Foton Tunland V9

While the front exterior profile of the Foton Tunland V9 is different from that of the Tunland V7, the former shares its cabin with the latter with not a single difference. The Foton Tunland V9 also gets the same dual-tone black and tan leather upholstery as the Tunland V7, along with the set of features that come in the latter as standard. This shared interior makes the Foton Tunland V9 a very premium and comfortable place to be in, with the leather upholstery for the seats, door panels, and upper dashboard layer giving it a plush feel. 

The conventional analogue dials in the instrument console of the Foton Tunland V9 have a nice-looking 7-inch TFT screen between them. There is a huge 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system in the middle of the centre console, which sits above the angularly-placed lower centre console that features rotary knobs for the transmission, audio system and drive modes.

Finished in a theme gloss black, the lower centre console also accommodates cup holders and Type-C charging ports. The cabin of the Foton Tunland V9 also gets a few more modern features like powered front seats, a 6-speaker audio system, an engine push start-stop button, a cabin air purifier, and more.

Measuring smaller than the flagship Tunland V7, the Foton Tunland V9 also seeks its design inspiration from an American truck, just like the former. The wide front grille with thick chrome surrounds, side chrome extensions towards the headlamps and double U-themed lower edges make the front fascia look like that of RAM 1500. The block-themed headlamp housings further affirm the resemblance, with them having LED projectors and daytime running LEDs within them. The body-coloured bumper of the Foton Tunland V9 has slim LED fog lamps on the lower edges. 

From the side, the Foton Tunland V9 has a strong resemblance with the larger Tunland V7, with the truck having wide and muscular fenders, blacked-out wheel arch mouldings, door-mounted rearview mirrors, and chrome garnish on the window waistline. The Foton Tunland V9 also has black-coloured alloy wheels and vertically aligned tail lamps with LED inserts much like the larger Tunland V7. The shorter length compared to the Tunland V7 can be seen in the size of the deck at the back of the Foton Tunland V9, which is relatively smaller than that of the former. 

Built on a ladder-on-frame chassis, the Foton Tunland V9 gets a double wishbone independent suspension at the front and multi-link integral axle suspension at the rear, which gives this pickup truck a rugged feel over uneven and rougher surfaces. The four-wheel drive version feels more versatile for its added prowess. The ride quality of the Foton Tunland V9 has a bouncier feel at higher speeds, though.  

Shared with the more premium and larger Tunland V7, the Foton Tunland V9 also has a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine with an 8-speed automatic transmission as its standard powertrain. Like in the Tunland V7, this 2.0-litre diesel engine claims a maximum power of 163 PS and a maximum torque output of 450 Nm in the Tunland V9, while being available with both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive systems. 

The Foton Tunland V9 gets decent safety features, which are considered essentials, such as dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, an electronic stability program, tyre pressure monitoring system, fatigue driving reminder, vehicle dynamics control, traction control, brake assist, hill start assist, hill descent control, cruise control and adjustable speed limit control. 

The Foton Tunland V9 might not have the global recognition of its peers from Japanese and American manufacturers. However, the Tunland V9 has a muscular exterior road presence and a luxurious interior cabin, which makes it highly appealing. The lack of brand recognition and after-sales support is a concern, though.