Skip advert
Advertisement

Great Wall Steed

The Great Wall Steed is the first Chinese-built car on sale here. What's it like?

Overall Auto Express rating

2.0

How we review cars
Find your Great Wall Steed
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

Great Wall is trying hard to sell the Steed by offering servicing with free collection and delivery to buyers. But it needs to do more. The brand is unknown here, and so is the Steed’s durability. If you want stylish design or a refined ride, there are much stronger choices. Chinese cars need to be far better to become part of the UK’s motoring landscape.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The first passenger car to be built in China and sold in the UK has arrived. Great Wall is China’s largest producer of SUVs, with 35 years’ experience. In Britain, the company’s network of 44 dealers will be selling the Steed pick-up for now, although a Ford Kuga-sized SUV will follow. 

The most striking thing about the Steed is the price. It starts at £13,998 (plus VAT), so is cheaper than a Mitsubishi L200 (£16,049) or Volkswagen Amarok (£17,995). You also get a lot for the money. Basic S trim comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, remote locking, electric windows, an Alpine stereo with Bluetooth, plus leather upholstery. 

The flagship SE is another £2,000 and adds a body-coloured hard-top for cargo security and a load bed liner. Externally, the car looks the part. The styling is very European, with a solid front end and chunky wheelarches. It’s practical for commercial use, with the 1.3m by 1.4m load bed weight rated to 1,050kg. Plus, the car has a 2,000kg braked towing weight.

Inside, it’s obvious where the money’s been saved. The Steed’s roomy, but there’s hard, cheap-looking plastic everywhere. Power is from a 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine, and you can switch between two and four-wheel drive – and select the low-ratio transmission – via dash buttons at up to 12mph. But it’s extremely noisy, particularly on start-up and at motorway speeds. It’s also slow.

It bounces along in a straight line and body roll is noticeable in every corner. Engine and road noise intrusion are constant and the vague steering is way behind modern rivals’.

Skip advert
Advertisement

More reviews

New & used car deals

Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,295Avg. savings £2,513 off RRP*Used from £5,500
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £35,385Avg. savings £2,911 off RRP*Used from £16,700
Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £18,725Avg. savings £4,199 off RRP*Used from £15,337
Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £16,160Avg. savings £2,721 off RRP*Used from £8,600
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025