Review: 2015 Golden Dragon GD70 Minibus

2015 Golden Dragon GD70 Minibus: The Introduction

Expanding your bus or coach rental business means increasing your number of vehicles. However, with all those vast selections of models offered by manufacturers and local dealers today, you might find yourself confused on which one of them can perfectly meet the needs of your customers and can fit the budget that you’ve set. Good thing, just the other day, my team and I were able to hop inside a particular minibus from Golden Dragon: the 22-seater GD70. I will be sharing my road test experience with this set of wheels in my review below, and let’s see if it’s something that you can consider adding to your biz.

2015 Golden Dragon GD70 Minibus: Key Features

Engine

Just like all the buses in the GD series, the GD70 is powered by a 3.8 litre Cummins ISF 4 cylinder turbo-diesel engine that is fuel-efficient. It delivers an economical and reliable operation, and do comply with the current Euro 5 standards to provide minimised effects on our environment. However, it seemed like quietness isn’t one of the features of this motor. Upon road testing the vehicle, we heard some noises, and our driver even felt a bit vibration with his feet. Though I guess this is something that can be adjusted or fixed at the factory.

Transmission and brakes

For the GD70, an Allison 1000 6-speed automatic transmission comes as standard. Impressively, we had no issues with regard to this gearbox as it gave us that smooth driving and effortless acceleration. My problem, though, is with its braking system. Unfortunately, it requires a lot of foot pressure, which is obviously not good if you’re transporting travelers to long-distant destinations. The brake pedal and the accelerator are as well placed too close to each other. But regardless of these, the Golden Dragon model still brings superb safety performance.

Driver’s station

Although we found a couple of drawbacks with the driveline, I was still truly dazzled with the GD70; especially with its driver’s station. Basically, the operator’s seat is comfortable and does come with a lumbar support to help you locate the best driving position. All the vital controls are also logically placed for easy reach, same with the air conditioning switch, audio and lighting, and the remote control of the automated door. Power steering and a tilt-adjustable steering wheel are available, too.

Passengers’ area

The GD70 stays true to its promise of comfort and convenience. Honestly, we find it easy to get in and out of the bus with the help of its automatic sliding door. Inside, there’s plenty of head and legroom, giving your customers pleasant experience as they reach their destination. The full high back seats are cozy, too, and do sport 3-point lap/sash seat belts that are ADR68 compliant for extra safety.

The interior also incorporates large windows with privacy glasses to let passengers get a nice view of the scenery outside. Entertainment features are as well present, including radio, CD player, and a 4-speaker audio system, to name a few.

2015 Golden Dragon GD70 Minibus: Price

New: $90,900 AUD –  QLD Trucks

2015 Golden Dragon GD70 Minibus: Videos

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2015 Golden Dragon GD70 Minibus: The Verdict

As elaborated above, the 2015 Golden Dragon GD70 minibus, somehow, lacks the state-of-the-art driveline technology and ergonomic specs as well as the quiet engine that we usually see in other buses or coaches from competitors. But regardless of that, this model is still suitable for your rental business as it provides great comfort and convenience to ensure that your customers get to enjoy their journey. Also, it seems an ideal choice for those who have a tight budget, since it has been considered one of the most affordable models on the market today. You can purchase it for under $100,000 only. This price tag already includes a full multimedia system, satellite navigation, and a nice warranty. Simply put, the 22-seater GD70 is a value for money vehicle.