By Xolile Hopa

JMC has entered South Africa’s competitive double-cab bakkie market with the Grand Avenue, its new flagship pickup aimed at buyers seeking a more premium offering at a competitive price.

We drove the Grand Avenue during its launch and media drive around Zevenwacht Wine Estate and the Western Cape mountains. The route included vineyard dirt trails and mountain roads, giving us the opportunity to experience the bakkie both on and off the road.

The Grand Avenue features a bold exterior, dominated by a large grille, square-shaped LED headlights and daytime running lights, while a power-assisted tailgate adds practicality, a welcome touch in keeping with true bakkie style.

Inside, the cabin features soft-touch leather panels, a 12.3-inch tiltable infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a digital instrument cluster and a multifunction steering wheel. Together, these features offer just enough technology and comfort to deliver the lifestyle feel today’s buyers expect.

Power comes from a 2.5-litre turbodiesel producing 155 kW and 500 Nm, paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The 4×4 model uses a BorgWarner four-wheel-drive system, which demonstrated good versatility across the dirt and mountain sections of the route.

The JMC Grand Avenue 4×4 is equipped with a BorgWarner part-time four-wheel-drive system featuring an electronic rear locking differential. The system can automatically detect wheel slip and engage or disengage the rear differential lock as needed, without requiring manual activation in certain driving conditions. It also works alongside a rotary dial that allows the driver to switch between 2H, 4H and 4-Low modes.

Pricing

Grand Avenue A/T 4×2: R529,900

Grand Avenue A/T 4×4: R579,900

JMC has also indicated that a more off-road-focused Grand Avenue Pro is planned for 2027.

The Grand Avenue arrives with strong power figures, a generous specification and competitive pricing. Whether it can challenge the established players will ultimately depend on factors beyond the initial package, including long-term reliability, dealer support and the overall ownership experience.