Right-hand drive, an eight-speed ZF automatic, and a premium interior — that combination used to mean a European or Japanese badge and a price to match. It is the specification a Kenyan operator asks for when the vehicle has to work on a rural track during the week and carry a family to the coast at the weekend, and when the driver pool is not made up of people who want to work a clutch in Nairobi traffic. The Foton Tunland V9 4x4 ZF automatic pickup is listed at USD 27,877 with FOB terms quoted at USD 21,900, recorded for Kenya. This is how we would weigh it — starting with the two figures that decide whether it is the right tool.

Payload: 750 kg, and it is the specification's real constraint

Gross vehicle weight is 3,055 kg and kerb weight is 2,305 kg. That leaves roughly 750 kg for passengers and cargo — the lowest payload of any double-cab Tunland we have looked at, and the direct consequence of how much equipment this trim carries.

Be disciplined about what that means. Five adults will account for a substantial share before you load anything, so this is a vehicle for tools, produce, safari gear and equipment — not for sand, blocks or aggregate. The seller is candid on this point too, and it matches our reading: power is not the limiting factor here, payload is. If your work is bulk material, a light truck is the right answer and this is not.

"GVW 3,055 kg minus 2,305 kg kerb leaves about 750 kg. Power is not what limits this truck — payload is."

The bed is usefully larger than on the shorter Tunlands: 1,577 mm long, 1,650 mm wide and 530 mm deep. That extra 90 mm of depth over the 440 mm boxes elsewhere in the range is worth having, and the box ships with a spray-on protector as standard. For a vehicle that alternates between building materials and family luggage, a lined bed is not a nicety — it is what keeps the paint intact.

Engine and the ZF eight-speed: why this pairing matters

The engine is the 4F20, built by Beiqi Foton Motor Co., Ltd., a 1,968 cc turbo-diesel rated Euro IV producing 120 kW and 415 N·m. That torque figure is the highest in the Tunland range we have reviewed, and notably the headline output of 163 hp is consistent with the 120 kW column — no ambiguity to resolve on this record.

The gearbox is the point of difference: a ZF 8HP50 eight-speed automatic. This is a torque-converter automatic with closely spaced ratios from a supplier your workshop will recognise, and it changes the vehicle in three practical ways. It keeps a relatively small 2.0-litre diesel inside its torque band on long climbs, because it can change down without losing drive. It removes clutch wear entirely from stop-start site and city work. And it makes the vehicle drivable by anyone in the pool, which on a mixed fleet is worth more than a spec-sheet advantage.

The counter-argument is a fair one and you should hear it before you sign. An automatic of this complexity is not a gearbox a village workshop will rebuild. For long-term ownership, confirm parts availability and service capability with the dealer in your area before committing to any automatic — and ask specifically whether ZF service support exists in Kenya, not just whether Foton does.

Size, suspension and the brakes that suit this weight

This is a big pickup, and you should measure before you buy. Overall length is 5,617 mm, width 2,090 mm and height 1,955 mm, on a 3,355 mm wheelbase — substantially longer than the 3,105 to 3,110 mm wheelbases used elsewhere in the range. The longer wheelbase improves ride and stability, and it costs you turning circle. If your sites are tight or your depot ramps are narrow, check the manoeuvring space before ordering.

Width is the other dimension to check: at 2,090 mm this is a wide vehicle for a pickup, and that affects everything from gate widths to whether two can pass on a rural track. Suspension is double wishbone independent at the front and multi-link non-independent at the rear, which is what keeps the ride settled when the bed is empty — the area where leaf-sprung pickups usually feel harsh.

Braking matches the weight properly: front and rear disc brakes with ESP/ESC, unlike the front-disc, rear-drum setups on the cheaper models. Tyres are 265/70R18, four plus one. The 70-profile sidewall is more sensible for rough ground than the 60-profile 18-inch fitment on the G9, though a 17- or 16-inch option would still be tougher — ask whether one is offered. Fuel tank capacity is 76 litres, worth checking against your longest unrefuelled stretch.

"Front and rear discs with ESC at 3,055 kg gross. On a loaded descent in the wet, that is the specification that earns its keep."

Interior: the trim built to do two jobs

Interior trim is Black Charm. The driver's seat is electric eight-way with heating; the passenger gets electric four-way with heating and SBR, but no lumbar support. Air conditioning is dual-zone automatic with integrated cooling and heating, and multimedia is a 14.6-inch MP5 screen. The steering wheel is an imitation-leather multifunction CAN-bus unit. This is the most heavily equipped Tunland in the range by a clear margin.

For a vehicle doing genuine double duty, that equipment list has a business case. Dual-zone climate control, a heated eight-way seat and a large screen are what make a single vehicle acceptable for both site work and family use, and they reduce pressure to run a second car. The honest counterweight is complexity and cost: electric seat mechanisms, a large screen and a dual-zone system are all items that eventually need repair, and on a 2,090 mm-wide vehicle driven on rough tracks, interior rattles are a real risk.

Money, RHD availability and what to confirm before shipping

At USD 27,877 list with FOB from USD 21,900, this is the most expensive Tunland in the group — and you are paying for the ZF gearbox, the interior, the brakes and the longer wheelbase rather than for payload, which is lower than on cheaper models. Judge it against what a right-hand-drive Japanese double-cab automatic with comparable equipment would cost, and the gap is real. Judge it purely on tonnes carried and it looks expensive.

RHD is confirmed on this record, with Kenya named as the sales country — but confirm current Kenyan import requirements on emission tier and vehicle age with your broker before shipment. Euro IV is what is built, and it cannot be changed afterwards. FOB terms also mean freight, marine insurance, port handling, duty and registration are all on your side of the ledger.

Not stated in this record, and worth asking for: fuel consumption and range, service intervals, warranty terms, ground clearance, approach and departure angles, turning circle, and whether a 16- or 17-inch wheel package can be substituted for the 18-inch fitment. Everything above comes from the specification record for the Tunland V9 4x4 ZF automatic pickup and nothing else.

Questions buyers ask before signing

Can the V9's 2.0-litre diesel handle real work loads?

The 4F20 produces 415 N·m through a ZF eight-speed automatic, so it pulls strongly for its size — timber, stone and produce on steep or slippery ground are well within its range. Payload is the limit rather than power: GVW is 3,055 kg against a 2,305 kg kerb weight, leaving roughly 750 kg for passengers and cargo. That suits tools, produce and safari gear; sand, blocks and aggregate are a light truck's job.

Is the ZF eight-speed automatic dependable off-road?

The ZF 8HP50 is a torque-converter automatic with closely spaced ratios, which keeps the 2.0-litre diesel in its torque band on climbs and removes clutch wear in stop-start site work — a real advantage over a manual in city traffic. It pairs with 4x4 drive and ESP/ESC. For long-term ownership, confirm parts availability and service capability with the dealer in your area before you commit to any automatic.

Is the V9 comfortable enough as a family vehicle?

It is built for that dual role. The double cab seats five across a 2,090 mm-wide body, dual-zone automatic air conditioning lets passengers set their own temperature, and the driver gets an eight-way electric heated seat with a 14.6-inch MP5 screen. Rear multi-link suspension keeps the ride settled when the bed is empty, which is where leaf-sprung pickups usually feel harsh, and the spray-on bed liner takes family and work use alike.