Bus Petrol 5-Speed Manual 16-seat

Foton Asambe Taxi

Price in South Africa, real specs & fuel economy — 2026

Model year 2026 Generation High-roof, long-wheelbase 16-seat View-based minibus measuring 5,390 mm long. Body style Minibus
A 16-seat manual minibus with a lower-priced 2.4-litre petrol choice and a higher-torque 2.8-litre diesel alternative.
ZAR 439,900
On-road in
ZAR 456,178
Ex-showroom ZAR 439,900
Finance estimate from ZAR 7,697/month Based on 2.4i Petrol (16 Seater) Ex-showroom basis · approx. 20% deposit · 11.5% p.a. · 60 months · no balloon
Engine:2400cc (2.4L) Torque:200Nm (148 lb-ft) Power:100kW (134 bhp)

Hover or tap any pill for a plain-English explanation. Bracketed values show common equivalents (bhp, lb-ft, inches, cu ft).

Fuel Economy km/l · US mpg equivalent
Combined To be announced
City To be announced
Highway To be announced

On-road pricing varies by dealer. Fuel figures are manufacturer claims or source-backed estimates where a separate city/highway cycle is not published; your real numbers depend on traffic, terrain and driving style.

Model Range PDF
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Estimate monthly vehicle finance for the Foton Asambe Taxi in South Africa. The default illustration uses the ex-showroom price, approximately 20% deposit, 11.5% nominal annual interest over 60 months and no balloon payment.

Estimated monthly instalment
ZAR 7,697
Total Interest
ZAR 111,845
Total Payable
ZAR 461,845
Principal Interest

* Illustrative estimate based on the ex-showroom price, approximately 20% deposit, 11.5% nominal annual interest, 60 months and no balloon payment, using the 2.4i Petrol (16 Seater). Excludes initiation fees, monthly service fees, credit-life insurance and vehicle insurance. Your lender quotation may differ.

Source-backed vehicle data • Verified by the Hagalu team

Foton Asambe Taxi

A 16-seat manual minibus with a lower-priced 2.4-litre petrol choice and a higher-torque 2.8-litre diesel alternative.

Foton South Africa lists the 2.4i Petrol (16 Seater) at R439,900 and the 2.8 Diesel (16 Seater) at R499,900. The petrol engine produces 100 kW and 200 Nm; the diesel produces 96 kW and 280 Nm. Both have five-speed manual gearboxes. A 3,110 mm wheelbase supports the long high-roof body, whose length is 5,390 mm, width 1,920 mm and height 2,285 mm. The page lists 16 passenger seats, a single sliding door, tilt-up rear door, driver airbag, ABS with EBD and belts for all passenger positions. Warranty is two years/200,000 km and service plans are available. Foton does not state a combined fuel-consumption figure. The R60,000 powertrain gap needs a route calculation. Petrol has slightly higher listed power and lower purchase price; diesel has 80 Nm more torque and may suit repeated laden gradients or high annual distance, but its fuel and maintenance case must be measured rather than assumed. Both remain manual. An operator must confirm registration category, driver licence, operating permit, insurance, roadworthy obligations and seating definition independently. Sixteen advertised seats do not by themselves prove legal authority for a particular taxi route or contract. Inspect every passenger belt, mounting, headrest, emergency provision, step, door, window and aisle. Establish whether sixteen includes or excludes the driver in the registration documents. Weigh a realistic passenger and luggage scenario against GVM and axle limits supplied for the VIN. Obtain commercial service intervals, clutch and brake schedules, downtime arrangements and parts support. Compare petrol and diesel with fuel logs from the intended route rather than using an unrelated View number. The two-year warranty term should be read together with the generous 200,000 km cap. A 16-seat taxi is purchased around a route, not an isolated engine figure. Petrol saves R60,000 at list price and produces 100 kW and 200 Nm; diesel supplies 96 kW and 280 Nm. Both use five-speed manuals. Petrol may suit shorter or less intensive schedules where lower capital outlay dominates, while the diesel's additional torque may matter on loaded gradients. That choice still needs fuel and maintenance figures gathered on the intended route. Passenger turnover makes step lighting, door operation, belts and ventilation daily concerns. Test boarding with normal luggage because sixteen seats do not describe baggage room. Insurance, operating licences, professional driving requirements, cleaning and substitute transport all belong in the fare calculation. The listed two-year warranty can pass quickly in intensive work, making workshop access and a maintenance reserve important. Calculate paid seats needed on quiet and busy days, then allow for dead kilometres, driver breaks and workshop visits. That shows whether petrol price or diesel torque better protects income.

Foton Asambe Taxi — Quick Facts

Foton Asambe Taxi Variants & Prices

Pick up to 3 variants, hit Compare Variants and you'll get a proper side-by-side spec breakdown.

Maximum 3 variants reached
Uncheck one of the selected variants below before choosing another.
Cmp Variant Trim Fuel Transmission Price
2.4i Petrol (16 Seater) 2.4i Petrol 16 Seater Petrol 5-Speed Manual ZAR 439,900
2.8 Diesel (16 Seater) 2.8 Diesel 16 Seater Diesel 5-Speed Manual ZAR 499,900
Cmp Variant Trim Fuel Transmission Price
2.4i Petrol (16 Seater) 2.4i Petrol 16 Seater Petrol 5-Speed Manual ZAR 439,900
Cmp Variant Trim Fuel Transmission Price
2.8 Diesel (16 Seater) 2.8 Diesel 16 Seater Diesel 5-Speed Manual ZAR 499,900
2 variants selected

Foton Asambe Taxi Specifications

Length
5390 mm
Width
1920 mm
Height
2285 mm
Wheelbase
3110 mm
Ground Clearance (Default)
Not Officially Disclosed
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load)
Not Officially Disclosed
Fuel Tank Capacity
Not Officially Disclosed
Boot/Cargo Space
Not Officially Disclosed
Kerb Weight
Not Officially Disclosed
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
Not Officially Disclosed
Payload Capacity
Not Officially Disclosed
Towing Capacity
Not Officially Disclosed
Seating Capacity
16 seats
Number of Rows
5 rows
Doors
Not Officially Disclosed
Minimum Turning Radius
Not Officially Disclosed
Front Headroom
Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Headroom
Not Officially Disclosed
Front Legroom
Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Legroom
Not Officially Disclosed
Driving fit

Where the Foton Asambe Taxi Fits Best

A practical view of the buyer and roads this model is best suited to.

Who buys this

Asambe is intended for licensed 16-seat route, staff or community transport where purchase price, torque and utilisation can be calculated per trip. The petrol model lowers capital cost by R60,000 and may suit shorter schedules. Diesel provides 280 Nm and deserves attention on loaded gradients or higher annual distance, subject to a real fuel and maintenance comparison. Both are five-speed manuals, so driver suitability is part of the decision. Operators must check luggage room with all seats occupied, passenger insurance, permits, daily belt inspection and workshop cover. A private buyer who rarely fills the cabin would carry the cost and size without exploiting the vehicle's commercial purpose.

City
Urban taxi work puts the manual clutch, sliding door, cooling system, brakes and driver ergonomics under repeated stress. Petrol's lower entry cost may suit shorter routes with lower annual distance; diesel's torque may matter more on gradients and consistently full loads. Neither conclusion is universal. Test boarding at actual kerbs, rear visibility, turning space and cabin ventilation when occupied. The 2.285-metre height also requires depot and wash-bay clearance.
Highway
For longer commuter or group routes, compare engine response with sixteen occupied positions and realistic luggage. Diesel's 280 Nm is the stronger official torque number, while petrol's 100 kW is the higher power figure. Monitor consumption, noise, crosswind behaviour, braking and driver fatigue on the real corridor. Passenger restraint and luggage control remain essential at speed, and scheduled rest cannot be replaced by a vehicle feature.
Off-Road
Asambe is a rear-driven high-roof minibus, not a validated off-road vehicle. Rural routes should be assessed for potholes, shoulders, bridge approaches and low-traction sections while loaded. No official loaded clearance or full obstacle geometry is used here. If an unsealed route is unavoidable, tyres, spare support and recovery planning matter, but a serious off-road requirement points elsewhere.
3.9/5
Hagalu editorial score 3.9 out of 5 Reviewed by Hagalu Editorial Team · 2026-09-07

Foton Asambe Taxi — Should You Buy It?

3.9/5
Foton Asambe Taxi review: Two officially priced engine choices
Hagalu editorial review by Hagalu Editorial Team · 2026-09-07

A 16-seat manual minibus with a lower-priced 2.4-litre petrol choice and a higher-torque 2.8-litre diesel alternative. The Asambe provides a transparent two-engine, 16-seat choice at accessible published prices. Petrol minimises acquisition cost; diesel supplies substantially more torque. The correct derivative depends on measured fuel, gradient, mileage and maintenance rather than habit. Safety hardware, legal permissions and passenger-mass calculations must be verified on the exact vehicle. Its short two-year cover also makes dealer support and downtime planning as important as the kilometre allowance. The final engine choice should come from a loaded route trial and a fare model that includes quiet days, maintenance stoppages, permits and passenger cover. This Hagalu desk review weighs the published South African specification against the vehicle's intended buyer and use; it is not a road test, owner survey or customer rating.

Desk research: Scored from verified published sources and Hagalu's South African buyer analysis; this vehicle was not road-tested for this review. This is a Hagalu editorial score, not a customer rating.

Safety 3.1/5 · 20%
3.1/5
Value 4.2/5 · 20%
4.2/5
Practicality 4.7/5 · 20%
4.7/5
Ownership 3.7/5 · 15%
3.7/5
Powertrain suitability 3.7/5 · 15%
3.7/5
Comfort & technology 3.6/5 · 10%
3.6/5

Evidence reviewed: Hagalu maintains the detailed source record internally so this page does not promote third-party vehicle websites.

How this score is calculated · Methodology v1.0

Asambe's petrol-versus-diesel decision is commercial arithmetic around route length, load, torque and a R60,000 price gap.

The Asambe provides a transparent two-engine, 16-seat choice at accessible published prices. Petrol minimises acquisition cost; diesel supplies substantially more torque. The correct derivative depends on measured fuel, gradient, mileage and maintenance rather than habit. Safety hardware, legal permissions and passenger-mass calculations must be verified on the exact vehicle. Its short two-year cover also makes dealer support and downtime planning as important as the kilometre allowance. The final engine choice should come from a loaded route trial and a fare model that includes quiet days, maintenance stoppages, permits and passenger cover.

What's Good
  • ✓Two officially priced engine choices
  • ✓Sixteen-seat current local listing
  • ✓Petrol offers lower acquisition cost
  • ✓Diesel provides 280 Nm
  • ✓Five-speed manual common to both
  • ✓All-passenger belts are listed
Watch Out For
  • ✕Only a driver airbag is explicitly listed
  • ✕Foton publishes no official consumption figures
  • ✕Two-year warranty duration is short
  • ✕Service plan is optional
  • ✕Permit and licence suitability needs confirmation
  • ✕Loaded clearance and payload need exact confirmation

Foton Asambe Taxi FAQs

Current recommended retail prices for the Foton Asambe Taxi run from R439,900 to R499,900, depending on the derivative. Compare the exact trim before calculating finance because options, insurance and dealer charges can change the final monthly cost.

The current South African range comprises 2.4i Petrol (16 Seater), 2.8 Diesel (16 Seater). Prices and equipment are shown by derivative so buyers can compare the actual local range rather than specifications from another market.

The Foton Asambe Taxi engine specification depends on derivative: 2.4i Petrol (16 Seater): 2400 cc, 100 kW (134 bhp); 2.8 Diesel (16 Seater): 2800 cc, 96 kW (129 bhp). Compare the exact trim because its gearbox and equipment may also differ.

Asambe is intended for licensed 16-seat route, staff or community transport where purchase price, torque and utilisation can be calculated per trip. The petrol model lowers capital cost by R60,000 and may suit shorter schedules. Diesel provides 280 Nm and deserves attention on loaded gradients or higher annual distance, subject to a real fuel and maintenance comparison. Both are five-speed manuals, so driver suitability is part of the decision. Operators must check luggage room with all seats occupied, passenger insurance, permits, daily belt inspection and workshop cover. A private buyer who rarely fills the cabin would carry the cost and size without exploiting the vehicle's commercial purpose.

Urban taxi work puts the manual clutch, sliding door, cooling system, brakes and driver ergonomics under repeated stress. Petrol's lower entry cost may suit shorter routes with lower annual distance; diesel's torque may matter more on gradients and consistently full loads. Neither conclusion is universal. Test boarding at actual kerbs, rear visibility, turning space and cabin ventilation when occupied. The 2.285-metre height also requires depot and wash-bay clearance.

For longer commuter or group routes, compare engine response with sixteen occupied positions and realistic luggage. Diesel's 280 Nm is the stronger official torque number, while petrol's 100 kW is the higher power figure. Monitor consumption, noise, crosswind behaviour, braking and driver fatigue on the real corridor. Passenger restraint and luggage control remain essential at speed, and scheduled rest cannot be replaced by a vehicle feature.

Compare the Foton Asambe Taxi with the current Foton range to see how body style, performance, fuel use and practicality differ before choosing a commission or used example.

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Data verified against: Foton Official South Africa Website

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