Bus Petrol 5-Speed Manual 16-seat

Foton Asambe Taxi 2.4i Petrol (16 Seater)

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
Foton Asambe Taxi 2.4i Petrol (16 Seater) is the 16-seat high-roof minibus taxi option at R439,900, with R439,900 entry price.
ZAR 439,900
On-road in
ZAR 456,178
Ex-showroom ZAR 439,900
Estimated finance from ZAR 7,697/month 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 2.4i Petrol (16 Seater) 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. 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 2.4i Petrol (16 Seater)

Foton Asambe Taxi 2.4i Petrol (16 Seater) is the 16-seat high-roof minibus taxi option at R439,900, with R439,900 entry price.

The petrol Asambe is the R439,900 entry point to Foton's 16-seat taxi range. Its 2.4-litre petrol engine is listed at 100 kW and 200 Nm and is paired with a five-speed manual gearbox. The derivative is R60,000 cheaper than the diesel, making acquisition cost its clearest advantage. Route economics are not decided by price or peak power alone, however. Passenger load, gradients, congestion and annual distance will determine whether the petrol engine's lower torque becomes a daily compromise. Sixteen-seat capacity places safety, access and uptime ahead of ordinary private-car priorities. Foton's current listing mentions only a driver airbag for this derivative and provides a two-year warranty. Those details should be considered against the operator's passenger responsibility and replacement cycle. Seating count also does not establish legal payload with occupants and luggage; the completed taxi needs a mass check using realistic assumptions for the route. There is no official consumption figure, so a profitable forecast must come from a laden route test. The petrol version may suit shorter urban work, lower annual mileage or an operator who values its R60,000 saving more than the diesel's extra torque. Repeated hill starts with passengers, long interurban stages and intensive daily kilometres could reverse that calculation. Fuel price alone is not enough: servicing, downtime, finance and resale uncertainty belong beside litres used. The five-speed manual requires a driver assessment in real traffic, including clutch control when fully occupied. Passenger air conditioning, emergency equipment, seat condition and entry steps should all be checked on the actual vehicle rather than assumed from the 16-seat label. Asambe Petrol can be a rational route-specific taxi, but its short warranty, limited published restraint detail and absent consumption claim require a disciplined buying process rather than a price-led decision. Passenger revenue calculations should allow for the route's actual occupancy rather than sixteen full fares on every departure. A cheaper engine choice cannot repair an unrealistic utilisation assumption, and a busy route cannot excuse overloading. The operator should also confirm whether luggage reduces the practical passenger mass available on interurban work.

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

This derivative suits a taxi or staff-transport operator running shorter urban routes, moderate annual distance and relatively gentle gradients. It is most attractive where the R60,000 saving preserves working capital and a measured petrol budget remains competitive. High-mileage intercity operators, steep-route users and fleets prioritising torque should test the diesel with the same passenger load before choosing.

City
Load the petrol Asambe to a representative passenger mass and drive the busiest part of the route. Repeated pull-aways will show whether 200 Nm and the five-speed manual suit the timetable, while the turning circle, door operation and kerb access affect every stop. Test cooling through the rear of the cabin and allow time for safe boarding. An empty demonstration cannot reveal hill-start effort or loaded braking.
Highway
For interurban work, assess legal-speed cruising, overtaking margins and fuel use with realistic passengers and luggage. The 100 kW headline should not be treated as a substitute for the diesel's higher torque when gradients recur. Record noise, cooling performance and driver fatigue across the full stage. With no official consumption number, the petrol-versus-diesel decision needs measured route data under comparable conditions.
Off-Road
Asambe is a passenger taxi, not an off-road vehicle. Maintained gravel may be unavoidable, but route choice should protect occupants, tyres and the long body from ruts or abrupt crests. Check loaded clearance and door operation at the worst regular stop, then drive corrugations slowly. Operators with persistent rough-road work should prioritise a platform designed and documented for that environment.
3.9/5
Hagalu editorial score 3.9 out of 5 Reviewed by Hagalu Editorial Team · 2026-09-07

Foton Asambe Taxi 2.4i Petrol (16 Seater) — Should You Buy It?

3.9/5
Foton Asambe Taxi 2.4i Petrol (16 Seater) review: R439,900 entry price
Hagalu editorial review by Hagalu Editorial Team · 2026-09-07

Foton Asambe Taxi 2.4i Petrol (16 Seater) is the 16-seat high-roof minibus taxi option at R439,900, with R439,900 entry price. Asambe Petrol makes sense when its R439,900 price and lower acquisition burden outweigh the diesel's 80 Nm torque advantage. Its 16 seats and 100 kW output establish the broad role, but no official consumption figure, a two-year warranty and limited published airbag provision temper the value case. A full-passenger trial and route-based fuel comparison are essential before putting it into public transport. Its strongest argument is disciplined local use, where purchase saving is certain and diesel payback remains unproven. 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 4.4/5 · 20%
4.4/5
Practicality 4.7/5 · 20%
4.7/5
Ownership 3.7/5 · 15%
3.7/5
Powertrain suitability 3.5/5 · 15%
3.5/5
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

Foton Asambe Taxi 2.4i Petrol (16 Seater) offers R439,900 entry price, but buyers must account for only 200 Nm.

Asambe Petrol makes sense when its R439,900 price and lower acquisition burden outweigh the diesel's 80 Nm torque advantage. Its 16 seats and 100 kW output establish the broad role, but no official consumption figure, a two-year warranty and limited published airbag provision temper the value case. A full-passenger trial and route-based fuel comparison are essential before putting it into public transport. Its strongest argument is disciplined local use, where purchase saving is certain and diesel payback remains unproven.

What's Good
  • ✓R439,900 entry price
  • ✓100 kW listed power
  • ✓Sixteen-seat body
  • ✓Five-speed manual
  • ✓Asambe petrol 16-seater listed at R439,900
Watch Out For
  • ✕Only 200 Nm
  • ✕No official consumption
  • ✕Driver airbag only listed
  • ✕Two-year warranty
  • ✕Confirm Asambe petrol 16-seater price and included equipment in writing

Foton Asambe Taxi FAQs

The current recommended retail price listed for the Foton Asambe Taxi 2.4i Petrol (16 Seater) is R439,900. This is the vehicle price before finance interest, insurance, registration and any dealer-added options.

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 listed engine capacity for the Foton Asambe Taxi 2.4i Petrol (16 Seater) is 2400 cc, with output shown as 100 kW (134 bhp). Where a model has more than one derivative, compare the specific variant because fuel type, gearbox and drivetrain can change the way it drives.

This derivative suits a taxi or staff-transport operator running shorter urban routes, moderate annual distance and relatively gentle gradients. It is most attractive where the R60,000 saving preserves working capital and a measured petrol budget remains competitive. High-mileage intercity operators, steep-route users and fleets prioritising torque should test the diesel with the same passenger load before choosing.

Load the petrol Asambe to a representative passenger mass and drive the busiest part of the route. Repeated pull-aways will show whether 200 Nm and the five-speed manual suit the timetable, while the turning circle, door operation and kerb access affect every stop. Test cooling through the rear of the cabin and allow time for safe boarding. An empty demonstration cannot reveal hill-start effort or loaded braking.

For interurban work, assess legal-speed cruising, overtaking margins and fuel use with realistic passengers and luggage. The 100 kW headline should not be treated as a substitute for the diesel's higher torque when gradients recur. Record noise, cooling performance and driver fatigue across the full stage. With no official consumption number, the petrol-versus-diesel decision needs measured route data under comparable conditions.

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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