Geely Riddara Review: SA Pricing, Specs & Is an Electric Bakkie Worth It?
Strength Meets Performance — Geely's first electric double-cab lands in South Africa
We'll admit it upfront: we've never covered a bakkie on this channel before. But the Geely Riddara — officially launched in South Africa at the 2026 Festival of Motoring — pulled us in with numbers that genuinely read like a performance sedan's spec sheet, wrapped in a double-cab body. Here's everything you need to know about pricing, range, safety, and whether an electric bakkie could realistically replace your family SUV.
Power and Performance
The range-topping Apex RD6 puts out 315 kW of power and 595 Nm of torque — figures that would not look out of place on a performance BMW. Geely claims a 0–100 km/h sprint of just 4.5 seconds (under specific conditions with HT tyres) and a top speed of 190 km/h. That reportedly makes it the second most powerful bakkie on sale in South Africa, behind only the BYD Shark 6.
Riddara Range & Pricing
| Derivative | Price (ZAR) | Battery | Range (NEDC) | 0–100 km/h | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aspire Econ 2WD | R 611,900 | 63 kWh | 369 km | 9.0 s | Rear-wheel drive |
| Aspire Econ 4WD | R 681,900 | 73 kWh | 390 km | 7.0 s | Dual-motor 4WD |
| Apex RD6 4WD | R 781,900 | 73 kWh | 424 km | 4.5 s | Dual-motor 4WD |
Trim-by-Trim Breakdown
Aspire Econ 2WD — R 611,900
The entry point: a 63 kWh LFP battery driving a single rear motor good for 180 kW / 309 Nm. Top speed is 160 km/h, and DC fast charging (90 kW) takes a claimed 32 minutes from 30–80%; a full 20–100% AC charge (6.6 kW) takes around 9.3 hours — realistic for overnight home charging.
- Safety: 4-wheel disc brakes, reverse radar, rearview camera, ESC, traction control, hill hold & descent control, indirect TPMS, 4 airbags, ISOFIX, rear child locks
- Tech: Digital instrument cluster + 8" touchscreen, 4-speaker audio, AM/FM radio, Apple CarPlay, Carbit Link mirroring
- Wheels: 17" alloys
- Payload / Towing: ~1,115 kg payload, 2,500 kg braked towing
- Ground clearance / Wading: 220 mm / 500 mm
Aspire Econ 4WD — R 681,900
Same 8" tech and safety suite as the entry model, but with the larger 73 kWh battery and a dual-motor 4WD system producing a combined 280 kW / 485 Nm. This is where towing capacity climbs to 3,000 kg and genuine 4x4 use cases open up.
- Safety & tech: Carried over from Aspire 2WD
- Wheels: 17" alloys
- Towing: 3,000 kg braked
Apex RD6 4WD — R 781,900
The flagship. Full 315 kW / 595 Nm output, with a claimed 20-millisecond switch between 2WD and 4WD and torque intelligently distributed across Economy, Comfort, Sport, Sand, Mud and Off-road drive modes. DC fast charging steps up to 110 kW with a claimed 30-minute charge time.
- Safety: Adds 360° surround view with transparent chassis display (540° panoramic imaging), direct TPMS, and 6 airbags
- Tech: 10.2" digital driver display, 14.6" floating central touchscreen, 8-speaker audio, wireless charging, full ADAS suite (adaptive cruise, AEB, forward collision warning, lane keep/departure warning, blind spot detection, door-opening collision warning, rear cross-traffic & collision alert, front vehicle departure reminder)
- Interior: Panoramic roof, leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, 48L under-seat + 70L trunk storage
- Wheels: 18" alloys
- Payload / Towing: ~1,030 kg payload, 3,000 kg towing
- Ground clearance / Wading: 225 mm / 815 mm
Dimensions
| Length | 5,260 mm |
| Width | 1,900 mm |
| Height | 1,865 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,120 mm |
| Load bay | 1,525 mm (L) × 1,450 mm (W) × 540 mm (D) |
For reference, the Riddara is actually slightly shorter nose-to-tail than a Toyota Hilux double cab.
Colours
Apex: Grey, White, Blue, Black — paired with a Classic Green or Black & Tan leather interior.
Aspire: Black, Grey, White — paired with a black leather interior.
Warranty & Ownership
- Vehicle warranty: 5 years / 150,000 km
- Battery warranty: 8 years / 200,000 km
- Service plan: 7 years / 140,000 km
- Roadside assistance: 5 years, unlimited mileage
- Every Geely finance customer qualifies for a complimentary wall box home charger and an emergency charger (T's & C's apply)
Could an Electric Bakkie Replace Your Family SUV?
That's the real question the Riddara raises. With seating for the whole family, up to 3,000 kg of towing, genuine off-road credentials on the Apex (815 mm wading depth is not a typo), and acceleration that rivals a hot hatch, the Riddara isn't just a work vehicle anymore — it's positioning itself as a legitimate one-car household solution. We're not bakkie people ourselves, but these numbers are making us reconsider.
Watch the Video
Specifications, pricing and images sourced from Geely South Africa's official Riddara model page (geelyauto.co.za) and South African launch coverage. Vehicle specifications and features are subject to change without prior notice — confirm final details with your nearest Geely dealer. This article is for informational purposes and is not financial or purchasing advice.
