We recently staged our biggest bakkie drag race on a dried-up lakebed in the Northern Cape. Yes, some of the results were fairly predictable but there were some surprises too. If you are interested in knowing what the fastest double-cab bakkies in the land are, then this video will give you some answers!
Double-cab bakkies, or utes as the Aussies say, aren’t your typical vehicles to line up for a drag race.
We happened to find ourselves out in the middle of nowhere in the heart of South Africa’s Northern Cape province on a dry lakebed with 6 of the latest double-cab bakkies on sale in South Africa.
Note that products such as the Mahindra Pik Up, soon-to-be-replaced Isuzu D-Max and Mitsubishi Triton were missing from the party due to logistical challenges but you can use your imagination as to where they might have been placed in this company.
Drag Race Contenders
Nonetheless, the show must go on and contenders in this drag race showdown included the feature-laden GWM P-Series, the recently-facelifted Nissan Navara, all-new Mazda BT-50, the slick Ford Ranger Thunder, the venerable Toyota Hilux Legend RS and the mighty 190 kW Volkswagen Amarok V6.
Here they are in order from most powerful to least powerful along with pricing as of September 2021.
1. 2021 Volkswagen Amarok 3.0 V6 – 190kW / 580Nm – R936 700
2. 2021 Ford Ranger Thunder 2.0 Bi-turbo – 157kW / 500Nm – R839 900
3. 2021 Toyota Hilux 2.8 GD-6 Legend RS – 150kW / 500Nm – R861 600
4. 2021 Mazda BT-50 3.0 TD – 140kW / 450Nm – R794 400
5. 2021 Nissan Navara 2.5DDTi LE – 140kW / 450Nm – R677 000
6. 2021 GWM P-Series 2.0TD LT – 120kW / 400Nm – R554 900
With its powerful V6 engine, the Amarok was destined to win this drag race challenge, but the real dog fight would take place further down the field.
See the results below…
Fastest Double-Cab Bakkie in South Africa (2021)
Drag Race 1
Drag Race 2
- Volkswagen Amarok V6
- Mazda BT-50
- Toyota Hilux Legend RS
- Ford Ranger Thunder
- GWM P-Series
- Nissan Navara
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