Truck Petrol 5-Speed Manual RWD 2-seat

Foton Truckmate

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

Model year 2026 Generation Compact single-row cab platform with a 2,400 mm wheelbase and dropside or box-body factory configurations. Body style Light truck
A compact 1.5-litre petrol work truck offered as basic dropside, air-conditioned dropside or enclosed box body.
ZAR 199,900
On-road in
ZAR 213,298
Ex-showroom ZAR 199,900
Finance estimate from ZAR 3,519/month Based on Dropside Ex-showroom basis · approx. 20% deposit · 11.5% p.a. · 60 months · no balloon
Engine:1500cc (1.5L) Torque:142Nm (105 lb-ft) Power:82kW (110 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 10.53 km/l (25 mpg)
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 Truckmate 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 3,519
Total Interest
ZAR 51,129
Total Payable
ZAR 211,129
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 Dropside. 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 Truckmate

A compact 1.5-litre petrol work truck offered as basic dropside, air-conditioned dropside or enclosed box body.

The Truckmate page lists three current derivatives: Dropside at R199,900, Dropside AC at R215,900 and Box Body at R239,900. All use a 1.5-litre petrol engine rated at 82 kW and 142 Nm with a five-speed manual gearbox. Dropside technical data show a 2,850 mm by 1,560 mm by 360 mm cargo area, 1,210 kg curb weight and 1,200 kg load weight. The Box Body table gives a taller enclosed body, 1,310 kg curb weight and 1,100 kg load weight. The page labels 9.5 L/100 km for the dropside as laden and 7.9 L/100 km for the box as unladen, so those figures are not directly comparable. Warranty is listed as five years/150,000 km with five years of roadside assistance; service plans are available. Truckmate is built around body choice. Dropside favours hand loading, bulky items and quick access from three sides. Dropside AC keeps that function but adds climate control for R16,000. Box Body costs R40,000 more than the base and exchanges open access for weather protection, cargo containment and security, while the listed load weight is 100 kg lower. That difference is a reminder that fitted-body mass consumes payload. Buyers should measure their longest, widest and tallest item, then test loading through the real aperture instead of choosing by litre or tonne headlines alone. The petrol engine simplifies the fuel choice but may not match every high-mileage or heavily laden route. Build a cost model from the published laden 9.5 L/100 km dropside figure only if the duty resembles that basis; do not compare it with the box body's unladen 7.9 figure as though they came from one test. Confirm GVM, payload, body warranty, lock specification, tie-downs, spare wheel and air-conditioning on the exact quotation. The page does not establish airbags for every derivative, so safety equipment must be checked rather than inferred from general marketing. Truckmate's three prices correspond to different jobs. The R199,900 dropside is the simplest open-load carrier; another R16,000 adds air conditioning to that body; R239,900 buys an enclosed box. Garden services, market deliveries and maintenance teams may favour easy dropside loading, while parcels or ambient food benefit from weather protection and a lockable enclosure. Box Body's lower listed load weight makes its body part of the payload calculation. A two-seat cab and five-speed manual keep the proposition simple, but congested work still makes driver comfort relevant. Measure crates, tools or appliances against the actual body, check loading height and decide how often a forklift needs side access. Fuel cost for the 1.5-litre petrol engine belongs in a loaded route trial because consumption references use different load conditions. For a small enterprise, body suitability matters more than the lowest headline price. Air-conditioned Dropside supports long traffic shifts; Box Body must justify its premium through fewer weather or security losses.

Foton Truckmate — Quick Facts

Foton Truckmate 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
Dropside Dropside Petrol 5-Speed Manual ZAR 199,900
Dropside AC Dropside Ac Petrol 5-Speed Manual ZAR 215,900
Box Body Box Body Petrol 5-Speed Manual ZAR 239,900
Cmp Variant Trim Fuel Transmission Price
Dropside Dropside Petrol 5-Speed Manual ZAR 199,900
Dropside AC Dropside Ac Petrol 5-Speed Manual ZAR 215,900
Box Body Box Body Petrol 5-Speed Manual ZAR 239,900
2 variants selected

Foton Truckmate Specifications

Length
4685 mm
Width
1680 mm
Height
1920 mm
Wheelbase
2400 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
1210 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
Not Officially Disclosed
Payload Capacity
1200 kg
Towing Capacity
Not Officially Disclosed
Seating Capacity
2 seats
Number of Rows
1 rows
Doors
2 doors
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 Truckmate Fits Best

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

Who buys this

Truckmate is aimed at small enterprises that can choose a factory body around one recurring load. Basic Dropside suits gardening, maintenance or produce where open access is useful. Dropside AC is the more considerate daily tool when a driver spends hours in traffic. Box Body serves parcels and weather-sensitive goods, accepting a higher price and lower listed load weight for enclosure. All three retain a two-seat cab, petrol engine and five-speed manual, so fleets should check that this combination fits their mileage and traffic. Buyers needing diesel torque, a bigger cab or a specialist conversion should look further up Foton's commercial range rather than stretching Truckmate beyond its compact brief.

City
Compact dimensions and a 2,400 mm wheelbase suit short urban delivery loops, but the rear body still changes turning clearance and visibility. Dropside users need a weather and load-restraint plan at every stop. Box-body users gain containment but must manage rear-door clearance and height. The AC derivative is relevant for drivers spending full summer shifts in traffic; its R16,000 premium should be compared with staff comfort, concentration and retention rather than cosmetic equipment.
Highway
Truckmate can use national roads, yet 82 kW, 142 Nm and a 140 km/h listed maximum do not describe performance at legal load on gradients. Test the intended body with representative mass, especially for merging and crosswinds. Plan fuel using measured laden operation. The box creates a larger side area and different mass distribution than the dropside, so the two should not be assumed to behave identically in wind or braking.
Off-Road
This is a rear-driven compact commercial vehicle with leaf springs at the back, not a 4x4. Graded site access may be feasible, but no loaded clearance or obstacle-angle data justify off-road claims. Keep tyre load ratings, underbody exposure and rear overhang in view. Loose inclines and mud require route controls rather than confidence based on the word truck.
3.6/5
Hagalu editorial score 3.6 out of 5 Reviewed by Hagalu Editorial Team · 2026-09-07

Foton Truckmate — Should You Buy It?

3.6/5
Foton Truckmate review: R199,900 published entry price
Hagalu editorial review by Hagalu Editorial Team · 2026-09-07

A compact 1.5-litre petrol work truck offered as basic dropside, air-conditioned dropside or enclosed box body. The Truckmate's low entry price is only part of its case. Its three variants solve three distinct jobs, and the correct choice is visible once cargo protection, loading style and driver exposure are written down. The base dropside maximises simplicity, Dropside AC addresses long shifts and Box Body secures weather-sensitive goods. Buyers should preserve that clarity by comparing payload and consumption on matched bases and confirming exact safety equipment. A cheap body that forces extra trips is not cheaper in operation. 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 2.5/5 · 20%
2.5/5
Value 4.5/5 · 20%
4.5/5
Practicality 4.4/5 · 20%
4.4/5
Ownership 4.0/5 · 15%
4.0/5
Powertrain suitability 3.2/5 · 15%
3.2/5
Comfort & technology 2.8/5 · 10%
2.8/5

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

Truckmate is compelling when its chosen factory body matches the load; the AC dropside is the humane workday upgrade.

The Truckmate's low entry price is only part of its case. Its three variants solve three distinct jobs, and the correct choice is visible once cargo protection, loading style and driver exposure are written down. The base dropside maximises simplicity, Dropside AC addresses long shifts and Box Body secures weather-sensitive goods. Buyers should preserve that clarity by comparing payload and consumption on matched bases and confirming exact safety equipment. A cheap body that forces extra trips is not cheaper in operation.

What's Good
  • ✓R199,900 published entry price
  • ✓Three useful factory body specifications
  • ✓Simple five-speed manual petrol powertrain
  • ✓Listed 1,200 kg dropside load weight
  • ✓Five-year/150,000 km warranty headline
  • ✓AC dropside isolates the comfort upgrade
Watch Out For
  • ✕Consumption figures use mismatched load bases
  • ✕Box body carries a lower listed load weight
  • ✕No automatic derivative
  • ✕Exact airbag fitment must be confirmed
  • ✕Service plan is not listed as included
  • ✕Open bodies require separate weather and security planning

Foton Truckmate FAQs

Current recommended retail prices for the Foton Truckmate run from R199,900 to R239,900, 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 Dropside, Dropside AC, Box Body. 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 Truckmate is 1500 cc, with output shown as 82 kW (110 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.

Combined fuel-economy figures differ across the Foton Truckmate range: Dropside, Dropside AC: 10.53 km/l; Box Body: 12.66 km/l.

Truckmate is aimed at small enterprises that can choose a factory body around one recurring load. Basic Dropside suits gardening, maintenance or produce where open access is useful. Dropside AC is the more considerate daily tool when a driver spends hours in traffic. Box Body serves parcels and weather-sensitive goods, accepting a higher price and lower listed load weight for enclosure. All three retain a two-seat cab, petrol engine and five-speed manual, so fleets should check that this combination fits their mileage and traffic. Buyers needing diesel torque, a bigger cab or a specialist conversion should look further up Foton's commercial range rather than stretching Truckmate beyond its compact brief.

Compact dimensions and a 2,400 mm wheelbase suit short urban delivery loops, but the rear body still changes turning clearance and visibility. Dropside users need a weather and load-restraint plan at every stop. Box-body users gain containment but must manage rear-door clearance and height. The AC derivative is relevant for drivers spending full summer shifts in traffic; its R16,000 premium should be compared with staff comfort, concentration and retention rather than cosmetic equipment.

Truckmate can use national roads, yet 82 kW, 142 Nm and a 140 km/h listed maximum do not describe performance at legal load on gradients. Test the intended body with representative mass, especially for merging and crosswinds. Plan fuel using measured laden operation. The box creates a larger side area and different mass distribution than the dropside, so the two should not be assumed to behave identically in wind or braking.

Compare the Foton Truckmate 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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