Jiangling Motors Corporations is a Chinese firm that was founded in 1947. It started out manufacturing three-wheelers and then later shifted its focus to commercial vehicles. In more recent years, JMC has designed and produced passenger vehicles and a series of light commercial vehicles for consumers. Their current consumer offerings consist of the JMC Vigus and Landwind 5.
Related: GWM Steed 5 vs JMC Boarding vs Mahindra Bolero: which one has the lowest running costs?
The Boarding (and known as the Baodian in some markets) is the result of a partnership with Isuzu and JMC and was introduced into the local market in 2017. Its tenure was short-lived though and soon the model was replaced by the Vigus with updated styling, a more refined interior and a new engine lineup.
Isuzu base
It's fairly easy to see the Isuzu skeleton under the redesigned front and rear of the JMC Boarding and when you peel back the metal you will note that the oily bits are most Isuzu components as well. The 4th-generation Isuzu KB was used as a platform for the Boarding and this is evident in the doors, wing mirrors and front half of the load bin.
The Boarding is powered by a 2.8-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine, sourced from GM/Isuzu and produces 88kW and 245Nm with a claimed fuel consumption of 8 l/100 km. All Boardings are equipped with a 5-speed manual gearbox and no automatic option was made available at the time of sale.
Driving the Boarding
The Boarding was only ever intended to be a workhorse and while the cabin will offer some convenience items, don't expect high-end features here. A basic radio will play audio through the two speakers in a passable quality and A/C on the LX models. The cabin has been designed to withstand repeated manhandling and as such most surfaces are crafted from hard plastics.
Vague on-centre steering feel and a notchy gearbox that requires some proficiency to drive effectively once again points to the robust underpinnings and intended utility use of this vehicle. While visibility is respectable, the long load bin area, rated at 1-ton, will cause some to battle with reversing manoeuvres.
ABS was made available for the Boarding as an optional extra and there was no option to specify airbags. Several institutions criticised the Boarding for having sub-par safety standards, including the EuroNCAP with a test conducted on the SUV model (not available locally) where the occupants would have failed to survive a head-on collision at 56 km/h.
Verdict
The JMC Boarding is not suitable for new drivers. The lack of safety systems and heavy controls will not provide a safe enough basis for new drivers to build their experience. The Boarding is best suited to experienced drivers who are familiar with the utilitarian nature of light commercial vehicles.
