While it won’t set its rear-wheels on fire when it comes to performance, the JMC Boarding 2.8 is blessed with 84kW of power at 3 600rpm and a gutsy 235N.m of torque from as low as 2 300rpm

JMC is a relative newcomer to the South African commercial vehicle market, having found favour with local fleet operators in its mid-sized Carrying truck in recent years.However, the Chinese brand is looking to grow its market share by offering a range of light commercials that won’t break the bank when it comes to signing an offer to purchase.

Its Boarding range of light commercial vehicles, in the form of singleand double-cab bakkies, represent its efforts at attracting buyers of utility vehicles as well as business owners to its more affordable way of doing things. Affordability is a major selling point in the LCV segment, and JMC prides itself on bringing in highly-specced and appointed vehicles at prices that will certainly give the more established players in the segment something to think about.

The entry into the Boarding range of bakkies comes in the form of a 2,8-litre four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine, which its manufacturer claims is one of the most rugged engines one can expect to find in any workhorse in SA.

While it won’t set its rear-wheels on fire when it comes to performance, the JMC Boarding 2.8 is blessed with 84kW of power at 3 600rpm and a gutsy 235N.m of torque from as low as 2 300rpm. JMC says that this engine should return excellent fuel consumption thanks to its longer gearing final drive, which means that more than 600km should be possible between fill-ups of its 63-litre fuel tank.

The Boarding is also available as a 4×4 single-cab model, which is ideal if you plan on using it on a farm or construction site that requires extra traction. The 4×4 system will also come in handy if you need to tow something off-road, which the Boarding is easily adept at thanks to its generous ground clearance.

While the entry levels models won’t make your eyes water in terms of specifications, there are higher-spec Luxury models to choose from if you would rather have a few creature comforts. With prices of vehicles on the rise, thanks to a volatile financial exchange rate, the JMC Boarding remains one of the most affordable one-tonners that you could buy in South Africa.

JMC is currently in the process of growing its nationwide network of dealers and the Boarding pick-up is available at prices starting from R159 880.