JMC Philippines has showcased its initial offerings at an off-road-themed event in Batangas.

Members of the motoring media had the chance to experience the pickup trucks firsthand by taking them on two separate courses designed to display the features of the nameplates.

Here is our first look at one of the two models — the JMC Grand Avenue.

Beefy, good-looking

The JMC Grand Avenue is a heavily built truck with exterior and interior appointments that reflect its capabilities.

At the fore, it wears a muscular fascia with a large grille adorned by a likewise sizable chrome “JMC” script. Flanking the wide latticework are a pair of boxy headlamps with daytime running lights. Below its front end are two fog lamps.

Noticeable are its flanks with wide step boards, protruding side mirrors, and wide wheels. From this angle, one can notice the JMC Grand Avenue’s long wheelbase, which measures 3,270 millimeters.

The rear end of the pickup truck also gets boxy lights, a solid-looking tailgate, and chrome appliques that come in the form of a “Grand Avenue” badge and a JMC emblem. It also has a durable-looking bedliner with hooks that stick out to the pickup truck’s sides.

Spacious, comfortable

The interior of the truck packs plenty of features like a leather-wrapped steering wheel, seats covered in the same hide, a digital infotainment screen, and a 10-inch infotainment screen with Apple Carplay and Android Auto.

USB outlets are also provided, allowing the passengers to plug in their mobile devices for both short or long trips.

Impressive is its cavernous interior, which provided plenty of space for both the occupants sitting at the front and those sitting at the back. This means that the JMC Grand Avenue will not only be able to haul cargo using its bed but also carry several small items inside the cabin.

Capable powertrain, drivetrain

Power comes from a 2.3-liter turbocharged diesel engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. It also gets a Borg Warner four-wheel drive system to ensure performance on almost all terrains. Drivers can select from different modes that would suit their driving needs.

When we took out the JMC Grand Avenue on the “mild” course, it performed admirably well and showcased how easy it can ferry three full-sized adults — who just had a heavy lunch by the way — on a rough and rugged path.

Even better was when we drove the pickup truck on the “extreme” course where it displayed its prowess and mastery in handling various off-road obstacles like sharp, inclined bends; wide and deep pits; as well as steep uphill climbs.

Also notable are the suspension of the lifestyle pickup truck that made the short run on the uneven track quite comfortable, and the brakes that provided good stopping power on different situations.

Satisfactorily safe

The JMC Grand Avenue also gets a robust list of safety features and advanced driver assist systems, which include an anti-lock braking system, electronic brake-force distribution, electronic stability control, brake assist, hill descent control, a traction control system, and a reverse camera.

“Packed with the latest tech, JMC promises maximum comfort, safety, and performance for the driver and passengers. Transforming the concept of a pickup, The Grand Avenue represents the pinnacle of strength and performance, challenging the global industry. Defining JMC’s ‘Road to Excellence,’ the game-changing pickup offers a choice for versatility and comfort in a premium package,” the company wrote in a press release.

It is priced from P1.221 million to P1.569 million.

Photos from Juan Paulo Papa

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