Steed 5E offer more luxuries

MOVING upmarket, the new Steed 5E is now available at East (Suzuki) in Richards Bay, and offers more of a car-like drive than the normal Steed bakkie.

GWM SA says ‘The Steed 5E’s refinements go beyond the very obvious cosmetic changes – in fact, it drives like an all-new product’.

Engineers have paid particular attention to the NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) control of the Steed 5E, and the result is a significantly quieter (and therefore more relaxed) cabin environment.

Almost no area has been left untouched, says GWM, and some of the refinements include:

• The roof-mounted aerial is gone, and is now integrated into the windscreen.

• New, quieter and more effective windscreen wipers have been adopted.

• The side indicators have been incorporated into the rear-view mirror housings.

• Extra sound-insulation material have been used to isolate the cabin.

• The rear seat cushions have been revised to improve long-distance seating comfort.

Modern cabin

Furthermore, the Steed 5E receives a significantly revised facia with a new instrumentation panel and modernised centre console layout with new audio and climate control interfaces.

Piano-black trim is used throughout and leather inserts are used on the door panels (even on SX derivatives).

Attention to detail is once again evident in the rubber matting provided in the floors of all the various storage spaces.

GWM is offering the Steed 5E (which is only offered as a Double-Cab) in two trim levels, SX and Xscape.

The SX offers such features as climate control, radio/CD with USB support, dual front airbags, ABS/EBD and 16-inch alloy wheels as standard, with the Xscape adding leather upholstery, a touch-screen media system with Bluetooth, rear diff-lock, side steps, roll bar and tyre pressure monitoring.

The new front bumper features integrated fog lamps and a wider, hungrier looking lower airdam that is neatly accentuated by twin chrome-finished strakes on either side.

The narrower grille aperture, flanked by darkened headlamps, further boosts the sophisticated appearance.

Engine choices

The engine line-up consists of the 2.4-litre petrol unit that develops 93kW and 200Nm of torque, and the 2.0-litre VGT turbo-diesel (105kW and 305Nm).

The 5E range starts at R239 900 for the 2.4 SX Double Cab, followed by the 2.4 Xcape Double Cab at R256 900, the 2.0 VGT SX at R269 900 and at the top of the range is the 2.0 VGT Xcape for R289 900.

All four Steed 5E models carry a five-year/100 000km warranty.

Last year the GWM franchise in Zululand changed hands and the brand is now under the wing of the East Motor Group (East Toyota in Eshowe and Suzuki Zululand).

Currently GWM shares a showroom and workshop with Suzuki in Bullion Boulevard, Richards Bay.

Zululanders wanting to look at the Steed 5E and other vehicles in the GWM line-up, as well as GWM owners wanting to service their vehicles, can visit the dealership where they will be helped by the friendly East team.