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This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. We drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under South African conditions. It also just happens that most of the vehicles we drive are world cars as well, so what you read here probably applies to the models you can get at home.

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*Please remember too, that prices quoted were those ruling on the days I wrote the stories.

We drive the 2009 Ford Bantam 1,4 TDCi XLT

A neat little load mover

Published in The Witness Motoring on Wednesday December 16, 2009

It is said that the secret to success is to keep reinventing oneself, to adapt as circumstances demand and to give the public what they want. Ask the old SA Railways; they failed to adapt and lost out to road freight. Ask Madonna; she just keeps on making more money and new fans by the day.

 Ford saw a need, a few months ago, to add to its 25-year old Bantam range by introducing a diesel derivative to supplement its two petrol versions. The engine chosen was the 1,4 litre DuraTorq TDCi that uses a turbocharger and electronically controlled direct injection to create peak power of 50kW at 4000rpm and 160Nm of torque at 2000rpm.

Noise reduction technology makes the 1.4TDCi decently smooth and quiet. A system called ‘Accelerometer Pilot Control’ (APC) monitors combustion noise levels, making adjustments every 0.3 milliseconds to the pilot main injectors, ensuring a quiet drive. Further, body sealing has been improved on all models to create a comfortable interior environment. 

Styling is revamped for 2009. There is a redesigned front bumper and bonnet, complemented by restyled headlamps. The rear lamp cluster has been updated, while new 14” alloy wheels complete the profile. Other changes include a new instrument cluster and upgraded interior.

The base model and its AC (air conditioning) counterpart are distinguishable from outside by a black grille and bumper in front, bumperettes at the rear, 13” steel wheels and black, manually controlled door mirrors. Inside, the windows are wound by hand and sound kit is optional.

XLT models like the one reviewed, add body coloured grille and front bumper, step bumpers at the back, 14” alloy wheels, a cab protector, tonneau cover and bin mat, a sliding back window, electric windows and mirrors, single channel air conditioning, fog lamps, central locking and a single-disc CD player/radio with four speakers. A neat little net pocket for sunglasses can be found on the headlining and the XLT is the only model offering a pair of airbags as an option. There is a narrow space behind the tilting seats for oddments.

The load bin is of a useful size with a rated carrying capacity of 630 kg. Steps each side aid access, while three fittings on each side of its interior provide lashing points. The rear suspension consists of old technology leaf springs on a solid axle and gas-filled dampers, while gas-filled MacPherson struts with anti roll bar do the job in front.

We offered one of our really tall friends a seat in the driver’s chair and he declared himself satisfied with both head- and legroom. He also remarked on the openness of the cab in general and liked the way that the upper rail of the cab protector is firmly fixed to the cab itself, in addition to being fixed to the bin.

As befits a light pickup designed for small business and private use, gearing is car-like, with comfortable ratios. The Bantam is also easy to park thanks to light steering and excellent all round visibility. On our favourite stretch of badly corrugated dirt road it was comfortable and tracked well, maintaining direction over some quite severe potholes.

As the Bantam is a basic commercial vehicle, do not expect to find adjustable steering, height-adjustable seats or an onboard computer. It’s just not that kind of trucklet.

While priced at the upper end of its weight class, the Bantam XLT is a nicely equipped and frugal load mover that deserves consideration.

The numbers

Price: R171 750

Engine: 1 399 cc 4 cylinder common rail turbodiesel

Power: 50 kW at 4 000 rpm

Torque: 160 Nm at 2 000 rpm

Rated load: 630 kg

Tare: 1 010 kg

GVM: 1 710 kg

GCM: 2 375 kg

Ground clearance: 195 mm

Zero to 100 km/h: about 16 seconds

Maximum speed: about 150 km/h

Average fuel consumption: about 6,6 l/100 km

Warranty: 4 years/120 000 km

Service intervals: 15 000 km

 

 

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!

Comments?

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