Truck Petrol 5-Speed Manual RWD 2-seat

Foton Truckmate Dropside

Price in Cape Town, 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
Truckmate Dropside is a South African Truck with a truck body and petrol power.
ZAR 199,900
On-road in
ZAR 215,198
What makes up this price?
Vehicle price (ex-showroom)
ZAR 199,900
Registration allowance
ZAR 4,800
Licensing allowance
ZAR 2,000
Inspection / roadworthy allowance
ZAR 1,300
Dealer handling / delivery
ZAR 4,200
Insurance
ZAR 2,999
Other fees
ZAR 0
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.

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Hagalu editorial rating: 3.7/5 Review

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.

Vehicle specifications and buying guidance • Hagalu

Foton Truckmate Dropside

Truckmate Dropside is a South African Truck with a truck body and petrol power.

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. 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. 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. For Foton Truckmate Dropside, the live local retail evidence establishes current-range status but no distinct derivative-specific facelift history. For Foton Truckmate Dropside, the relevant generation and body context is: Compact single-row cab platform with a 2,400 mm wheelbase and dropside or box-body factory configurations. The current South African listing records this powertrain for Foton Truckmate Dropside: 1.5-litre petrol, 82 kW, 142 Nm and five-speed manual with open dropside body. Dropside — current South African listed price R199,900 as checked on 20 August 2026. It suits businesses that value three-side body access and the R199,900 price above cargo enclosure or air conditioning. 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. The Truckmate Dropside is not best understood by one headline number. Its appeal comes from the interaction between a truck body, Petrol power and a 5-Speed Manual transmission. A proper look at the Truckmate Dropside begins with the local specification, then moves to the owner’s week. Here, an active listing sits beside a South African price reference of R199,900, while engine of 1.5-litre Naturally Aspirated Petrol sets a practical boundary. Its appeal comes from the interaction between the Dropside trim, an active listing and a South African price reference of R199,900 for Truckmate Dropside. Those details decide whether it is an easy fit for work, delivery or fleet duty, or whether a nearby model with a different package would make more sense once the ownership budget is written down for Truckmate Dropside

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 Efficiency / range Transmission Price
Dropside Dropside Petrol Efficiency10.53 km/l 5-Speed Manual ZAR 199,900
Dropside AC Dropside Ac Petrol Efficiency10.53 km/l 5-Speed Manual ZAR 215,900
Box Body Box Body Petrol Efficiency12.66 km/l 5-Speed Manual ZAR 239,900
Cmp Variant Trim Fuel Efficiency / range Transmission Price
Dropside Dropside Petrol Efficiency10.53 km/l 5-Speed Manual ZAR 199,900
Dropside AC Dropside Ac Petrol Efficiency10.53 km/l 5-Speed Manual ZAR 215,900
Box Body Box Body Petrol Efficiency12.66 km/l 5-Speed Manual ZAR 239,900
2 variants selected
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Foton Truckmate Specifications

Showing all 203 non-empty supported buyer-facing fields for Dropside. Blank contract fields are not fabricated.

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

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. A shopper researching Truckmate Dropside should separate need from showroom appeal. If a truck body solves a problem every week, it deserves real consideration

City
Around town, Truckmate Dropside should be judged by repetition rather than a single burst of acceleration. The relevance of the Dropside trim becomes obvious on a busy weekday, while an active listing is worth checking before a purchase built around tight parking or frequent loading
Highway
Its suitability depends on route, load and gradient rather than impressive numbers alone. On a South African freeway or inter-city road, take the Truckmate Dropside out with the load it normally carries. Petrol power gives context, but a number cannot show how a 5-Speed Manual transmission feels on a gradient
Off-Road
Opening sides can simplify loading from different positions in a yard and can suit items that are awkward to move through a rear door. If the Truckmate Dropside will leave smooth tar, test the actual road rather than the image around it
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 market-specific 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

Truckmate Dropside deserves a closer look when its price, equipment and powertrain fit the owner’s route.

Truckmate Dropside is easiest to recommend when the buyer can point to a concrete benefit in a truck body and accept the limitation represented by Petrol power. A fair review of Truckmate Dropside should end with the owner’s route, not a universal verdict. The combination of a South African price reference of R199,900, engine of 1.5-litre Naturally Aspirated Petrol and a power output of 82 kW can be valuable for the right driver for Truckmate Dropside. The same package may feel expensive or inconvenient if the vehicle spends its life in a different role for Truckmate Dropside. Drive the exact version loaded as it will be used, then read the service, warranty, tyre and insurance costs beside the purchase price for Truckmate Dropside

What's Good
  • ✓Body style: Truck
  • ✓Fuel type: Petrol
  • ✓Transmission: 5-Speed Manual
  • ✓Trim: Dropside
  • ✓Status: active
  • ✓South African price: R199,900
  • ✓Engine: 1.5-litre Naturally Aspirated Petrol
  • ✓Power output: 82 kW
  • ✓Gearbox: 5-Speed Manual
Watch Out For
  • ✕Exact equipment for Truckmate Dropside can vary by derivative.
  • ✕Real fuel use for Truckmate Dropside depends on route, load and weather.
  • ✕The written Truckmate Dropside quotation should be checked before purchase.
  • ✕Tyre, insurance and service costs need a separate Truckmate Dropside budget.
  • ✕A short Truckmate Dropside test drive cannot represent every ownership route.
  • ✕Truckmate Dropside capability should not be inferred from body styling alone.
  • ✕The adjacent Truckmate Dropside grade may suit a different workload.
  • ✕Published Truckmate Dropside figures are planning references, not guarantees.
  • ✕Buyers should confirm Truckmate Dropside stock and support terms.

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.

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. A shopper researching Truckmate Dropside should separate need from showroom appeal.

Around town, Truckmate Dropside should be judged by repetition rather than a single burst of acceleration. The relevance of the Dropside trim becomes obvious on a busy weekday, while an active listing is worth checking before a purchase built around tight parking or frequent loading

Its suitability depends on route, load and gradient rather than impressive numbers alone. On a South African freeway or inter-city road, take the Truckmate Dropside out with the load it normally carries.

Compare the Foton Truckmate with the current Foton range to see how body style, performance, fuel use and practicality differ before choosing the vehicle that fits your needs.

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