MEET the first crossover bakkie-truck in Mzansi.
Changan is the only manufacturer that offers a compact light commercial vehicle with a dropside bay – the Star III.
But how useful is this one-ton Star III?
Well, one lucky family got to test it when they moved. On top of all the other items families have to move, they needed to transport dozens of potted plants of various shapes and sizes which were heavy, bulky and obviously unstackable.
It would have cost a small fortune to hire professional movers so this is where the Star III came to the rescue. With dropsides dropped for easy loading in three directions, the pots could be arranged in a puzzle of most stability – with this feature it was possible to move all the plants in two trips.
With a bakkie length of 2,75 metres and a raised bay, it means there are no wheel arches that take up loading bay space, as they do in regular bakkies.
These factors make the Star III incredibly useful. The Star III measures just over 4,5m nose to tail with a generous 2,9m wheelbase.
With its forward-control layout and high driving position, the driver gets a top-down view of the surroundings.
The rear-wheel-drive bakkie-truck crossover – or trukkie – comes with a powerful 1,3-litre engine fitted with a five-speed manual gearbox, it is no wonder the team at Changan feel justified in describing the Star III bakkie as a real hard worker.
At a current retail price of R141 880, business owners who are looking for an affordable and practical business vehicle need look no further.
