2021 Renault Alaskan
The Renault Alaskan double-cab bakkie, which is based on the Nissan Navara platform, has had a facelift and it looks pretty impressive. Adding to that, Renault has also confirmed that the Alaskan leisure bakkie and Duster Oroch will be available in South Africa.
Renault South Africa’s marketing man, Jesus Boveda, has been trying his utmost to enter the LCV market and considering how big it is locally, why not? The only surprise, really, is why it took so long. It seems that the higher-ups at Renault needed to visit our beautiful country first which did the trick. They were convinced to start selling the Duster Oroch and Renault Alaskan but only in 2021.
With a highly contested double-cab market, car manufacturers everywhere are doing what they can to make sure that their bakkies remain up to date and relevant. For that reason, the Renault Alaskan bakkie has a new, refreshed look with a few additional upgrades as well.
Starting with the payload and carrying capacity, the Alaskan can now carry 1.1 tons while the towing capacity remains the same at 3.5 tons. They were able to increase the payload thanks to the introduction of a new 5-link rear suspension, rear disk brakes and an automatic emergency braking system.
Renault has also made improvements to the Nissan-Renault alliance engine with a new selective catalytic reduction system. They also fitted the impressive 2.3-litre twin-turbo diesel engine with the latest pollution-control technology. The Renault Alaskan offers peak outputs of 14 kW and 450 Nm of torque with two transmission options of a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed automatic.
Overseas, there is also a 120 kW version with a single turbocharger but no confirmation whether it will be available locally. Considering the extensive range of bakkies in the South African market, Renault would probably offer the Alaskan as a value for money product. That is great news for locals as it could undercut the pricing of the SA-built Navara.
On the inside, the 2020 Renault Alaskan shows off the latest infotainment system offering Android Auto and Apple Carplay, as well as a 360-degree camera. It now also has a new Trailer Sway Assist feature, much-improved Hill Descent Control and Hill Start Assist along with a new dynamic control system.
Seeing as the Alaskan is a leisure bakkie based on the same platform as the Nissan Navara and Mercedes-Benz X-Class, it will certainly be a welcome addition to the local market. It may seem a long time to wait but it will be worth it. Before you know it, dealerships across the country will offer the Renault Alaskan double-cab bakkie.
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