Changan Hunter 2024: China’s $19,000 Pickup Truck Revelation. The pickup truck industry is going through a big change. One of the biggest players in this market is Changan and their new truck the Hunter is entering the market with very attractive pricing, new feature options and the ability to have a range-extended electric version.
It has been getting a lot of attention from truck enthusiasts, analysts and consumer press. The sedan/crossover buyer does not presently view the pickup segment the same way you and I might, but change is coming.
Unveiling the Changan Hunter 2024
The Hunter, a production version of the vehicle Changan showed off last year, is the first extended-range electric pickup truck. The Hunter starts at $19,000 – orders of magnitude less than most of its established rivals, and a shockingly low price point for a category with a mainstream baseline sometimes exceeding $50,000 for offerings from Ford F-150 and Ram 1500.
Of course, it would be reductive to suggest that the Hunster and others like it are only about a lower cost of entry. Yet for a technological curio, the Hunster does incorporate a lot of groundbreaking features, not to mention rugged industrial design and a spacious cargo bed that can hold 450 kg – unheard of in an electric pickup.
With a claimed maximum total driving range of up to 731 kilometres, the Hunter promises to eliminate another perceived weakness of EVs: range anxiety. What’s more, if mots lay people are worried whether the Bollinger B1 would provide enough juice to run their mobile camping fridge, the Changan Hunter can do that and more as any decent mobile camping unit.
Need to charge your drone with surplus electricity from the car’s battery? No problem. The developer sees the Hunter as a serious contender in the transition to new automotive technologies. Not only does it look and drive like a quality vehicle, it’s also very affordable, giving it a head start should conventional pickups require electrification, whether for new emission standards or photo-voltaic modules.
A Look at the Features
Skeuomorphic design here was clearly the play, with a Changan Hunter design that’s kept broadly within the tastes of those who build things with their hands: semi-professional contractors, outdoorsy types and the like. Versatility and substance are well-served by the right quantity of tech, and it has them in ample supply. The major technical feat is equipping the back of the truck to power external electronics, a feature we more commonly expect to see on plush luxury trucks or high-end electric pickups. In that context, it almost goes without saying. By itself, it’s a significant addition to the value a Hunter provides.
Officially released on 1 March, and having been on display in the preceding days at the Guangzhou Auto Show, the Changan Hunter’s aggressive and cerebral sculptural design aesthetics are paraded by its carapace-like huge toothy hexagonal grille, the hard and angular body creases and depressions, and the tough bold characteristics seen in accessories such as the roof rack and the provision of a bulk-head mounted truck bed step.
This is a hardworking and dependable feature that is ready to bounce from rock to rock – which basically means it’s all style and surface, extended to areas of real all-wheel-drive capability and performance (as well as front-wheel-drive), in order to be applicable for challenging outdoors that comes with the added bonus of executing one’s daily lives and errands.
Competitive Pricing in the Pickup Segment
In terms of price strategy, Changan Hunter is a ‘disruptor’ in the market because its lowest model is only $19,000, less than half the cost of mainstream trucks such as the Ford F-150 and Dodge Ram (entry price for these trucks is about $55,000), and less than one-quarter of similar but smaller trucks such as the Toyota Tacoma and Ford Ranger ($34,000-plus).
Changan’s innovative manufacturing processes, which emphasise cost-control without sacrificing quality, make the truck so affordable. The Hunter’s virtuous trifecta of price, performance and features puts it in the sweet spot to appeal to multiple demographics, from cost-conscious buyers looking for inexpensive family transport to environmentally-minded individuals seeking the best fuel efficiency and lowest CO2 emissions for business or leisure. The truck’s competitive edge has also drawn many potential buyers in global markets. Electric vehicles, meanwhile, continue to chase after attention.
Specifications and Performance
Changan Hunter has a standard length and a extended-length configuration:.
The standard lentgh is 281 inches. Its extended model allows extra storage space for customers who need more luggage for business and pleasure.
Power for the Hunter comes from a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder gas engine that outputs 188 horsepower, or from a 268 horsepower output from an electric motor added under the hood, in 4WD format. That power and electric assistion makes for serious off-road fun in slippery conditions both on the pavement and the dirt.
What gives the Hunter its supremacy over hybrids converts such as Prius is the electric powertrain with 31.18 kWh lithium-ion phosphate battery pack providing all-electric range of 180 kilometers for short commute or zero-emission driving.
Paired with the gasoline engine, the total driving range reaches up to 731 kilometers, enough for long trips. Hybrid works just right only in this case when efficiency of electric power could be used for daily drive and gasoline-fuelled performance is increased for sheer drive.
Safety Features
Despite its brawny form, safety has been the Hunter’s top priority, and the SUV contains a considerable number of safety measures aimed at revelling in the roads. Onboard, the truck has dual front airbags, a tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS), electronic stability control (ESC) and a rearview mirror camera system to aid drivers in difficult reversing situations. Other features include anti-lock braking systems (ABS) as well as a hill-start assist system, allowing for easy day-to-day manoeuvring and difficult conditions.
Thanks to these extensive security measures, we can enjoy a completely stress-free ride in the Changan Hunter. Whether it is amid the bustling city streets or remote rural roads, Changan Hunter has a wide range of applications and a younger driving platform to keep passengers safe in many different driving scenarios. The safety features provide the last box to tick in Changan Hunter’s already impressive feature sets.
Interior Comfort and Technology
On the inside, the Changan Hunter shows great design and utility. Spacious enough for five people, with leather and high-end fabric upholstery, it doesn’t feel like they skimped on anything, even at its mid-market price point.
A 12-inch infotainment touchscreen on the dash is at the centre of the setup, with amenities like navigation, climate control, smartphone linking and more. It’s equipped for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, enabling smartphone media and communications linking. A wireless phone-charger is present as well; for classicists who prefer knobs and buttons to interfaces, these are present too.
Storage is also a highlight of the Hunter’s interior design with different sections of cabin allocated for storage of supplies, accessories and working tools. Expert blending of high-end technology, practicality and comfort brings driving fun and online experience to a new level, making the hunting-style interior of the Changan Hunter a unique work and play experience.
Conclusion: A New Era for Pickup Trucks?
The Changan Hunter is so much more than a new pickup truck. It’s a new kind of vehicle that redefined what consumers expect from their cars. It’s affordable extended-range electric mobility, plus all the big-ticket features that Toyota and General Motors have built their business empires on. Previous full-size pickups cost five times as much; the Hunter gives customers half the price and double the features. It challenges the highly profitable default of ‘normal’ pickup trucks.
The rise of Changan Automobile onto the world stage shows just how serious the automotive industry in China is becoming as it electrifies its product line–up along with its competitors around the world. The Hunter is shaping the automotive landscape of tomorrow, and all future generations to come. The Hunter isn’t just a pickup vehicle, it is the future.
Key Takeaways
Affordable Innovation: The Changan Hunter is priced at $19,000, bringing high-tech electric features to the light-truck marketplace at an incredible price, and making its mainstream brand competitors, with their multi-times-more-expensive products, look silly.
- Long Range and Utility: The Hunter has a maximum range of 731 kilometres and is capable of powering external electronics.
- A High Degree of Safety and High Technology – While the price is relatively low, the Hunter supports numerous safety features and is full of high technology, such as a 12-inch touch screen, wireless charging, and smartphone connection.
- Upside-Down Market Pricing: The Hunter sells for quite a bit less than your typical pickup. Yes, considerably less – which makes it a bit of a disruptor, not only in the full-size or midsize truck market.
- A Shift Toward the Global Market – Electrification: Changan Automobile’s launch of the Hunter, a compact sedan, points to the increasing success of Chinese automakers in the global market (specifically electric cars). The Changaner of not just the next generation of pickup trucks. It will be the pioneer of the next generation of cars.