Keeping up appearances is important even in the world of basic workhorse bakkies like the Hyundai H100 cab-over, which has just undergone some facial surgery.
The nose job includes a dark charcoal trim for the headlight housings, a new 'smiley face' bumper design and the panel between the headlights that allows easy access to engine coolant and windscreem washer reservoirs now fits more flushly with the rest of the front end. The H100 also gets new rear-view mirrors that are bigger and more aerodynamic.
Not much has changed inside the cabin, besides a new height-adjustable steering wheel.
GOOD BYE TURBO
There's an interesting mechanical change with Hyundai having replaced the previous 69kW/220Nm 2.5-litre turbodiesel engine with a naturally aspirated diesel engine.
This 2.6-litre engine produces just 58kW at 3800rpm and 167Nm at 2200rpm.
Hyundai's general manager of corporate communications, Deon Sonnekus, explains that durability was the main reason for the change to a non-turbo engine:
"We have replaced the engine due to the nature of the H100 bakkie as a workhorse and a demand we picked up from customers in this market segment. They are not necessarily interested in outright power (kW) but durability and running costs are important as most of these customers run businesses."
A TRUE WORKHORSE
The H100 certainly fits the workhorse job description with its 1.3-ton payload, flat loading space with folding side panels and a 100x50mm steel section chassis with a double wishbone and torsion bar front suspension and semi-elliptic laminated leaf springs and rigid axle at the back.
The bakkie is also sold with a five-year/150 000km warranty and three-year/60 000km service plan but while it may be safe on your pocket, its cab-over design and lack of airbags imply that occupant safety is likely the last thing on the potential customer's mind.
PRICES
2.6D C/C - R171 900
2.6D DECK - R177 900
2.6D DECK A/C - R188 900