Great Wall: Punching above its weight

Great Wall's X-240 SUV gives you more bang for your buck, with leather seats, alloy wheels and tinted windows. Photo / Jacqui Madelin

I have to admit I wasn't expecting much from Great Wall's X-240 SUV. After all it's got alloy wheels, tinted windows and leather seats at under 30 grand. Those goodies alone add up to a fair bit; effectively you've got a handsome SUV with a low range transmission for $25,000. It's seven grand cheaper than Suzuki's Grand Vitara, and arguably better-looking with a higher specification, and it's bigger. Heavier and less powerful too, but we can't all be perfect ... Still, forget the on-paper specs. What's it like to drive?

The plan - a bit of commuting, then a weekend trip away with snorkelling, gravel-roading, perhaps a spot of hiking; just the trip the stereotypical SUV owner would enjoy. The reality - a middle-of-the-night run to A&E to deal with an unruly appendix. Let me tell you, you don't want a fast car for this. You want one with a compliant ride, and the X240 impressed. It handles well for a bulky off-roader.

It's predictable, the suspension well damped - perhaps the result of Isuzu involvement, whatever, it works.

That 2.4-litre engine is made in China as a joint venture with Mitsubishi and it's down on power compared to most of the competition. Response initially felt a tad sluggish too, frustrating when your passenger needs urgent attention. But as hospital visits packed on the kilometres the engine loosened up; given the car's weight it'll always be relaxed, but not offensively so.

There's just a manual transmission at present, with a long lever throw, but nicely spaced gearing. Great Wall expects an auto next year, along with a diesel powerplant. Meanwhile, don't forget the price ...

I opted for two-wheel-drive for most of my stressful weekend, with four-high available courtesy Borg Warner at the twist of a dial for the tricky gravel slopes at home. There's low range too - I was tempted to climb A&E's steps with it - and this vehicle is genuinely capable off road.

It's also very well thought out. The boot includes a rubber boot liner, with cutouts to access child tether strap points, though using them does restrict boot space. There are split-fold seats, and an integrated tonneau. There's air con, and heated mirrors. The leather seats are comfy, the ergonomics good. What's not to like?

The hard plastics. The spotty fit and finish, including overly obvious plastic seams. Door handle action that feels a little cheap-clunky. And a glitch with the electrics for some minor controls during my sojourn - which would be covered by the three-year, 100,000km warranty, though in my case they sorted themselves.

I would have liked a touch more power, too, but let's face it, this car is a bargain, for all the main bits - engine, handling, four-wheel-drive system - work to a standard appreciably above the car's price. Certainly enough above it to forgive the odd switch-glitch and plastic seam, and to accept the engine's stress-free delivery.

Great Wall X240

We like
Family-friendly off-road-capable SUV at exceptional price

We don't like
Hard plastics, poor fit and finish, inconsistent parking sensor response

Powertrain
2.4-litre four, 100kW at 5250rpm, 200Nm at 2500-3000rpm, five-speed manual drives two or four wheels, low-range transmission

Performance
0-100km/h not available, 10.4l/100km

Safety
ABS brakes, two airbags

What it's got
Climate control air con, CD/MP3, 17-inch alloy wheels, heated mirrors

Vital stats
4620mm long, 750x1300x850mm boot, 70-litre tank