JMC South Africa has formally launched three versions of the Chinese-built Vigus bakkie, namely a 4x2 manual at R399 900, a 4x2 automatic at R459 900 and a 4x4 automatic at R499 900 and a quick drive around a dedicated, tough offroad course at Syringa in Muldersdrift established the dongs-diving credentials of the newcomer.
Leslie Ramsoomar, managing director of Salvador Caetano South Africa, described the launch as more than just a new vehicle introduction. “It is a statement of intent. A bold expression of resilience, innovation and forward momentum as we introduce JMC to the market.”
Feast your eyes on the JMC Vigus models on offer right here
The Vigus measures 5 335 mm in length, 1 882 mm in width and 1 834 mm in height. Its cargo bed sits 750 mm from the ground, a feature JMC claims improves loading efficiency by 15%. Rear door openings of 75 degrees allow for easier handling of bulkier items. Inside, passengers in the back get 822 mm of row spacing with a floor hump of just 17 mm.
Under the bonnet sits a 2,5-litre turbo-diesel engine pushing out 123 kW and 430 Nm of peak torque. JMC says the low-rpm, high-torque setup helps with climbing ability even when the bakkie is fully loaded. The company has put the Vigus through more than 4-million kilometres of testing, which it equates to circling the earth 100 times.
I drove the 4x2 manual version on a short road route with two immediate impressions – the very short gearing on the 6-speed box that gets you into high gear as soon as possible as a fuel-save, even though the tank range is claimed at upwards of 900 km and the lack of a centre touchscreen.
Truly ‘old school’ this variant has a traditional radio face but with full cell phone connectivity.
Unladen on the road there is a bit of ‘bounce’ over more rippled surfaces but true plus points are the direct and accurate steering and the power in reserve in sixth gear up hills and for passing slower traffic.
Moving on to the 4x4 automatic variant and the Terence Tracy designed offroad ‘boot camp’ the Vigus sailed up the 35-degree incline, through very muddy side-slip and major wheel articulation tests with consummate ease.
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This version has the fully monty in terms of touchscreen and upgraded luxuries and both versions were comfortable to drive.
Safety and durability claims rest on a body made from 68% high-strength steel and a chassis using 420-grade steel with a bending stiffness of 1150 N/mm. All outer panels come in 100% galvanised steel and have passed a 60-day corrosion resistance test aimed at handling coastal and high-altitude conditions.
Inside, seats come from supplier Lear, while the cabin includes a 12,8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 9-inch floating instrument cluster, hill-start assist, hill descent control, and a tyre pressure monitoring system.
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JMC, which has operated globally for 25 years, sees the Vigus as suitable for both commercial work and leisure driving. The 4x2 manual targets fuel-conscious long-distance users, while the automatic versions aim at urban professionals and off-road enthusiasts. Every purchase comes with a five-year or 200 000 km warranty and a 4-year or 65 000 km service plan.
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
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