Recently slated for the poor safety standard of its utes, the sole Chinese car brand available in New Zealand has forged on with a New Zealand invasion plan by introducing a third vehicle.

The X240 from Great Wall Motors is a medium-sized four-wheel-drive sport utility aimed at the mainstream passenger car sector. It is called the Hover in its home market.

As with the preceding V240 and SA220 dual cab utilities that low-scored in a recent ANCAP crash test, the primary allure could be a super-low price.

At $28,990, this is a much cheaper offering than any like-sized and specified equivalent from a Japanese or European maker.

The X240 is regarded as a 'modern design' by importer Ateco Automotive.

The descriptive might be challenged. It is loaded with creature comforts including electric driver's seat; leather trimmed seats, power steering, air conditioning, central locking, eight speaker CD/MP3 sound system, alloy wheels, four wheel disc brakes and reverse warning sensors.

However, it also utilises an old-school full chassis and glaringly absent from the specification is electronic stability control, a now common new car feature that is strongly recommended by New Zealand's transport safety watchdog. ESC, also known as ESP, is a 'must-have' for a maximum score in ANCAP testing.

Another factor that would-be buyers might consider is that the strong preference for diesel here and a growing desire for automatics as well is not answered by GWM.

The sole drivetrain choice is a 2.4 litre petrol driving through a five-speed manual.

The engine produces 100kW at 5250rpm and 200Nm of torque from 2500-3000rpm and will drink around 10.4L/100km on the combined fuel cycle. Top speed is a middling 160kmh. The 0-100kmh time is not provided, though one media outlet in Australia quotes the brand as say it will hit the legal highway limit from a standstill in "less than 20 seconds."

The gearbox drives through a switch operated "on the fly" high and low range four-wheel-drive system.

In sporting dual air bags, anti-lock brakes and electronic brake force distribution, the X240 has more safety gear than the GWM utes, though that does not necessarily mean anything in the ANCAP process.

When the utes went against the barrier for a frontal impact test, the V340 - which has dual airbags - scored no higher than the airbag-less SA220. Both scoring just two stars out of a possible five, which has caused ANCAP and several New Zealand safety agencies great concern.

While two star scores were not uncommon for Japanese utes four years ago, ANCAP points out that commercial vehicles coming out today are now more commonly rating four and even five stars.

Auckland-based Ateco Automotive told Yahoo!Xtra that the utes have nonetheless been 'embraced by New Zealand buyers' since their launch in June. A request for registrations data to back up that comment went unanswered, however.

The importer says the X240 is backed by a comprehensive three year/100,000km warranty, and supported 24-seven by Great Wall's dealer network across New Zealand.

The X240 rides on a 2700mm wheelbase and is 4620mm long, putting it between Subaru's Forester and the Nissan X-Trail.

Probable competitors would include the front-drive versions of the Hyundai Tucson, which will leave the market in early 2010 when the all-new iX35 comes along, and its equivalent in the Kia Sportage range.

What this means to you: Could be the best GWM product yet, though the lack of stability control is a particular drawback.