LDV T60 News

The LDV T60 Mega Tub has been confirmed for Australia, with the new mid-spec dual-cab ute adding a longer wheelbase and a class-leading tub to appeal to customers who need extra space in the back.

A range-wide update has seen the Walkinshaw-tuned suspension of the LDV T60 Trailrider applied to all models in the line-up.

Though MG’s Extender ute was revealed over the weekend in extra cab form, sister-brand LDV has no plans to incorporate the body style in its related T60 pick-up line-up.

Australia’s new-car market might be struggling in 2019, dropping 7.7 per cent of volume after seven months of trading compared to the same period last year, but Chinese automotive brands – including Great Wall, Haval, LDV and MG – are steadily growing their share.

Ford’s Ranger ute has stolen the lead in the 4x4 pick-up segment from the evergreen Toyota HiLux, edging ahead in year-to-date sales by just 75 units.

The LDV T60 Trailrider has been launched with a bespoke suspension tune designed for local conditions, with the Chinese firm partnering with the Walkinshaw Automotive Group in Victoria to fine-tune the dual-cab's ride and handling.

The LDV T60 ute range has seen the addition of a new entry-level single-cab model which sees the entry price of the Chinese-made light commercial drop to a new level.

The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has this week handed down five-star crash safety ratings to the Honda CR-V, LDV T60 and Haval H2.

Hot on the heels of the recent Aussie launch of its new T60 dual-cab ute, LDV Automotive has launched a range of accessories to give the ute even more bush cred.

Toyota and Ford better watch their back because a HiLux and Ranger rival is on its way. Well, that’s according to Chinese automotive manufacturer SAIC Motors, who has come out swinging in the latest round of Aussie ute market fisticuffs with the sharply priced, features-packed dual-cab LDV T60.SAIC execs, and local division LDV Automotive Australia, know they’re in no position to tackle the big guns of the ute market here just yet – let’s be realistic – but they are aiming to tackle Mitsubishi Triton et al. They’ll first have to convince a skeptical Aussie ute-buying market that, at last, a Chinese-built vehicle, marketed as a workhorse and recreational vehicle, is actually built well enough to cope with those duties. LDV has certainly put the effort in: the LDV T60 was tested for more than two million kilometres in temperatures ranging from -40 degrees to plus 50 degrees, as well as comprehensive testing at Asia’s largest test track, Guangde.The base-spec T60 Pro is $30,516 (driveway).The diesel-only five-seater LDV T60 is available in one body style – dual-cab – and two trim levels: Pro, aimed at trades, and Luxe, aimed at the dual-purpose or family recreation market. The four options are: Pro manual, Pro automatic, Luxe manual and Luxe automatic. All of which are powered by a 2.8-litre common-rail turbo-diesel engine, producing 110kW@3400rpm and 360Nm@1600rpm-2800rpm. Both transmissions are six-speed. Claimed fuel consumption is 8.8L/100km for the manual; and 9.6L/100km for the auto.The base-spec T60 Pro is $30,516 (driveway); the Pro automatic is $32,621 (driveway), the Luxe manual $34,726 (driveway), and the Luxe automatic $36,831 (driveway). ABN holders will pay $28,990 (for the Pro manual), $30,990 (Pro auto), Luxe manual ($32,990) and Luxe automatic ($34,990).It is a big, chunky unit: 5300mm long, 1900mm wide, and 1800mm high. The tray is 1480mm long, 1500mm wide and 500mm deep. It has a plastic tub liner and six tie-down points.The Pro has a multi-bar headboard to protect the rear window; the Luxe has a polished chrome sport bar. Both models have roof rails as standard.The ute’s other standard features in Pro form include cloth seats, a 10-inch colour touchscreen with Android and Apple CarPlay, automatic height adjusting headlights, 4WD with high and low range, 17-inch alloys with a full-sized spare, side steps, and roof rails.Safety gear includes six airbags, three ISOFIX child-seat restraint attachment points in the rear seat, as well as a raft of passive and active safety tech including ABS, EBA, ESC, reversing camera and rear parking sensors, Hill Descent Control, Hill Start Assist, and a tyre-pressure monitoring system.The Luxe gets leather seats and leather-bound steering wheel, electrically six-way adjustable and heated front seats, automatic climate control and Smart Key system with Start/Stop button as well as an automatic locking rear differential as standard.The LDV T60 has been ANCAP tested but the results of those tests are not available as yet.Front suspension is double wishbone and heavy-duty leaf springs at the rear. The tray has a has a 3000kg braked tow capacity, which may irk some of the numbers-conscious ute-buying public who put plenty of stock in the 3500kg benchmark. It can tow 750kg unbaked. Payload is 1025kg for the manual Pro; 995kg for the automatic Pro.The Luxe payloads are 875kg (manual) and 815kg (automatic). Gross Combined Vehicle Mass is 6050kg for the Pro and 5950kg for the Luxe.For off-roading enthusiasts here are the numbers worth noting: ground clearance is 215mm, wading depth is 500mm, and front and rear departure angles are 27 and 24.2 degrees respectively; ramp-over angle is 21.3 degrees.The LDV T60 has been ANCAP tested but the results of those tests are not available as yet. At the LDV T60 event, Vice President of LDV’s parent company SAIC, Qingsong Lan, said he was “very confident” the ute would get a five-star ANCAP rating.It has a five-year/130,000km warranty, 24/7 roadside assistance and 10-year body perforation rust warranty.While first impressions of the LDV T60 were good – it has to be one of the best built Chinese utes to ever land on these shores – we won’t believe the hype until we have a chance to drive the LDV T60 after it goes on sale from October 1.T60 Pro - $30,516 T60 Pro automatic - $32,621 T60 Luxe manual - $34,726T60 Luxe automatic - $36,831