Blind Spot Camera that shows the front quarter when you turn on the Turn Signal. That would be more useful showing the rear quarter to see oncoming vehicles. I appreciate the 540-degree camera system though.
I see a lot of people in the comments section digitally raise an eyebrow on the Changan Hunter once they see that it can “only” carry 495 kilos at the back. If you regularly carry 900-kilogram at the back, there’s no need to hate the Hunter. It can confidently carry 2 highway-legal bikes, or a single liter motorcycle. As for me, it can carry my band’s full audio equipment or my wife’s mobile cart coffee business. Not everyone is a hardware owner moving cement.
It’s technically challenged for sure, but I’ll still recommend it. All because it truly is a comfortable pickup truck. As I said, most of its flaws fade into the background once you drive it and feel its smooth ride. It is efficient, and will make you stand out on the road.
For P 1,970,000 the Changan Hunter is good enough for the right person. If you’re not techy, and just looking to haul things comfortably without compromising the 5-seater capacity, the Hunter certainly fits the bill. It’s too specific, but that’s the reality given its quirks. It has more than enough power for Baguio, has the 4x4 capability for Tanay and Lake Mapanuepe, just don’t use CarPlay or Android Auto unless they have a fix for its connection issues already.
Words and Photos by Vincent Villa
At 13kml, rather stick to traditional diesel from known brands. At that minimal efficiency gain it is not worth the risk that comes with the new brand
ReplyDeleteIts not about the efficiency. Its about the comfortable and plush ride. All other pick up trucks will shatter your vertebrae bcoz of the stiff ride.
DeleteIsuzu dmax averages at least 20km per liter and could last a lifetime
ReplyDeleteNobody keep their cars or pick ups for a lifetime. 90% of car owners sell them at the 7-10 years span..
DeleteLow reading comprehension anony 7:52am, could last a lifetime and not keep it for a lifetime
DeleteYeah, 20 kmpl is not the average for the Dmax. That's like optimized driving conditions.
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