I recently spent the day with the new Foton Tunland V9 and from the moment I laid eyes on it, it was clear this bakkie didn’t come to Eswatini quietly. It arrived with intent. This is not a pickup that wants to blend in, it wants to dominate space, attention and expectations. So, naturally, I pointed it towards the Sibebe road to see if it could back up the attitude with ability.
The first thing that hits you is the size. On paper, the Tunland V9 measures 5 617mm long, 2 090mm wide and 1 910mm tall, riding on a generous 3 355mm wheelbase. In real life, that translates to serious road presence. It dwarfs most mid-size pickups we’re used to, sitting closer to a RAM 1500 or Ford F-150 than a Hilux Revo and you feel that immediately behind the wheel. Other road users notice it too. You don’t drive the V9 unnoticed; it commands respect without trying too hard.
Under the bonnet is a 2.0-litre turbo diesel paired with a 48V mild-hybrid system, producing around 161hp and a healthy 450Nm of torque, sent through a ZF 8-speed automatic gearbox. On paper, those numbers might not scream performance, but on the road, the setup makes a lot of sense. The hybrid assist is subtle, there’s no electric-only driving here, but it fills in the low-end torque gap beautifully. Pulling away feels smooth and confident, especially on inclines and that gentle shove early in the rev range makes the V9 feel more relaxed than rushed.
Heading up Sibebe, I wasn’t chasing speed and the Tunland doesn’t encourage you to. Its character is composed rather than aggressive and that’s actually one of its strengths. You settle into an easy cruising rhythm and before you know it, you’re being rewarded with excellent efficiency. Over mixed driving between town roads, highways and the climb, I averaged 14km/L, which is genuinely impressive for a truck this big. It’s the kind of efficiency that makes sense for daily use, not just weekend flexing.
What really surprised me, though, was the ride quality. Foton has ditched the traditional leaf springs at the rear and gone with a five-link multi-link setup with coil springs, paired with a double wishbone front suspension. The result? A ride that feels closer to a large SUV than a workhorse pickup. Broken tar, potholes and uneven surfaces are handled with ease and even on rougher sections of the Sibebe road, the Tunland stayed planted and comfortable. This is a bakkie you could happily drive all day without feeling beaten up.
Of course, Sibebe isn’t just about smooth roads, so I took the 4×4 AT variant slightly off the beaten path. With selectable drive modes and both high- and low-range gearing, the Tunland V9 felt confident and capable. Most of the time, 4H was more than enough and I never had to engage 4L. Traction was solid, articulation was confidence-inspiring and once again, the mild-hybrid system quietly helped when torque dipped low. It’s not an extreme rock crawler, but for real-world off-road use, it more than holds its own.
… stuns with premium feel
Practicality is another area where the V9 quietly impresses. One of my favourite features is the built-in tailgate step. Drop the tailgate and a step flips out neatly, complete with a grab handle to help you climb into the load bed. It’s such a simple idea, yet incredibly useful, especially on a pickup of this size. It’s these thoughtful details that make the Tunland feel like it was designed with actual users in mind, not just spec sheets. Then there’s the interior, which honestly caught me off guard. Step inside and you’re greeted by dark brown leather upholstery, polished trim and subtle ambient lighting that gives the cabin a genuinely premium feel. This doesn’t feel like a ‘budget alternative’ at all. The 14.6-inch infotainment screen is sharp, responsive and refreshingly intuitive and Apple CarPlay connected flawlessly, something not all competitors can claim. Everything feels solid, well-finished and modern, punching far above what many would expect from the badge.
This brings us to pricing. The Tunland V9 starts at E799 900, and when you look at what you’re getting, full-size dimensions, a tech-rich and luxurious cabin, a mild-hybrid system and serious road presence, it starts to feel like a bit of a mic-drop moment. Comparable pickups with similar size and comfort easily stretch 10s of thousands higher, often without matching the V9’s interior flair.
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