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We try the Daihatsu Gran Max 1-tonner

Pics by author 

Drives and parks like a small car

“What it needs,” said this very rude person of my acquaintance, “is a banner reading ‘not Chinese.” He was quite right in a way; the Daihatsu Gran Max pickup has a distinctly Mandarin look about it.  It’s actually Japanese though, with the company having been in the motor business in Osaka since 1907 and part of the Toyota family since being rescued from economic disaster some years ago.

What it is, is a cab forward pickup rated at one ton with a wide flat dropside bin, powered by a 1 495 cc 16-valve DOHC VVT engine producing 71 kW at 6 000 rpm and 134 Nm of torque at 4 400 rpm. I am always wary of proud claims made by makers of little trucklets such as this. While I am quite sure that its chassis is very strong and the bin very capacious, a ton is one heavy load to ask a little 1500 to lug around and for its suspension to absorb without bottoming out.

I would suggest looking on it as a very user-friendly half-tonner with a nice big load bin that’s easy to get at. Both sides and the tailgate drop down to reveal a completely flat load area that’s only 360 mm off the ground. Commercial uses coming to mind include anything that’s light but needs space, like flowers or a garden service perhaps.

The cab itself is fairly Spartan, with a bench seat to accommodate three at a push, made easier by the fact that the shift lever for the five-speed gearbox is in the dash and just a hand’s width away from the steering wheel. There is only one sun visor, a simple radio and CD player with auxiliary plug, and a cup holder for the driver. Floor covering material is best described as sketchy and air conditioning is not yet an optional extra.

On the plus side, the Gran Max drives and parks like a small car. Gears are nicely spaced and it turns on the proverbial tickey, while visibility is generally very good with both rear corners of the bin visible when reversing. My only reservation is that the rear window is rather narrow, making it difficult to sneak a peek over your shoulder before entering traffic streams. The large outside mirrors compensate to an extent, though.

Other plusses include easy entry and exit and a cab protector that is bolted solidly in place. The metal from which the bin is made is also substantial, adding some protection from clumsy handling. Drive is to the rear wheels, a rarity if you think of the Gran Max as a small pickup, but not if you regard it as a one-tonner – a Nissan 1400 on steroids, perhaps?

As with many commercial vehicles, the ride on gravel roads is not comfortable without a load on the back. Depending on your gender and personal needs, think “kidney belt” or “sports bra.” Otherwise, the answer is to keep it loaded or take it slowly.

While it may look a little odd to Western eyes, the Daihatsu Gran Max is a viable alternative to other small commercial vehicles on the market with its mix of drivability, economy and practicality. Add the company’s long history of producing interesting and well-engineered vehicles and you have a potential winner.

The numbers

Price: R123 120

Engine: 1 495 cc DOHC VVT 4-cylinder

Power: 71 kW at 6 000 rpm

Torque: 134 Nm at 4 400 rpm

Zero to 100 km/h: 14,1 seconds

Maximum speed: 154 km/h

Car magazine fuel index: 9,2 l/100 km

Tank: 43 litres

Brakes: 13” ventilated discs in front, drums rear

Suspension: McPherson struts with coils/semi-elliptic leaf springs

Kerb weight: 1 025 to 1 045 kg

GVM: 2 100 kg

What We Do

This is a one-man show, which means that road test cars entrusted to me are driven only by me. Some reviewers hand test cars over to their partners to use as day-to-day transport and barely experience them for themselves.

What this means to you is that every car reviewed is given my own personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.

Every car goes through real world testing; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads as well.

I am based in Pietermaritzburg, KZN, South Africa. This is the central hub of the KZN Midlands farming community; the place farmers go to to buy their supplies and equipment, truck their goods to market, send their kids to school and go to kick back and relax. 

So occasionally a cow, a goat or a horse may add a little local colour by finding its way into the story or one of the pictures. It's all part of the ambience!

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