LDV Mifa 9 Reviews

Beijing's plan to safeguard Chinese companies from reputational damage from dodgy exporters - but will it affect Australia?

Chinese carmakers aren’t just winning over Aussies with affordable electric SUVs, the same manufacturers have quickly established themselves as serious competitors in the popular ute segment that's dominated by the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger. Just this year we’ve seen a stack of new Chinese utes models arrive in Australia to join some already well-established players. So, here’s the ultimate list of Chinese utes in Australia to help you keep up to date with what’s on the ground now and those expected to arrive soon.BYD has taken Australia by storm with its affordable electric cars, but wading into the treacherous and competitive waters of the ute segment inhabited by the likes of Toyota’s HiLux and Ford’s Ranger was brave. BYD, however, didn’t just wade in, it backstroked in during late last year and stole a sizable chunk of the market with the Shark 6 becoming the fourth best-selling 4x4 ute on the market so far in 2025.The Shark 6 is a plug-in hybrid that uses a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine with two electric motors for a combined output of 321kW and 650Nm. Braked towing capacity is 2500kg.The GWM Cannon is the most established Chinese ute in Australia and is popular for its combination of good looks and good value.The Cannon dual-cab has a 2.4 litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel unit making 135kW and 480Nm. Braked capacity is 3500kg.JAC’s T9 arrived in Australia in late 2024 and there are currently two grades on sale - the Oasis and the Haven. Powering the T9 is a 2.0 litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine making 120kW and 410Nm, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Braked towing capacity is 3200kg.LDV’s Terron 9 is the latest member of the brand’s growing ute family. Larger in every way than the T60 both in dimensions and grunt.Powered by a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel four cylinder making 163kW and 520Nm, the Terron 9 has a braked towing capacity of 3500kg.An eTerron 9 electric version could also be arriving in Australia soon. The LDV T60 is the smaller stablemate of the Terron 9 and is powered by a 160kW/500Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder, mated to an-eight speed automatic, with a six-speed manual gearbox also available. LDV upgraded the T60 in 2025 and this T60 Max, as it's called now, has a higher braked towing capacity of 3500kg.The new Foton Tunland arrived late in 2025 a very different vehicle to the one we used to know with strikingly handsome exterior and lavish looking cabin.All variants have a 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine with a 48V mild hybrid system, with outputs of 120kW and 450Nm.Chery has confirmed that it will bring a plug-in hybrid ute to Australia to compete against BYD’s Shark 6 in 2026 and the Rely P3X could be it.Rely is one of the many brands owned by Chery, along with Omoda and Jaecoo which are already in Australia. Rely showed off the P3X recently at the Chengdu motor show and it's very likely one or both of these will be vehicles to be picked and arrive wearing a Chery badge.The P3X appears to have all the ingredients to make it a tough rival to the BYD Shark 6 with its ladder frame chassis and 2.5-litre turbo diesel engine with dual electric motors.MG’s U9 arrives right about now and could be a game changer, even if it’s based on a ute that’s already here - the LDV Terron 9.MG’s bosses say that the U9 will come with a choice of diesel, plug-in hybrid and fully electric powertrains, and that variety, along with its good looks and expected affordable price point, will make it a big market disrupter. A 3500kg braked towing capacity is confirmed as well - possibly only on the diesel.Unlike all the other utes here the Geely Riddara doesn’t sit on a ladder frame and is far more car-like and lifestyle focused than a work truck.Still, there’s definitely a market for a small and comfortable little ute like the Riddara RD6, which is likely to come to Australia with a plug-in hybrid powertrain.When it does come isn’t certain, with Geely appearing to concentrate more on growing its passenger car line-up first.

The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has published ratings for several new cars after crash testing new SUVs, a ute and a sedan.

China’s LDV has just launched the new Terron 9 turbo-diesel dual-cab ute in Australia, but the electric eTerron 9 counterpart is still nowhere to be seen.

The two-step LDV Terron 9 range is capped off by the $58,937 Evolve version. This specification adds 20-inch wheels and tyres, a locking front differential, a better stereo, massage front seats and a heated rear seat.Power comes form the same 2.5-litre turbo-diesel as the entry-level version, with 163kW of power and 520Nm of torque. The eight-speed automatic transmission is the only fitment, and the Evolve continues with four-wheel drive with a low-ratio transfer-case.Claimed fuel economy is 7.9 litres per 100km (combined) but our real-world drive netted a number much closer to 9.0L. Even so, with the 80-litre fuel tank, range should be an easy 850km or more.Safety is covered off by the latest driver-assistance aids including AEB and lane-keeping assistance, but some of the calibration is too aggressive in our opinion.The cabin is a five-seater but, because of the way the vehicle is engineered, there's no cab-chassis option available.LDV offers is seven-year/200,000km warranty for the Terron 9, with service intervals at 12 months or 15,000km, with the exception of the first service at 10,000km.

The entry point for the all-new LDV Terron 9 is the Origin variant which aims to keep costs down with the fitment of cloth trim and a few omissions from the equipment list. Even so, with 18-inch alloys, large dual-info screens, full connectivity, paddle-shifter and a 360-degree camera system, the $53,674 is more than the much older LDV T60, but still relevant.Power comes from a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel engine with 163kW and 520NM, and that's linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission with low ratios for off-road work.LDV claims a combined fuel economy figure of 7.9 litres per 100km, and there's an 80-litre fuel tank for decent range.The cabin seats five but is a little larger than most dual-cabs (as is the cargo area) thanks to the overall larger external dimensions and an interesting design that makes the body side one-piece. The flip-side is that this means there's no cab-chassis variant.Safety is taken care of by driver aids including AEB, lane-departure warning, lane keeping assistance and a front and rear parking sensors.The Terron 9's warranty is a handy seven years/200,000km and servicing intervals are every 12 months or 15,000km, apart from the very first service which is scheduled for 10,000km.

Need a dual-cab ute? You’re in luck. Not only does Australia have access to a huge variety of makes and models in the dual-cab space, there is also a huge range of prices and equipment levels.

Renault Australia has simplified its Master van line-up to just two variants but it's offering a driveaway deal to ABN holders which will see them get on the road from $57,990. 

LDV is doubling its ute line-up. The Chinese brand’s new Terron 9 dual-cab workhorse will arrive in showrooms in July, where it will sit alongside the brand’s existing T60 ute.

Geely is latest to issue warning about the unsustainable state of global car market joining GWM and even the Chinese government in concerns about price-cuts and oversupply.