Truck Petrol 5-Speed Manual RWD 2-seat

Foton Truckmate Dropside

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
Foton Truckmate Dropside is the compact single-cab light truck option at R199,900, with lowest truckmate price.
ZAR 199,900
On-road in
ZAR 213,298
Ex-showroom ZAR 199,900
Estimated finance from ZAR 3,519/month 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 Dropside 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. 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 Dropside

Foton Truckmate Dropside is the compact single-cab light truck option at R199,900, with lowest truckmate price.

At R199,900, the Foton TruckMate Dropside is the lowest-priced derivative in the cited TruckMate range. It uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine with published outputs of 82 kW and 142 Nm, paired with a five-speed manual gearbox. The compact single-row cab platform has a 2,400 mm wheelbase and an open dropside load body. Foton lists a 1,200 kg load weight and three-side loading access, giving this small truck a clear role in local deliveries and trades work where easy access to the cargo is more important than enclosure. The body is its main advantage. Opening sides can simplify loading from different positions in a yard and can suit items that are awkward to move through a rear door. Landscaping supplies, building materials and market goods are plausible categories, provided every load is properly restrained and remains within legal limits. The same openness creates the central drawback: cargo is exposed to weather and theft. A business must decide whether its goods and parking arrangements can tolerate that exposure or whether the factory box-body configuration is the better starting point. This base Dropside does not list air conditioning, and airbags are not established in Foton's official local listing. Those are significant considerations rather than minor trim details. A vehicle spending short periods on local rounds may still meet an owner's comfort priorities, while full-day work in hot conditions gives the air-conditioned Dropside AC a stronger case. The absence of established airbag information should remain visible when comparing driver environments. The exact standard equipment should be understood before the low entry price is treated as a complete ownership solution. The 82 kW and 142 Nm petrol engine and five-speed manual form a simple powertrain proposition. Its suitability depends on route, load and gradient rather than impressive numbers alone. The listed 1,200 kg load weight should be reconciled with body fittings, occupants and the exact goods carried. A loaded drive can reveal how the truck moves away, brakes and changes direction in the conditions it will meet. There is no automatic in this derivative, so repeated clutch work must be acceptable to the assigned driver. TruckMate Dropside is most compelling for a start-up, owner-driver or small fleet that needs an affordable open-body tool for short, predictable routes. Its 2,400 mm wheelbase underlines the compact brief, while the three-side body offers flexibility at the destination. It is less appropriate for valuable or weather-sensitive goods, for drivers who require cabin cooling, or for buyers unwilling to settle the exact safety equipment. When cargo type and operating environment suit the base specification, R199,900 creates a direct path into a new working vehicle without paying for features the business may not need.

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

The base Dropside fits an owner-driver, gardening service, market trader, maintenance team or small supplier that carries robust goods on short local routes. It suits businesses that value three-side body access and the R199,900 price above cargo enclosure or air conditioning. Buyers transporting weather-sensitive stock, parking loaded vehicles in exposed areas or running full hot shifts should consider another TruckMate configuration.

City
Local deliveries make best use of the compact 2,400 mm wheelbase and open body. Test the five-speed manual through the busiest normal round, including kerbside positioning and starts with representative cargo. Three-side access can reduce awkward handling where the truck has safe space alongside it. The uncooled cab and exposed load should be judged over a full working period, not during a brief early-morning demonstration.
Highway
The TruckMate can travel between towns, but its strongest case remains short commercial work. A regional assessment should use the expected legal load and include gradients, crosswinds, braking and safe joining speed. Published outputs are 82 kW and 142 Nm, so route suitability should be observed rather than inferred. Open cargo needs secure restraint and weather planning, while the manual gearbox adds driver effort over a long multi-stop day.
Off-Road
Nothing in the cited Dropside description establishes specialised off-road equipment. Firm yards, maintained gravel and prepared site roads are the sensible unsealed brief. Carrying a load on rough surfaces requires low speed, secure restraint and awareness of body movement. Deep ruts, loose climbs and muddy approaches can disrupt a compact delivery vehicle regardless of its open-truck appearance, so the route should be chosen around dependable access.
3.7/5
Hagalu editorial score 3.7 out of 5 Reviewed by Hagalu Editorial Team · 2026-09-07

Foton Truckmate Dropside — Should You Buy It?

3.7/5
Foton Truckmate Dropside review: Lowest Truckmate price
Hagalu editorial review by Hagalu Editorial Team · 2026-09-07

Foton Truckmate Dropside is the compact single-cab light truck option at R199,900, with lowest truckmate price. The R199,900 TruckMate Dropside is an honest entry work truck: compact, petrol-powered, manual and accessible from three sides, with a listed 1,200 kg load weight. It is attractive when cargo can remain open and journeys are short. No listed air conditioning, no automatic and unestablished airbag information narrow the audience. Buyers should choose it because the simple specification fits the job, not because it is merely the cheapest TruckMate. Cargo fit remains decisive. 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 2.4/5 · 20%
2.4/5
Value 4.7/5 · 20%
4.7/5
Practicality 4.5/5 · 20%
4.5/5
Ownership 4.0/5 · 15%
4.0/5
Powertrain suitability 3.2/5 · 15%
3.2/5
Comfort & technology 2.6/5 · 10%
2.6/5

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 Truckmate Dropside offers lowest truckmate price, but buyers must account for no air conditioning listed.

The R199,900 TruckMate Dropside is an honest entry work truck: compact, petrol-powered, manual and accessible from three sides, with a listed 1,200 kg load weight. It is attractive when cargo can remain open and journeys are short. No listed air conditioning, no automatic and unestablished airbag information narrow the audience. Buyers should choose it because the simple specification fits the job, not because it is merely the cheapest TruckMate. Cargo fit remains decisive.

What's Good
  • ✓Lowest Truckmate price
  • ✓1,200 kg listed load weight
  • ✓Three-side loading
  • ✓Simple petrol manual
  • ✓TruckMate Dropside listed at R199,900
Watch Out For
  • ✕No air conditioning listed
  • ✕Open cargo exposure
  • ✕No automatic
  • ✕Airbags not established
  • ✕Confirm TruckMate Dropside price and included equipment in writing

Foton Truckmate FAQs

The current recommended retail price listed for the Foton Truckmate Dropside is R199,900. This is the vehicle price before finance interest, insurance, registration and any dealer-added options.

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 Dropside 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.

The combined fuel-economy figure shown for the Foton Truckmate Dropside is around 10.53 km/l.

The base Dropside fits an owner-driver, gardening service, market trader, maintenance team or small supplier that carries robust goods on short local routes. It suits businesses that value three-side body access and the R199,900 price above cargo enclosure or air conditioning. Buyers transporting weather-sensitive stock, parking loaded vehicles in exposed areas or running full hot shifts should consider another TruckMate configuration.

Local deliveries make best use of the compact 2,400 mm wheelbase and open body. Test the five-speed manual through the busiest normal round, including kerbside positioning and starts with representative cargo. Three-side access can reduce awkward handling where the truck has safe space alongside it. The uncooled cab and exposed load should be judged over a full working period, not during a brief early-morning demonstration.

The TruckMate can travel between towns, but its strongest case remains short commercial work. A regional assessment should use the expected legal load and include gradients, crosswinds, braking and safe joining speed. Published outputs are 82 kW and 142 Nm, so route suitability should be observed rather than inferred. Open cargo needs secure restraint and weather planning, while the manual gearbox adds driver effort over a long multi-stop day.

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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