SECTOR Utility PRICE £9,999(ex-VAT) FUEL 36mpg CO2 184g/km
DFSK UK, the importer for Chinese mini van manufacturer DFSK, has updated its Loadhopper compact commercial range, with the addition of a 1.3-litre petrol engine. The larger engine delivers 77hp and 102Nm of torque, up from 52hp and 78Nm on the 1.0-litre motor, which remains as an option.
While these are undeniably more impressive figures, they don’t make the compact truck a motorway hauler. The Loadhopper remains very much a vehicle for short journeys. However for an industrial complex, university campus or local council parks department, the compact dimensions and three-way tipper versatility make this a surprisingly useful machine.
That tipper body is built by Cuccini and offers a respectable 687kg of payload. It is electrically-powered and has a wander lead so you can stand outside the cab to see what is being tipped while in operation. Simple locks on the sides and rear allow the body to tip to the rear or to either side.
The Tipper comes with a radio, though at anything approaching a decent speed its not very effective. A decent speed is relative too, as there will be little risk of a speeding ticket in the DFSK.
Our test truck came with optional central locking and electric windows, though the cab is small enough that you can reach across to the left hand door from the driver’s seat. That said, it is fairly basic inside, but hey, for less than £10,000 it doesn’t have many tipper competitors.
The 1.3-litre engine does make the Loadhopper a more viable solution for fleets that have more than a couple of miles to travel in the working day, though a second hand Transit might be a more popular option. If compact dimensions are a major buying criteria however, the DFSK could be just the ticket.