Foton Highlander

Engine and gearbox

The Foton Highlander uses Foton’s Aucan 4F20TC28 engine, a 1,968 cc four-cylinder diesel with common-rail injection, a turbocharger and an intercooler. Master Motor rates it at 125 hp at 3,200 rpm and 320 Nm between 1,400 and 1,600 rpm, so most of its pulling power arrives low in the rev range, which suits stop-start city delivery work. Power goes to the rear wheels through a German-brand ZF 5S368 five-speed manual gearbox with a single dry-plate clutch. The rear axle is rated at 3 tons and the front axle at 2.2 tons, and the brochure quotes a top speed of 110 km/h. Master Motor markets the Highlander as Pakistan’s most fuel-efficient truck, but it does not publish a fuel-economy figure, so ask the dealer for real-world numbers.

Size and practicality

The truck measures 5,455 mm long, 1,970 mm wide and 2,110 mm tall on a 2,900 mm wheelbase. Its deck is 3,700 mm long and 1,870 mm wide, which Master Motor describes as a 12-foot deck. Gross vehicle weight is 5,200 kg and kerb weight is 1,730 kg, giving an official payload of 3,470 kg. Parabolic leaf springs are fitted front and rear, it runs on 6.50R16 tyres, and the fuel tank holds 70 litres. Master Motor also shows the Highlander with a containerised (box) body for goods transport and household shifting.

Equipment

There is one version. Safety equipment includes ABS with EBD, disc brakes at the front and drum brakes at the rear. The cabin gets a 9-inch MP5 touchscreen with Bluetooth and a rear-view camera, power windows, a heater, hydraulic power steering with a tilt and telescopic column, projection headlamps, fabric seats and a seat-belt reminder for the driver. Air conditioning is not listed in the brochure, so check with the dealer if you need it.

Warranty

Master Motor’s website does not publish warranty terms for the Highlander. Get the warranty period and what it covers in writing from your dealer before you pay a booking amount.

Price and which version to buy

The official website does not show a price, so ask an authorised Master Motor dealer for the current ex-factory quote and compare it with the on-road cost including registration. Opinion: with only one version on sale, the choice is simple. The Highlander looks like the most modern truck in Foton’s light-duty range in Pakistan, thanks to its common-rail engine, front disc brakes, rear camera and touchscreen. Its official payload is almost the same as the M290-T’s, so buyers who want a newer cabin and better brakes should start here, while those who prefer a bigger 2.8-litre engine should also look at the M290-T.