LDV Mifa 9 Reviews

China's acknowledgement of Australia's booming SUV market was evident this week with SAIC Motor Corporation choosing the NSW coastal town of Kiama as the venue for a global preview of its LDV D90 seven-seat SUV, prior to announcing full details at next week's Shanghai motor show.Based on its one-tonne T60 pick-up that arrives in Australia in about October this year, the D90 was unveiled at an event attended by about 50 LDV representatives from China who ceremoniously stripped the show cars of their camouflage against a backdrop of the Kiama lighthouse.The strip show was beamed via video to a simultaneous launch event in Shanghai and via the internet around the world.LDV's wagon will compete with the Chinese-built Haval H9, and other full-frame SUVs.Out of its disguise, the D90 is a large, three-row seven seat SUV with conservative bodylines and a bold octagonal three-bar chrome grille.It showed forward-facing cameras inside the windscreen to indicate that it will come either with forward collision warning or auto emergency braking.LDV's Australian importer Ateco Automotive said Kiama was chosen for the unveiling because it wanted "somewhere that was beautiful and quintessentially Australian, as Australia will be a major market for the new car."This was the second showing of the SUV in NSW, after it was previously snapped in camo clothes at a Campbelltown LDV dealership for a video shoot and appearance with one of China's biggest movies and TV stars, Zhang Meng.While precise timing and specification are yet to be confirmed, the D90 should join LDV's Australian line-up before Christmas. it is likely the D90 will get a 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine mated to either a manual or automatic gearbox.LDV's wagon will compete with the Chinese-built Haval H9, and other full-frame SUVs including the Holden Trailblazer, Ford Everest, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and Toyota Fortuner.No word yet on the drivetrain but it is likely the D90 will get a 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine mated to either a manual or automatic gearbox. It is possible an all-wheel drive model and a two-wheel drive model will be offered.LDV also has two other models on sale in Australia, the V80 full-sized van and G10 mid-sized van.When the T60 arrives, it will be up against a large ute market including two from China – the Great Wall Steed and Foton Tunland.Known as Maxus in China, LDV hails from Britain where it was previously known as Leyland DAF Vehicles before being bought by SAIC.Maxus (LDV) is one of several such UK brands now operated by SAIC out of Shanghai, the others being MG and Roewe (formerly Rover).

Anyone shopping for a SWB one-tonne van with turbo-diesel and manual transmission will know there’s plenty of competition in this segment, with numerous well-known brands in the high $30k bracket.

LDV has been preparing to launch its forthcoming D90 SUV by putting two engineering vehicles through their paces in New South Wales

LDV will enter the ultra-competitive Australian ute market this October with the release of its T60 pick-up

The NSW police have unveiled an unlikely new weapon in the fight against crime: a seven-seat people-mover from Chinese manufacturer LDV.

Peter Barnwell road tests and reviews the LDV G10 2.4 with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

We road test and review the LDV G10 with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

One of Australia's cheapest vans has been slammed by safety experts after scoring a "poor" two-star rating out of five in a crash test.

They've had a false start here under another importer but now the affordable LDV range of light commercial vans is here under the stewardship of respected importer Ateco.LDVs (Leyland DAF Van) no longer come out of Europe but are made in China by that country's largest automaker SAIC.They bought the LDV factory lock, stock and barrel and relocated it to a new place in China where they now crank out hundreds of thousands of the things.And more importantly, they are just the same in every way as the highly regarded European manufactured version except perhaps for the alloy 16-inch wheels and the badging.Ateco reckons a small operator can have all the advantages of a quality European type van for half the monthly lease payment with its V80 model. That could mean not paying $1000 a month but instead paying $500. Big difference.A handsome van by any delivery driver's measure the V80 is available in a number of configurations including low, mid and high roof, and short and long wheelbase. There's even a 14 seat bus available with prices starting at $29,990 for the SWB low roof manual van.It looks a lot like a Benz Vito in its square lines, and the short wheelbase vehicle we drove was capable of taking two full size pallets in the load area. Payload in the short wheelbase model is 1204kg up to 1419kg in the longer models.Side sliders both sides and 180 degree barn door at the rear facilitate loading.A central locking system for security automatically activates as soon as you fire the vehicle up.The load compartment is lined and has a high-grip cargo mat. A full width/height load barrier is available complete with clear plastic curtain.The V80 has dual front air bags, rear parking sensors and electronic brake force distribution.It hasn't been crash rated in Australia yet.The running costs are low thanks to the LDV using proprietary components from international manufacturers. The transverse mounted engine is a VM Motori 2.5-litre turbodiesel four cylinder design made in China under licence and the same applies to the newly available automated manual six speeder. Other components of the LDV van would share a similar origin.The standard manual is a five speeder.Achieved power is 100kW/330Nm with fuel consumption of a combined 8.9L/100km. Tank capacity is 80 litres.Drive goes to the front wheels, the brakes are discs all round and British automotive engineering outfit MIRA calibrated the V80's suspension and other dynamic components.It has power assisted rack and pinion steering with a commendably tight turning circle.We had a short faux delivery run drive in the V80 shorty with the new automated manual box – ostensibly an automatic with somewhat slower changes than a conventional torque converter auto. But anything is better than swapping cogs by hand in thick traffic.The vehicle has plenty of acceleration and torque to pull heavy loads and behaves like any other delivery van on the road. It has a particularly tight turning circle which is handy and the driving position is fairly standard for a delivery van – upright seat and flat steering wheel. There are plenty of creature comforts in the cabin that is only marred by centrally located instruments which can be difficult to see.Apart from that, it's all good – low floor height for easy loading, large door apertures, three year/100,000km warranty, roadside assist, a nationwide dealer network.

China's automotive invasion appears to have faltered after a strong start.