Check out Foton Tunland V9’s hits, misses

While relatively new to the market, the Foton Tunland V9 is a strong contender in the local pickup truck market. It is, after all, one of the few in its segment that comes with a hybrid powertrain - a quality that is fast becoming attractive to many contemporary car buyers. 

Additionally, the Tunland V9 comes with relatively accessible prices at P1.788 million for the 4x2 trim, and P1.998 million for the 4x4 version. It's not the most affordable double-cab ride in the Philippines, but it's undoubtedly a feature-rich option that’s more accessible compared to other top-spec trims from other models. 

All the aforementioned sounds good, but what are the specific strengths and weaknesses of the Foton Tunland V9 that buyers should be aware of? Let’s find out here. 

Pros

Impactful exterior design

One key strength of the Foton Tunland V9 is its eye-catching exterior design. Specifically, it shows a very macho persona that hints at its capability off-road. 

For starters, it boasts a huge front grille covered by a mesh. Flanking its grille are a pair of sharp LED headlamp clusters. The bottom of the front fascia, meanwhile, is framed by a chunky front bumper. Up top, it is capped off by a bulging bonnet. 

From the side, the Tunland V9 is made more attractive thanks to the presence of black-colored overfenders, off-road specced side steps, and a set of black-colored 18-inch alloy wheels. The rear of the model, on the other hand, was fitted with a place bearing large “Foton” lettering, a tailgate step, and a bedliner. 

Combined with its design elements, the pickup truck also boasts plenty of road presence due to its sizable dimensions. To be more exact, the Foton-made truck is 5,617 millimeters (mm) long, 2,090 mm wide, and 1,910 mm in height. It also has a wheelbase length of 3,355mm.

With the said measurement figures, the Foton Tunland V9 is fairly larger than the Toyota Hilux GR-S, the Isuzu D-Max LS-E, the Mitsubishi Triton Athlete, and the Ford Ranger Bi-Turbo Wildtrak. 

Off-road capability

On paper, the Foton Tunland V9 is rated to be capable of handling off-road driving situations. The aforementioned is mainly provided by its beefy 2.0-liter inline-4 turbodiesel mill and 48-volt hybrid system, which in total can generate up to 161 horsepower (hp) and 450 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque. 

For enhanced power, the pickup truck uses an electronically controlled high-pressure direct injection system and a Borg-Warner variable geometry turbocharger (VGT). Said power is sent to all four wheels via a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. It was also equipped with a differential locker. 

Ride quality and stability for the Foton-made vehicle are dependent on a double wishbone front suspension and a multi-link suspension for the rear. Notably, its rear system is touted to provide a more comfortable ride compared to the typical leaf spring-type suspension used by other pickup trucks on the market. Regardless, the Tunland V9 can still carry up to 875 kilograms, according to the brand’s local arm. 

To better handle obstacles on bumps on the road, the Foton Tunland V9 boasts a total ground clearance of 240 mm. It also has a maximum wading depth of 700 mm, while braking power is handled by front and rear ventilated discs. 

Plenty of amenities, safety gear

While designed from the ground up as a tough truck, the Foton Tunland V9 also comes standard with a lot of creature comforts. 

For example, its interior boasts a lot of soft-touch surfaces, combined with leather upholstered seats, as well as polished metallic trim pieces. Specific to its driver are the following:

• Eight-way power-adjustable seat
• Push-to-start button 
• Drive mode selector
• Multi-function leather steering wheel
• Electronic parking brake
• Analog gauge cluster with digital display

To keep its occupants connected and entertained while on the go, the Foton Tunland V9 was equipped with a 14.6-inch central touchscreen with wireless smartphone connectivity (Carbitlink). The said screen is also capable of audio streaming and is connected to a six-piece speaker set. 

Additionally, the model also has wireless smartphone charging, USB charging ports, and a 12-volt accessory outlet. 

On the safety side, the Foton Tunland V9 features a range of relevant equipment. It comes with a total of six airbags, electronic stability, anti-lock braking, electronic brake-force distribution, vehicle dynamics control, traction control, hill-start control, hill-descent control, and a tire-pressure monitoring system.

The model doesn’t come with a full suite of advanced driver-assist systems, but it does feature a driver fatigue reminder, which alerts those behind the wheel if they appear to be distracted or drowsy. Additionally, the truck also has an adjustable speed limit control system and cruise control. 

Cons

No Apple CarPlay, Android Auto

The wireless Carbitlink smartphone connectivity on the Foton Tunland V9 is usable, and the size of its touchscreen makes it legible, but most buyers nowadays prefer to use Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

The two aforementioned connectivity software, after all, are straightforward to use as they are already built into both iOS and Android OS phones. 

Foton Tunland V9: specifications

Model	Foton Tunland V9
Exterior
Dimensions (L x W x H, in mm)	5,617x2,090x1,910
Wheelbase (mm)	3,355
Ground clearance (mm)	240
Wheel size	18-inch
Lighting system	LED
Interior
Material	Leather
Amenities	Power-adjustable driver’s seat Wireless smartphone charging pad Six-piece speaker set Push-to-start button  Drive mode selector Multi-function leather steering wheel Electronic parking brake Analog gauge cluster with digital display
Infotainment system	14.6-inch touchscreen with wireless Carbitlink
Seating capacity	Five
Powertrain
Engine	2.0-liter inline-4 turbocharged
Fuel type	Diesel
Transmission	Eight-speed ZF automatic
Horsepower	161
Torque	450 Nm
Hybrid system	48-volt mild hybrid
Technology
Safety	Six airbags Electronic stability Anti-lock braking Electronic brake-force distribution Vehicle dynamics control Traction control Hill-start control Hill-descent control Tire-pressure monitoring system Driver fatigue monitor Cruise control Adjustable speed limit control
Price	P1.998 million

Final thoughts

While it lacks Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, people looking for a competent rig that can handle both off-road adventures, daily drives, and highway cruising still have a lot to like with the Foton Tunland V9. It is well-equipped for safety and comfort, and its hybrid system promises better fuel efficiency as well. 

So, if you’re a prospective pickup truck buyer looking at multiple options, do consider taking the Foton Tunland V9 for a spin. Who knows, it may just be the right one for you. 

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