Right. We need to have a conversation about groupthink. For years, the South African bakkie buyer has been told there are only three choices: Toyota, Ford, and Isuzu. It’s become a mantra, a religion, a default setting so deeply ingrained that people buy Hiluxes the way they support the Springboks – because that’s what you do.

But here’s the thing about default settings. They’re rarely optimal. And while everyone else is fighting over waiting lists for Rangers and paying Fortuner money for decade-old Hilux designs, there’s a Frenchman standing in the corner, waving a baguette and offering you essentially the same thing for significantly less cash.

Meet the Peugeot Landtrek. It’s been around since late 2021. It’s been overlooked, underappreciated, and frankly, ignored by buyers who’d rather pay R200k more for a Toyota badge than actually test-drive the competition. That’s a mistake. And I’m here to fix it.

Wait, a French Bakkie? Is That a Joke?

I know what you’re thinking. French cars and reliability have historically had the same relationship as Eskom and load shedding – technically connected, but you wouldn’t bet your braai on it. But here’s the clever bit: the Landtrek isn’t really French. Or rather, it’s French in the same way that Woolies boerewors is German – it’s been adapted for local tastes by people who know what they’re doing.

The Landtrek shares its platform with the Changan Kaicene F70. That’s Chinese engineering, which these days means “robust, sensible, and surprisingly well-built.” It’s a proper ladder-frame bakkie with a 1.9-litre turbodiesel engine that produces 110 kW and 350 Nm. Those aren’t class-leading figures, granted. But unless you’re planning to drag race a fully loaded horsebox, they’re perfectly adequate.

The 1.9-litre unit comes from BMW’s engine partner and is actually more refined than you’d expect. Yes, it’s noisier than Ford’s 2.0 Bi-Turbo. Yes, it has more turbo lag than a teenager responding to their parents’ WhatsApp. But it’s also tough enough for the long haul and sipping fuel like a dieter at a wine tasting.

The Numbers That Actually Matter

Let’s talk money, because that’s where the Landtrek stops being a “quirky alternative” and starts being a “genuinely intelligent decision.”

Pricing (as of March 2026):

• 2025 Peugeot Landtrek 1.9TD Single Cab Professional – R369,900
• 2026 Peugeot Landtrek 1.9TD Double Cab Allure – R469,900
• 4×4 models – From around R545,900

Now, compare that to a Hilux 2.4 GD-6 Raider (around R620,000) or a Ford Ranger 2.0 XLT (around R635,000). We’re talking savings of R150,000 to R200,000. That’s not loose change. That’s a second car. That’s a holiday. That’s 8,000 litres of diesel at current prices.

And here’s the kicker: on the 4×4 Community Forum, one user reported that a 4×4 Landtrek was R120,000 cheaper than a 2WD Isuzu X-Rider. You read that right. A four-wheel-drive French bakkie costs less than a two-wheel-drive Japanese one. The universe has officially stopped making sense.

The Fuel Economy Crown

If you’re after the most fuel-efficient double cab you can buy for under R500,000 in South Africa, the Landtrek is your winner. The Professional model sips just 7.1 L/100km, which combined with its 80-litre tank gives you a theoretical range of 1,127 kilometres between fill-ups.

That’s Johannesburg to Cape Town. On one tank. Without stopping.

Even the 4×4 automatic models, which are thirstier at 8.9 L/100km, still beat most of the competition. At R1.37 per kilometre running costs, you’ll be laughing all the way to the petrol station while the Hilux owners weep into their wallets.

The Interior: Where Peugeot Actually Tries

Here’s where the Landtrek genuinely surprises. Peugeot makes some of the best-looking car interiors in the business (the 3008 is genuinely gorgeous), and they’ve brought that energy to the bakkie segment.

The cabin is widely praised as the most SUV-like and premium-looking in its price bracket. You get a 10-inch touchscreen, a proper i-Cockpit digital instrument cluster, and enough soft-touch materials to make a Ranger owner jealous. The Allure model adds leather seats, lumbar support, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, and a 360-degree camera that’s actually useful.

One forum user who test-drove both the Landtrek and Isuzu X-Rider noted: “Cabin was also hard plastic but just looked way better and felt much more spacious with soft surfaces in the right places… at R200k more than a Landtrek, the Isuzu felt cheeky”.

That’s the kind of real-world feedback that should make the Japanese brands nervous.

The Practical Stuff: Loads, Towing, and Off-Road Cred

The 3,000 kg towing capacity is 500 kg less than the Ranger or Hilux, so if you’re planning to drag a Jurgens Safari around the country, you might need more grunt. But for 90% of buyers towing a boat, caravan, or trailer, it’s perfectly adequate.

Off-road, the Landtrek comes with proper 4×4 hardware including low-range, a rear diff lock, and Hill Descent Control (though some owners report the HDC can be glitchy). The 235 mm ground clearance is respectable, and the approach/departure angles are good enough for serious gravel travel.

Who Should Buy One?

The Landtrek is for you if:

• You’re a lifestyle buyer who wants a comfortable, well-equipped bakkie for family trips and weekend adventures
• You value fuel economy and range over straight-line speed
• You’re willing to save R150k+ upfront and accept slightly lower resale value
• You live near a Peugeot dealer (or don’t mind traveling for services)
• You appreciate having a cabin that doesn’t feel like it was designed in 2005

Stick with the Hilux/Ranger if:

• You need a hardcore workhorse for heavy-duty farming or extreme overlanding
• You regularly tow near the 3.5-ton limit
• You live in a remote area with no Peugeot support
• Your ego requires the badge everyone recognises at the braai