Some of the most unexpected, unassuming vehicles land up in the social media spotlight for bizarre reasons. The Ashok Leyland Dost is one such vehicle where a viral social media post of a Dost reversing furiously into an innocent but unfortunately placed and parked Volkswagen Golf GTI at a petrol station.
It seems silly, but the Ashok Leyland has become cemented in people's minds over the past few weeks as a force to be reckoned with. What is this vehicle, though, and what other models are similar to it?
What is the Ashok Leyland Dost?
The Ashok Leyland company is an Indian manufacturer. Initially known as Ashok Motors in 1948, the company collaborated with British Leyland in 1955, leading to its renaming to Ashok Leyland. It is the second-largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles in India. The Dost arrived in South Africa in 2023 and is the cheapest bakkie you can buy locally, starting at R179 900 for the drop-side LS model. This vehicle comes equipped with a 1.5-litre turbodiesel 3-cylinder engine, making 44kW / 158Nm, with power sent to the rear wheels via a 5-speed manual transmission. You have a maximum payload of 1250 kg for the drop-side load bay despite its diminutive dimensions. The Dost markets itself as having a best-in-class payload and diesel fuel economy at 6.2 L /100km. The Dost is as commercial as it gets.
Here are some Dost examples for sale
What compares to the mighty Dost, though?
Similar Cars
1. Suzuki Super Carry 1.2 from R196 900
An older design carried over as a legacy vehicle, the Super Carry was a darling for some time with its no-frills approach. A simple 1.2-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine making 59kW / 104Nm with a 5-speed manual sending power to the rear wheels. The payload is rated at 750 kg, and the claimed fuel consumption is 5.9 L/100km, besting the Ashok.
You can search for the latest Suzuki Carry deals here.
2. Mahindra Bolero from R215 999
The Bolero is quite the agricultural bakkie, but it's enjoyed much favour because it's a back-to-basics workhorse. There is a 2.5-litre turbodiesel 4 cylinder making a mammoth 46 kW / 195 Nm, driving the rear wheels via a 5-speed manual. Claimed fuel consumption is 7.0 L/100km, and the payload is 1150 kg.
You can search for the latest Mahindra Bolero deals here.
3. Suzuki Eeco from R230 900
Let's switch gears a little and see what's cooking in the panel van area. We have the Eeco, which, although a workhorse, is a pretty nice van to live with and the cheapest one you can buy in South Africa at the moment. The Eeco enjoys luxuries the others don't have on this list, like HVAC, air conditioning and even a radio. The Eeco is powered by a 1.2-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine making 59kW / 104Nm, the same engine as in the Super Carry, with the same 5-speed manual and rear-wheel-drive setup. Claimed fuel consumption is rated at 5.4 L /100km and you have a 615 kg payload.
You can search for the latest Suzuki Eeco deals here.
