Changan’s Hunter K70 REEV features more aggressive styling, chunkier rubber and more power. We drove it in China to find out whether these revisions are enough to make it a worthy alternative to the formidable Ford Ranger Raptor as well as BYD’s left-field Shark 6…
No discussion of the Changan Hunter K70 REEV can start without pausing on the design… There’s no mistaking the K70 for the brainchild of any other brand, is there?
Say what you will about the K70’s front-end, but there’s no doubt it attracts attention. Many on social media feel this bakkie lacks in the looks department. I disagree wholeheartedly. To me, modern bakkies have become so similar in design, it’s become hard to tell them apart. However, with the Changan Hunter K50 and K70, the front-end is what makes them stand out. It looks like a shark about to pounce on its prey.
I’ll admit that the Hunter and the new Toyota Hilux do share some design similarities, but in this case the Changan was launched before the new Hilux, so one can’t falsely accuse the brand of copying Toyota. If anything, it would be the other way around.
Compared to the donor K50, the K70 stands taller and wider, thanks to bigger rubber, larger wheels and protruding black fenders. The black theme continues on the front grille, front bumper, door handles, side mirrors and side skirts, contrasting beautifully with the red K70 we had to test. If you saw this vehicle appear in your rear-view mirror, chances are you’ll move.
The interior has also been upgraded over the K50’s with chunky quilted leather seats finished off with red stitching. Besides that, the same infotainment system and digital instrument cluster found in the K50 are used, and both items complement the interior well.
Read more: Changan Hunter REEV (2025) Pre-launch Review
Looks aside, does it have the grunt?
Overall, the K70 ticks all the boxes aesthetically to rival the likes of a Ford Ranger Raptor and a BYD Shark 6, but does it have the engine to get the job done? I’m afraid we don’t have the answer to that question yet. Well, sort of…
You see, Changan was gracious enough to allow us to drive the K70 at its test track, but the brand has not yet confirmed any specification details. As a result, we must use our “seat of the pants” test to give you some approximate details, all based on our experience with the K50, of which Changan claims the K70 is a beefier version.
The Hunter K70 uses REEV (range extender electric vehicle) technology, which means the engine is basically a generator for the battery. The powertrain is a 2.0-litre turbopetrol powering a 31.2 kWh battery that is good for approximately 145 km of solely EV range and a total range of 1 000 km. In the K50, the setup produces 200 kW/470 Nm and we understand the K70 will be unchanged in this department.
The K70 feels quick off the line – not BYD Shark 6 quick or Ford Ranger Raptor fast – but enough to keep bakkie-loving boy racers happy. Because of the EV technology and the resultant instant torque, acceleration feels linear and uninterrupted.
Compare their specs: Ford Ranger Raptor vs BYD Shark 6 (& the VW Amarok 2.3T)
What is the Hunter K70 REEV like to drive?
Also noticeable about the Hunter K70 were the excellent comfort levels and good NVH levels. Despite riding on chunky all-terrain rubber, which can be noisy, the vehicle managed to mute road noise quite well.
The damping seemed different compared to the K50, with the K70 feeling firmer. The fact that there’s no engine sound when the vehicle is moving along swiftly in EV mode also made the experience feel more premium due to the lack of a noisy engine, usually diesel in a bakkie. Even when the turbopetrol does fire up to charge the battery, it’s decently refined.
Read more: Changan Hunter 2.0TD Double-Cab 4×4 CE (2026) Review
After our brief stint in the Changan Hunter K70 REEV, we can confirm it looks and feels better than the K50. Is it enough to steer away fans of the Ford and the BYD? We’re not entirely convinced based solely on the powertrain, which feels decently powerful but its delivery is some way off the grunt offered by the Ford and BYD.
On our short test loop, however, it arguably felt powerful enough. What the K70 REEV needs more than additional power is greater towing capacity than the K50. The latter can tug only 2.2 tonnes, which falls behind the competition. Hopefully, Changan has addressed this shortcoming in the development of the K70.
It all boils down to pricing…
Where the Changan could have a leg up on the competition is pricing when it launches early in 2028. The Hunter K50 REEV is currently (July 2026) priced at R799 900, which is good value considering what you get. If the K70 can come in moderately above the K50’s retail price, it will undercut its main rivals and so give it a chance to succeed.
We’ll be waiting with bated breath for the official pricing and specifications to be announced. In the meantime, we can tell you that the Changan Hunter K70 made a good first impression.
