GWM Wingle 5

You must have seen various yellow municipal maintenance vehicles on the road, most of which are pickup trucks. I've always wondered how such pure workhorses drive—are they as rough and hard to handle as they look? Recently, I got to drive a GWM Wingle 5, and here's my take.

In terms of appearance, the Wingle 5 has a rugged, large build with dimensions of 5403/1800/1730mm and a 3350mm wheelbase, giving a sense of security. Its cargo bed, at 1680*1460*480mm, is comparable to the GWM Shanhai Cannon.

Inside, the cabin is mostly plastic except for the soft seat cushions. Most functions are controlled via physical buttons, with easy-to-use air conditioning knobs. Surprisingly, it supports Bluetooth, and while the sound quality isn't great, music doesn't distort even at high volumes.

Powered by a manual transmission, the Wingle 5 differs from small manual cars in起步. Its strong low-end torque allows starting by simply releasing the clutch at idle—even hill starts without throttle input are possible when not fully loaded. The shift lever has a longer throw and less precise engagement than a car's, but it becomes manageable once familiar.

Handling-wise, don't expect much from power or steering responsiveness. The solid axle with leaf spring rear suspension results in noticeable bumps for both front and rear passengers. However, it drives surprisingly lightly, with a small turning radius that makes maneuvering surprisingly agile.

As a workhorse pickup, the Wingle 5 isn't about driving pleasure. Yet, in today's electrified era, this direct mechanical feel is a rare joy. You might get some judgmental looks, but it's worth experiencing for its unique charm.

I run a repair shop. A customer brought a GWM Wingle 5 with the ABS warning light on. Diagnostics showed left front and rear wheel sensor circuit faults. We checked the ABS fuse, replaced the left rear sensor (no fix), tested the wiring between the sensor and ABS control unit (normal), and verified the control unit's power and communication (all good). The ABS control unit was faulty; replacing it fixed the issue. The 2.0T diesel engine has strong power, ideal for construction sites. Official warranty: 3 years/200,000 km. Maintenance: First oil/filter and transmission oil change at 4,000 km, then every 12,000 km; air filter every 12,000 km; brake fluid every 40,000 km.

For the GWM Wingle 5 2021 model, the exterior only updates the front grille to a thicker two-bar design with a 3D carved look, keeping a classic and cost-effective style. The interior sees minor revisions like air vents for a more refined feel. It comes with the reliable 4D20M diesel engine (102kw, 325nm, 1400rpm max torque) and 6-speed manual transmission, offering good fuel efficiency. Sharing the platform with H5, its chassis uses a double-wishbone front suspension and leaf spring rear for load capacity, boasting over 20 years of proven reliability. Driving empty feels similar to H5, with better ride comfort due to the long wheelbase of the extended cab version. However, the leaf spring rear suspension causes noticeable bouncing over bumps, requiring slow passage. When fully loaded, one must drive predictively, with slow steering and avoiding sudden braking.