Changan invited us for a drive with the Q05 SUV, Hunter PHEV pickup, and a preview of the A05 sedan. Rain got in the way though once we were in our location in Villa Escudero in Quezon and so we had to settle for one car as our hero for the day.
Luckily, I was assigned to something interesting. The Changan Hunter is a plug-in hybrid pickup, much like the BYD Shark 6. It also has a multi-link suspension at the back, like the Shark 6 and the Nissan Navara. And yet, I found it to be better than the 2 in terms of ride comfort. That, and 2 more stood out to me regarding the Changan Hunter in this drive.
Sublime ride comfort
Changan definitely did some wonders with the suspension of the Hunter. It’s not the first ladder frame pickup that has a multi-link suspension at the rear axle and yet it is the most comfortable in my experience. Yes I’ve been in the Navara, the Ranger, Ranger Raptor, and the BYD Shark 6. The comfort of this Hunter is simply astonishing.
The ride is very cushiony. You can feel the dips in SLEX’s deep ruts, but it’s not jarring in any way. It was also chill at STAR tollway’s uneven surfaces. It’s also crossover-like on the highway in that it just glides smoothly on the asphalt and doesn’t have those little bumps that other pickups still feel on a decent road. This is further aided by the soft foam on the rear seats giving me a very comfortable sleep at the back.
No Diesel, no problem
Majority of the pickup in the Philippines are powered by a diesel mill so it’s very refreshing to see one powered by a turbocharged gasoline – an electrified one at that. Diesel lovers will instantly pull their “walang hatak yan!” card out of their pockets for sure.
Yet, the Hunter makes for a good case of an electrified pickup. It has 268 horses – more than the average diesel pickup, and closely matches their torque rating at 470 Nm for the 4×4 trim. It can be quick, it can be mild, it can be what it wanted to be on the road. It’s like the Mike Tyson of pickups – big, packs a punch, but light on its feet.
As for range, Changan says the Hunter has a combined range of 1,031 km with the full tank and battery charge. I think it’s plausible given the nature of the pickup. It prioritizes using the electric batteries first, even during acceleration and uphills. It has a high threshold for activating the engine, giving you more fuel efficiency. I also like that the battery can be charged via regenerative braking without the feeling of being slowed down too much.
Tailgate parties
Aside from refusing to move-on from diesel mills, pickup makers are also half-hearted on how to make the cargo bed easier to access. Some introduced a step at the side of the rear bumper so the user can step on it before stepping into the tailgate. The problem there is, that step is still a bit high. Changan introduced a more ladderized approach that is seen from more expensive pickups like the Ford F-150, only this is more stable.
The Hunter’s tailgate can be divided at a push of a button. This will reveal a panel that can be lowered down so you have a 2-step approach for the cargo bed. This is lower than the usual solution done by other pickup makers. This is a huge boost to tailgate parties in gas stations, side streets, or any other parking lot. You won’t have to struggle just to look cool again. Best of all, that step assembly and tailgate itself withstood my full weight so rest assured, it can support you as well.
There’s also a Vehicle-to-Load socket at the rear, giving you the capability to use small appliances while out in the wild for up to 100 hours. Takers of the 4×4 trim will also be treated to the waterproof cover of the cargo bed according to Changan.
There are many more things I can say about the Changan Hunter but that would have to wait. All you need to know for now is that it’s a promising pickup in a market dominated by diesel. It also takes the battle close to the BYD Shark 6 as both are electrified and fun to drive.
Where the Hunter has a definite advantage is the pricing because they are still under 2-M for both trims. The Changan Hunter 4×2 is priced at PHP 1,699,000 while the Hunter 4×4 is at PHP 1,970,000. If you want a pickup that won’t remove your soul when going through the ruts of city and rural roads, the Changan Hunter is worth a look.
