JMC Vigus (2026) First Drive Review

Jiangling Motors Corporation was officially established in 1993 from a 1947 Nanchang repair shop and is a major Chinese manufacturer of commercial vehicles, pickups, and SUVs. It has been in joint venture partnerships with Isuzu and Ford since 1997. JMC produces durable, cost-effective vehicles, including the popular Baodian pickup, later known as Vigus and the Transit van.

Although you may not know it, the current Ford Territory is manufactured by JMC. The brand's activity in South Africa is carried out under the auspices of the Salvador Caetano Group, a massive global automotive company that operates in over 50 countries across Europe, South America, and Africa and covers everything from trucks and buses to aeromotive and motorcycles. Locally, there are now 29 dealers across the country with plans to expand the dealer base to 40 outlets.

Related: Salvador Caetano Auto South Africa to distribute JMC vehicles

At the end of 2025, the Vigus range of double-cabs went on sale in South Africa at incredible prices that were hard to ignore, with dealers blowing through stock allocations in the blink of an eye. By January, things had stabilised enough that JMC SA could finally introduce these bakkies to the media. We thus found ourselves west of Johannesburg at the JMC Daze media briefing, where we were able to sample the vehicles during a short drive.

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Current local offerings

On the day, we were able to drive the double-cab variants currently on sale on two short loops that emphasised the vehicles' capabilities. There was also a single-cab variant on display, along with various iterations of the Carrying Plus truck to ogle. Although these do not compete with current premium machines, they fall at the upper end of the commercial spectrum and could easily be driven daily as family vehicles. It must be noted, though, that these are end-of-life-cycle models, and the range will soon be sidelined as a new Vigus model is set to arrive in April, which seemingly will pull the brand and model into the premium segment. These current Vigus models will continue to be sold alongside the new model until stock runs out.

JMC Vigus S/C

This derivative may lack the flattering looks of the current crop of single-cab bakkies, but a quick look at the vehicle reveals a laundry list of features that are deeply indicative of a workhorse. The model is designed to work and work hard in commercial applications. It is powered by a 2.4L turbo diesel engine, which is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox and produces 103kW and 310Nm

It comes standard with:

• Multifunction steering wheel
• 17.0-inch alloy wheels
• 3.5-inch info screen
• Front fog lights
• Chrome roll bar and fitted cargo hooks
• Rear parking sensors
• Cargo box rubberising
• Cruise control
• Manual aircon
• Electronic Stability Control (ESP)
• Side mirror heaters and integrated indicator lights

JMC Vigus D/C 4x2

The commercial theme continues with the double-cab derivatives, but they carry an air of professionalism. They are not as rough and tumble as the S/C workhorse, but do lack the refinement that consumers have come to expect in a double cab. These vehicles do not have the softness currently found in segment leaders, but that is not necessarily a bad thing, as they are still aimed at a commercial audience. That doesn't mean they cannot find a foothold with a suburban family.

Our drive with the 4x2 model took us down a short gravel road to a section of paved road, where we could see how the Vigus handles dirt and tar. I am glad to report that there were no rattles and squeaks present, and its road-holding manners were rather impressive. Power delivery was smooth and predictable from the 2.0L single-turbo diesel engine, which pushes power through an 8-speed Auto transmission, delivering 104kW and 350Nm.

The Vigus Double Cab is equipped standard as follows:

• 9.7-inch touchscreen infotainment
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Hydraulic power steering with paddle shifters
• 17.0-inch alloy wheels
• Leather seats
• Reverse camera
• Cruise control
• Manual air con
• Integrated side steps
• Rubberised cargo box
• Matt Black roll bar and fitted cargo hooks
• Bosch 9.3 ESP 
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring
• Reverse camera and parking sensors

JMC Vigus D/C 4x4

The 4x4 model is exactly the same as the 4x2 derivative, but also comes with serious off-roading equipment from big-name manufacturers like Eaton and Borg Warner.

Our drive route took us down a small off-road trail to a 4x4 activation area, where we put the vehicle through a series of obstacles. The Vigus is equipped with the aforementioned Borg Warner 4WD system, which allows for switching on the fly from 2WD to 4H. It has a low range (4L) and the Eaton locking differential, which allows for some very creative driving over rocks and rutted inclines. 

A rather hair-raising challenge saw us back down an incline using the hill descent control system, which put into perspective just how capable it truly is. The only time we caught the system out was on a rutted incline which turned sharply at its peak, where we experienced some wheel spin, but that was more driver error than vehicle fault.

The Vigus may not be a looker, but it performs where it matters most to folks investing in equipment that will put in work and not fail.

JMC Carrying Plus Light Truck

The local JMC business's main bread and butter is the Carrying Plus. The JMC Carrying Plus is a 4-ton payload light commercial truck featuring an Isuzu-derived 2.8L turbo-diesel engine that delivers 84kW and 310Nm, a 5-speed manual transmission, and dual rear wheels. It boasts a Gross Vehicle Mass of 6 500kg, a 3 360mm wheelbase, and comes in various configurations, including dropside and boxvan. The base is a chassis cab setup with ABS and power steering as standard. 

Pricing

All JMC bakkies carry a 5 Year / 100 000km warranty, with the D/C derivatives offering a 3 Year / 50 000km service plan.

*Pricing correct at time of publication, Subject to change without notice and dependent on stock levels

Expanded lineup

During the media presentation, JMC SA execs unveiled a roadmap for the year ahead, detailing what we can expect in the next 12 months in terms of models and expansion plans.

New Vigus

By April 2026, a new Vigus double cab will launch in SA. This vehicle will be a completely new platform with new drivetrains and features that will elevate the JMC brand from a commercial workhorse operator to a premium double cab. Although no information was shared about the homologation model on display, according to JMC’s global website, in the Chinese market, it is equipped with a 2.5-litre diesel making 123kW of power and 430Nm of torque, and uses 7.0L/100km of fuel.

Grand Avenue

Geared for a third-quarter release, the Grand Avenue is an up-specced double cab playing in the premium space. In current markets where it is sold, it is equipped with a 2.3-litre turbo-diesel engine producing around 177 horsepower and 450 Nm of torque, paired with either a manual or a ZF-supplied 8-speed automatic transmission. Both two- and four-wheel-drive versions are available, making it suitable for both urban buyers and off-road enthusiasts. For those who want extra punch, a petrol-powered four-wheel drive automatic variant delivers about 245 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque. We will once again have to wait and see what JMC has in store for us in this segment.

Unamed D/C

There was also mention of an as-yet-unidentified double-cab offering, which could arrive in the 4th quarter of 2026. After some exhaustive digging around in JMC's global lineup, this vehicle could possibly be, and we are absolutely speculating here, a Grand Avenue Raptor. We're purely guessing here, but evidence points to JMC's joint venture with Ford, which makes the Chinese-only Dadao sub-brand, which makes China-only Raptor-style bakkies and is powered by Ford-derived engines. We will have to wait and see what eventually makes its way onto showroom floors.