So many Filipinos picked up an F-150 in the 90s for various reasons. Some liked its looks, while most bought one for its functionality and capability as a full-size pickup truck. But it wasn’t long before many were in the second-hand marketplace for one reason: it had terrible fuel consumption – averaged around 5-7 km/l – back when gas was over ₱40/liter.

That’s where the Tunland V7 shines. Modern automotive tech gives Foton’s full-size pickup a small-displacement engine instead of the gas-guzzling V6s and V8s of the tenth-gen F-150. Plus, it has a 48-volt Boost Recuperation System, which translates to a ‘mild hybrid system’ in layman’s terms. The result? It returned almost 13-km/l in mixed driving conditions. But that’s not the only thing to like about it.

I don’t know if I’m getting de-sensitized by the supersizing trend in the industry, but the Tunland V7 didn’t feel all that big. Ironically, it looked hefty only when I was staring at the massively attractive front fascia. It has an eye-catching thick chrome trim up top, unusually wide grille slats (making the radiator highly visible), and a gorgeous LED matrix headlight on either side.

At just 700 millimeters, the water-wading depth of the Tunland V7 is 100 millimeters less than the Ranger and Everest. But if you’re using it more for hauling and towing than river crossing, that shouldn’t be much of a problem.

Foton Philippines equipped this test unit with a rig for overlanding, and the photos show how the setup’s weight and size did not affect the Tunland V7’s stance and poise.

There is a certain air of elegance in the rugged design of the Tunland V7. The purple color is unique, and the soft-release tailgate has a nice touch. It sits on 18s with all-terrain tires.

Its passive keyless entry system is a bit glitchy. Sometimes, I have to fumble around for the key in my pocket to unlock the vehicle. Fortunately, the weighty doors open to a spacious, generously appointed five-seater cabin. It has brown leather upholstery on the seats, a quilted version on the door panels, and more on the multi-function steering wheel and the dashboard. The wide center console has a piano-black surface with silver accents, a cooling box, and USB connectivity on the lower level. I liked its 14.6-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple Carplay. It ran on a smooth operating system and worked intuitively. The second row is spacious, with its own vents and dual USB ports but no drop-down center armrest.

Despite the Tunland’s size and 2.2-ton curb weight, the 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine impressed with smooth and responsive acceleration and outstanding highway performance. If I hadn’t known better, I would have thought there was a V6 under the bulbous hood. The four-wheel-drive layout receives 161-horsepower and 450-Nm of torque from an eight-speed automatic transmission. If you plan to use it as a hauler, know it has a respectable 875-kilo payload capacity.

The mild hybrid assists during the auto start-stop phase and in stop-and-go traffic. It also recovers energy during braking to help accelerate and optimize fuel delivery and combustion.

Because of the Tunland V7’s width, its on-road stability was remarkable, especially at high speed. Noise, vibration, and harshness levels were so low that it almost felt like riding a full-size luxury SUV. The double-wishbone front suspension and rear leaf springs at the rear did an excellent job most of the time, but it could be better over some rough portions along SLEX (that barely shook most pickup trucks in the market today).

At just ₱1.888 million, this truck undercuts plenty of mid-size pickup trucks, including some of the new hybrid models, while offering size, space, luxury, and a higher level of functionality. If you want to step back into a full-size pickup, you are getting a lot of bang for your buck with the Foton Tunland V7 4x4 Diesel Hybrid.