Gwm P Series

The Double Cab LX 4x4 is the flagship P Series — the variant that takes everything good about the LT 4x2 and adds genuine off-road capability. At R599,900 it sits R60,000 above the LT and adds the full 4x4 hardware that transforms the P Series from lifestyle bakkie into legitimate weekend off-roader. For SA buyers who tow caravans, head into the bush regularly, or simply want the security of 4x4 capability for occasional use, the LX is the P Series that earns its keep. The 4x4 system is a selectable part-time setup with high range, low range, and a rear differential lock. Approach angle is 30 degrees, departure 26 degrees, ramp-over 24 degrees. Ground clearance sits at 215 mm. Wading depth is rated at 800 mm — substantial enough to handle the deepest river crossings on Lesotho border routes. Hill descent control modulates braking automatically on steep descents. These numbers are competitive with the Hilux Legend 4x4 (R790,000) and Ranger XL 4x4 (R675,500) at significantly less money. On-road the LX trades a small amount of ride comfort for off-road capability. The 4x4 hardware adds approximately 100 kg of kerb weight versus the 4x2 LT, the front suspension is slightly firmer to handle off-road impact loads, and the 18-inch off-road-biased tyres generate marginally more road noise than the LT's road-biased rubber. Most buyers won't notice the difference until they put the bakkie through a side-by-side comparison. Cabin equipment matches the LT — 12.3-inch infotainment, genuine leather seats with electric driver adjustment, panoramic sunroof, 9-speaker audio, full driver-assistance suite, 360-camera. The LX adds dedicated 4x4 displays in the instrument cluster showing differential lock status and 4x4 mode, plus a transparent under-body camera view that's genuinely useful on technical obstacles. Real-world off-road performance has been impressive in SA owner feedback. The diff lock activates quickly when called, the low-range first gear delivers strong crawling ability, and the chassis articulation is competitive with Japanese rivals. On serious off-road terrain — Sani Pass at its worst, technical Lesotho passes, deep mud Botswana routes — the LX 4x4 performs at the level expected of a modern off-road bakkie. For the buyer choosing between this and the Hilux 2.8 GD-6 Raider 4x4 at R770,000 or the Ranger 2.0 SiT XLT 10AT 4x4 at R731,000, the GWM saves R130,000–R170,000 with broadly equivalent off-road capability. The unresolved residual trade-off is the same as other GWM bakkies — but for buyers running the bakkie to 200,000+ km, the LX is the smart-money flagship.