The Great Wall Steed, on sale in the UK now.

Great Wall’s Steed 4×4 pickup is set to become the first volume-manufactured Chinese vehicle to go on sale in the UK, when it hits dealers’ showrooms later this month.

I first mentioned the Steed last month, when Great Wall announced its UK prices, which will start at just £13,998 – substantially below most of its competitors.

The Steed is a full size, double cab pickup with a cargo bay measuring 1,380 mm x 1,460 mm x 480 mm, a payload of 1,050kg and a braked towing capacity of 2,000kg – all quite competitive. The Steed also has an insurance rating of just 7A (entry-level Steed S) – the lowest of any vehicle in the pick-up segment.

The Steed’s selectable all-wheel drive system can be engaged at speeds of up to 12mph and even the entry-level S model is reasonably well specified, with 16-inch alloy wheels, daytime running lights, remote central locking, a Thatcham-approved Category 1 alarm, electric front and rear windows, an Alpine CD/radio with USB/MP3 and Bluetooth connectivity, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, air-conditioning, heated fronted seats and a full leather interior.

The range-topping Steed SE costs just £2,000 more (£15,998 CVOTR), and adds body-coloured hard-top canopy, body-coloured spoiler, chrome trim to the daytime running lights, chrome side bars, black roof rails, load bay liner, and rear parking sensors.

All models include a 3-year, 60,000 mile warranty and in case you are wondering about Great Wall’s credentials, it has been manufacturing vehicles in China for 35 years, employs 45,000 people and has an annual production capacity of 800,000 vehicles per year. The Steed sells around 100,000 units a year in its home market.

Great Wall have opened a dealer network with 40 dealers around the UK and the Steed is now on sale – for more details and your nearest dealer, visit www.greatwallmotor.co.uk.

Great Wall will also be in Birmingham at the CV Show 2012 next week – for more info visit www.cvshow.com.