Foton Tunland Diesel Hybrid: The gentle (and luxurious) giant

Considering the size of current pickups on the market nowadays, it’s obvious that, for Filipinos, size matters. Pickup trucks have been one of the bestselling vehicles for over a decade. And they’ve become much bigger than their predecessors from the 90s and early 2000s. 

Which puts the humongous Foton Tunland V7 and Tunland V9 at the top of the food chain. Measuring a massive 5,617 millimeters in length, 2,090 millimeters in width, and 1,910 millimeters in height, and with a ground clearance of 240 millimeters, the Tunland V9 far exceeds the dimensions of most other diesel pickups on the market today. The Tunland V7, which I tested, is just slightly narrower and lower than the Tunland V9 but has the same overall length.      

For reference, the gigantic Ford F-150 (introduced locally in 2020 but is no longer available), measured 5,885 mm long, 2,030 mm wide, and 1,995 mm high. The Foton Tunland is 10 inches shorter, 3 inches lower, but 2 inches wider than the American truck.

A more current size comparison would be the Ford Ranger Raptor—arguably the most muscular truck in its class. The Ranger Raptor has a length of 5,381 mm, a width of 2,028 mm, a height of 1,930 mm, and a ground clearance of 272 mm, making it almost 20 inches shorter, an inch taller, but with the same width and with an inch greater ground clearance.

But it’s not just about size. Trucks need to have that macho look, too. And in this regard, the Tunland delivers. Both Tunland trucks boast bold and mean-looking exterior styling with front ends that are among the most aggressive you’ll find on the road today. The Tunland V9 sports a huge all-black honeycomb grille bracketed by glaring quad headlamps, on top of which is an expansive hood with a powerful hood bulge. The side view is equally menacing with muscular blacked-out fender flares over huge 265/70R18 off-road tires on 18-inch alloy wheels.   

The Tunland V7 is even more brutish, with an even bigger black grille and stacked quad headlamps. Its massive façade looks like it belongs to an 18-wheeler truck. 

You would think that these brute-force-looking trucks are gas-guzzlers with unsophisticated interiors. Completely the contrary. 

The new Tunland pickups are not just powered by fuel-efficient turbo-diesel engines, they’re also hybrids! Both the Tunland V7 and Tunland V9 are propelled by a state-of-the-art Bosch 48-volt Aucan AF20 diesel-bybrid system that generates 161 horsepower and 450 Newton-meters of torque. The powertrain is mated to an 8-speed automatic that delivers power to the rear wheels only (4×2) or all four (4×4). 

NVH levels are impressively low, with almost zero diesel noise or vibration entering the cabin. Responsiveness is a “10,” thanks to lots of torque at low rpm and no lag at all from the torque converter automatic transmission.    

Ride quality is likewise a revelation. It rides more like a big, plush SUV than a pickup. Perhaps the Tunland’s size and weight go a long way in smothering the bumps and other imperfections of Philippine roads. 

The rugged, heavy-duty suspension is via front independent double wishbones for both trucks and a rear leaf spring rigid axle for the Tunland V7. The Tunland V9, meanwhile, boasts a five-link integrated-axle rear suspension. Their advanced truck body construction is a high-tech mix of high-strength steel with lightweight and energy-absorbing materials and design, hence the low NVH.

Yet another surprise-and-delight moment is when you open the doors and enter the cavernous cabin. Inside, the Tunland V7 and V9 feature luxurious orange or black-and-brown leather interiors, power-adjustable seats, a leather-wrapped multi-functional steering wheel, full LCD instrumentation, and a 14.6-inch multimedia touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth wireless and USB connectivity, among many more luxury, comfort, and convenience features.

I particularly like the diamond pattern stitching on the wine-red leather seats and the knurled metal knobs on the dashboard, console, and even steering wheel controls—something you’ll find on an ultra-luxury Bentley. Interior build quality, materials, and fit and finish are all top notch.  

Foton’s Tunland V7 and Tunland V9 are introducing new levels of luxury, space, and technology in the pickup segment. In this regard, they could be no less than game-changers. Foton was the first Chinese automotive brand to enter the Top 10 car companies in the Philippines in terms of sales. And it’s continuing to strengthen its presence with the new Tunland V7 and Tunland V9.

The Tunland trucks come with a 5-year/150,000-km warranty and have retails prices of P1,758,000 for the Tunland V7 Hybrid 4×2 and P1,888,000 for the 4×4. The Tunland V9 Hybrid, meanwhile, starts at P1,788,000 for the 4×2 and tops out at P1,998,000 for the 4×4. They’re currently on the last day of the Tunland On Tour Roadshow at the Main Atrium of SM Mall of Asia (with more mall appearances to be announced). 

Photos by Mica de los Reyes