Can Your Passenger Pickup Deliver in Traffic and Mountain Roads?

Passenger Pickup buyers often face a hard choice: city comfort or off-road grit. From our vantage point as the Z9's manufacturer, we designed one vehicle to deliver both. This article explains how the Z9 Passenger Pickup tackles daily commutes and weekend trails without forcing trade-offs, and why it solves pain points that frustrate fleets and families alike.

City Demands, Trail Ambitions: Z9 Passenger Pickup

In town, drivers want quiet cabins, easy steering, and effortless parking. Off-road, they need traction, approach confidence, and durable hardware. The Z9 answers both lists. Its electric power steering offers light, precise control at low speeds, while the dual-layer laminated glass helps reduce wind and road noise. Signature headlamps with a breathing, flowing light language boost visibility and presence. A five-link rear suspension adds stability and comfort over broken pavement and rough tracks.

Dimensionally, the Z9 gives you room to breathe and work: 5520 x 1960 x 1950 mm with a 3300 mm wheelbase. It pairs that footprint with smart packaging - 28 interior storage spaces, a 0.87 ㎡ openable panoramic sunroof, and a rear seatback with three stages of adjustment so passengers stay comfortable on long rides. The rear doors open to 90° to simplify child-seat access and loading, and a 970 L flat rear floor opens up cargo options that typical pickups can't match. These touches remove the daily compromises that many Passenger Pickup owners quietly endure.

•   Safety and Visibility That Inspire Trust

The Z9's safety strategy starts with a five-star safety collision body design using 97% high-strength steel in the frame. Lighting extends farther and wider with an ultra low-beam mode for challenging conditions. For maneuvering, a 540° panoramic imaging system reveals obstacles around and beneath the truck. And across the entire range, we fit EPB + Auto Hold as standard, backed by a 12.8-inch central display with multi-screen linkage to keep information clear and reachable.

Powertrain & Control for a Passenger Pickup That Does Both

Under the hood, customers choose the character that fits their routes. The gasoline 4K31 delivers 190 kW and 400 Nm, perfect for lively urban response and highway merging. The diesel M9T provides 140 kW and 500 Nm, ideal for towing and steep climbs. Both pair with a ZF 8-speed automatic (8AT) - the same supplier favored by luxury brands - for smooth, decisive shifts in traffic and on trails. Driveline options include 2WD or 4WD, with a BorgWarner part-time 4WD system for tough terrain.

For control, drivers can tap ten tailored drive modes: Standard, Economy, Sport, Snow, Desert, Rock, Mud, Expert, Tank Turn, and Crawl. These modes address real-world pain points - sand washouts, slick inclines, stop-and-go downtown traffic - without guesswork.

✅Torque & Power, Your Way: 190 kW/400 Nm (gasoline) or 140 kW/500 Nm (diesel).

✅Transmission You Can Trust: ZF 8AT for refined shifts and durability.

✅Serious Traction: BorgWarner 4WD, Eaton differential lock, Crawl mode, plus Tank Turn for tight trails.

✅Hard-Number Capability: 100% gradeability, >800 mm wading, 240 mm ground clearance, top-tier suspension travel.

✅Real Work Ready: 3.5-ton towing to move equipment or weekend toys.

✅Quick Off the Line: Fully loaded, 0-40 km/h in 3.4 s ,0.6 s quicker than Pao in our testing.

These figures aren't paper promises - they are the backbone of an urban off-road passenger pickup that carries families Monday to Friday and conquers steep, rutted climbs on Saturday.

•   From City Curb to Trailhead, Without Second Thoughts

Many pickups feel overbuilt in town and underprepared off-road. The Z9's calibration avoids that split personality. Steering effort, throttle mapping, and shift logic adapt by mode, so you get smooth pull-aways in traffic and controlled torque delivery on loose rock. The result is confidence whether you're threading a parking garage or easing into a river crossing.

Comfort, Tech, and Ownership Confidence - Every Day

Inside, the Z9 was built for people who spend serious time in their trucks. The cabin's large glass area and 0.87 ㎡ panoramic roof make long days feel lighter. Passengers benefit from that three-stage adjustable rear seatback, and loading through 90° rear doors is straightforward even with bulky gear. The 970 L flat rear floor turns the Passenger Pickup into a flexible hauler for strollers, tools, or sample cases.

The 12.8-inch display anchors an infotainment layout designed to reduce distraction. Multi-screen linkage lets you keep maps, camera views, and vehicle data visible without burying menus. The 540° panoramic system is especially helpful in tight work sites and dark garages. And standard EPB + Auto Hold smooths every stop on hilly streets.

•  Beyond creature comforts, durability is the other half of value. The frame's 97% high-strength steel content supports long-term rigidity, helping suspension geometry stay true under load. The five-link rear setup keeps the bed planted without punishing passengers, so you arrive fresher and more focused.

Call to Action: Ready to feel city calm and trail control in one truck? Book your Z9 Passenger Pickup test drive today, or talk with our product team about the configuration - gasoline or diesel, 2WD or 4WD, accessories, and fleet packages - that fits your routes.