The Chevrolet UTE Bakkie + the Dacia Logan MCV + the Nissan NP200

The best part of creating automotive content is that I’m overseeing the whole automotive market. Today, I’m going to show you a 2021 Chevrolet bakkie on air suspension. I saw that model in a post of a South African news media News24/Wheels24. However, I also would like to show you how similar is the design of the Chevrolet Bakkie and the Dacia Logan MCV, and also the Nissan NP200. 

 

Shaun Isaacs's 2012 Chevrolet UTE bakkie  | Image: Shaun Isaacs |

It’s the very first time when I see such a model as the Chevrolet bakkie. The full name is Chvertolet UTE bakkie as the “bakkie” is something like a nickname from my point of view. However, the Chevrolet UTE is also known as the Chevrolet Montana, the Chevrolet Tornado, or the Chevrolet Utility depending on the market. These kinds of models are very popular in South Africa and Latin America. The predecessor of the Chevrolet UTE is the Opel Corsa Utility in South Africa. The Corsa Utility is a pickup version based on the Opel Combo that’s available as a panel van and leisure activity vehicle and also called MPV - Multi-Purpose Vehicle. That’s a short story about the Chevrolet UTE bakkie and all other names.

 

 

This is Shaun Isaacs’s 2012 Chevrolet UTE bakkie. Everything had started when Shaun had lower his UTE bakkie. After that, he put 17-inch Volk Racing lightweight alloys, and then the air ride suspension is installed. Shaun Isaacs’s idea about the lowered Chevrolet UTE doesn’t stop here. He had installed three 10-inch JBL subwoofers that make a 7 kW Energy Audi monoblock; kicker splits 3x200W Powerbase 4-channel amplifier… That car looks great!

Shaun Isaacs has lowered, install air suspension, and added a cool sound system on his 2012 Chevrolet UTE bakkie. That tuning of the Chevrolet UTE bakkie is very cool. | Image: Shaun Isaacs | 

2013 Chevrolet Montana | Image: Chevrolet |

Here is why that 2012 Chevrolet UTE bakkie grabs my attention. Shaun’s car reminds me of a 2016 Dacia Logan MCV – that’s the estate version of the Dacia Logan. On some markets, Dacia models are sold as Renault and Nissan because the Dacia brand is part of Groupe Renault. The 2016 Dacia Logan MCV is also available with similar brown color. On the side, I saw that both models have a similar door design, and the line on the front and rear fenders of the 2012 Chevrolet UTE bakkie also reminds me of the silhouette of the 2016 Dacia Logan MCV. However, it’s cool. The Dacia is the cheapest automotive brand in the EU and respectively the Logan MCV is one of the cheapest estate versions. Usually, these kinds of cars are mostly used for work but it happens that a lot of people bought them as personal cars due to the low maintenance costs. Although Dacia models are cheaper it’s not very popular as a project car.

 

2012 Chevrolet Bakkie | Image: Shaun Isaacs |  and 2016 Dacia Logan MCV | Image: n/a |

I do see a lot of common lines in the designs of both models and they are cool in some way. If 2016 Dacia Logan MCV has some tuning it also would look outstanding. 

It’s also interesting that the previous model of the Dacia Logan I had a pickup version. The second-generation Dacia Logan does not offer a pickup version but at the moment that Dacia pickup is available in South Africa as the Nissan NP200. I’m not pretty much familiar with the automotive market in South Africa and I do not know where a model like 2012 Chevrolet UTE bakkie is placed but probably as something based on the Opel Corsa – a small city car, it would be also an entry-level model. Anyways, these two-door car-like pickups are very interesting models but at the moment they aren’t so popular. It’s also interesting that there are models that specify some markets. It’s also very cool that there are car enthusiasts in South Africa just like Shaun Isaacs’s. About South Africa’s automotive culture I can tell you that the BMW M3 E30 wasn’t available for that market back in the years but there is a model called the BMW 333i. Well, that’s another story from South Africa. See you around :)

 

2021 Nissan NP200 pickup based on 2006 Dacia Logan I | Image: Nissan Africa | 

2021 Nissan NP200 with an audio system... ... ...