Review - GWM Steed

Wearing the badge of Australia’s cheapest ute, buyers might be wondering what sacrifices they might be making when opting for the GWM Steed, which is what we’re going to unpack here. 

With that in mind, let’s see if the remarkably cheap drive-away prices for the GWM Steed ute are too good to be true. 

Starting Price: $19,990

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GWM Steed (4x2) Specifications

For more details and other variants, check GWM Steed car page.

How Much Does It Cost?

The GWM Steed is priced at just $19,990 drive-away for the entry-level 4x2 single cab, while the Steed 4x4 single cab is priced at $21,990 drive-away.  

How Much Can OnlineAuto Save You? 

You could save money by getting an OnlineAuto car broker to assist you in finding the best car for you.

What Features Does the GWM Steed Have?

The GWM Steed comes riding on a set of 16-inch alloy wheels, and receives halogen headlights, air conditioning, fabric upholstery, an auto-dimming rear view mirror, central locking, a dropside tray, leather-wrapped steering wheel, powered windows, tyre pressure monitoring, a chrome grille and door handles, a full-sized spare tyre and a CD player paired with a two-speaker sound system. 

Opting for the GWM Steed 4x4 adds a four-wheel drive system. 

Range Features: 

• 16-inch alloy wheels 

• Halogen headlights 

• Air conditioning 

• Cloth upholstery 

• Dropside tray 

• Auto-dimming rear view mirror 

• Leather-wrapped steering wheel 

• Chrome grille 

• Full-sized spare tyre 

• Chrome door handles

• Central locking 

• Powered windows 

• Tyre pressure monitor

• CD player paired with two-speaker sound system 

GWM Steed Colours 

The GWM Steed range is available in a choice of two colours, with Pure White and Titanium paint finishes available. 

Is it Comfortable to Drive? 

Designed as an affordable, no-frills approach to motoring, the GMW is no where near as capable or sophisticated as its major rivals in the ute market, but it remains fit-for-purpose for those looking for a basic ute platform. 

Power is supplied by a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel unit that kicks up 110kW of power and 310Nm of torque, with power thrown to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission only. If you’re looking for an automatic, sadly you’re out of luck. 

On the road, the GWM Steed does feel underpowered, although the kerb weight is relatively low thanks to the dropside tray over the rear, so picking up speed isn’t too much of an issue. This lack of torque over its competitors does become pretty clear when it comes to towing, though - which we’ll cover in a minute. 

Riding on double-wishbone suspension up front and leaf springs over the rear, the GMW Steed is more than capable of soaking up light to medium bumps you’ll find on a country B-road, and remains surprisingly comfortable on smooth city streets. 

Thanks to some power steering, the Steed is easy to pilot at low speeds around town, offering a little bit of feedback for the driver, but remaining stable in most situations. 

As the price tag would suggest, the GWM Steed doesn’t aim to lead the pack when it comes to driving dynamics, but it is surprisingly comfortable around town. If you’re looking for a vehicle purely for work, though, the diesel engine powering the Steed is far from the best in the segment. 

Is it Practical and Spacious? 

Inside, the GWM’s Steed is surprisingly modern for a budget-priced single cab ute, featuring a mix of black plastics with silver contrasts and even a steering wheel wrapped in leather. 

This means that for everyone looking for a pretty nice cabin on the surface of it, the Steed is a good option, albeit one that lacks a number of creature comfort and entertainment features. 

As a utilitarian workhorse, though, the cabin is a great place to sit, providing one of the best entry-level cabins in the single cab chassis ute markets, particularly at this price point. 

Up front, there’s a heap of headroom for tall drivers, some reasonable adjustment in the steering column and driving position. If you’re looking for a dual-cab configuration to squeeze an extra set of legs in the back, GWM has you covered, too. 

Is it a Workhorse? 

As a machine built primarily to be put to work, the GWM Steed is an impressive vehicle when you consider its price tag, but there are some limitations when it comes to overall pulling power for heavy loads. 

The large tray is accommodating for bulky objects, measuring in at 2400mm x 1777mm, with GWM capping the Steed’s payload at 1,198kg, which is a solid figure for the market and matches a number of its key rivals. 

Braked towing capacity is capped at 1,700kg for both 4x2 and 4x4 variants, while the gross vehicle mass (GVM) is rated at 2,820kg and the gross combination mass (GCM) stands at 4,585kg. 

Is it Safe?

The GMW Steed was awarded a two-star ANCAP safety rating when it was tested back in 2016. 

Safety equipment for the GWM Steed includes a set of ABS brakes, a hill-hold assistance feature, tyre-pressure monitoring, stability control system and a pair of airbags up front. 

Is it Fuel Efficient?

The GWM Steed 4x2 is rated at 8.2L/100km on a combined cycle, while the 4x4 is rated at 8.6L/100km. 

While these figures aren’t class-leading for a turbo-diesel engine, they are at least adequate for the segment. 

Our Verdict: Is the GMW Steed Worth it?

As Australia’s cheapest ute, you might expect the GWM Steed to be rougher around the edges than it actually is. It has come a long way since its introduction, but there remains an extremely large gap between the Steed and its major rivals that, in single cab chassis form, aren’t much more expensive than the Steed is, anyway. 

If you’re looking for more safety bang-for-your-buck, and all-round workhorse potential that can also accommodate you and your family, the GWM Ute is, without doubt, your best option. 

On that note, if you’re in the market for a new car, you can get a free quote and see how much OnlineAuto can save you on your next car, or call us on 1300 719 925 

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year, unlimited KM warranty 

2. 12-month/15,000km service intervals 

3. Two-star ANCAP safety rating 

4. 1,198kg payload capacity 

5. 1,700kg braked towing capacity 

Pros 

• Cheapest ute on the Australian market 

• Surprisingly comfortable cabin 

• Impressive payload capacity for the price 

Cons

• Two-star ANCAP safety rating 

• Lacks pulling power and toughness of rivals

• Unknown long-term reliability, servicing and ownership issues

• Poor safety features

OnlineAuto Rating: 7/10

GWM Steed Competition