LDV Reviews

A lot is riding on the LDV T60, the first Chinese commercial vehicle to receive a five-star ANCAP rating. It's well priced and packed with features, and promises to be better built, too, but is it?

The Luxe manual is $34,726 (drive away), and the Luxe automatic $36,831 (drive away).

The base-spec T60 Pro, the manual, is $30,516 (drive away); the Pro automatic is $32,621 (drive away).

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.

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.

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.

If you've ever travelled in the UK anytime in the past 20 years (or just watched police shows from that country) you will have noticed dozens, if not hundreds of vans with LDV badges.Purpose built by Leyland and DAF, hence the title LDV standing for Leyland DAF Vehicles, the vans had a reputation amongst users as honest, though not particularly interesting vehicles.LDV got into serious financial strife in the early years of the 21st century and in 2005 the rights to build LDVs were sold to Chinese giant SAIC (Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation). SAIC is the largest vehicle manufacturer in China and has formed partnerships with Volkswagen and General Motors.In 2012 companies in the SAIC group produced a staggering 4.5 million vehicles – by way of comparison that’s over four times the number of new vehicles sold in Australia last year. Now LDV vans are being imported to Australia from a Chinese factory.The vans we are getting here are based on the 2005 European design, but have had quite a few updates in the meantime, particularly in the safety and exhaust emission fields.In these early days in Australia the LDV is offered in a relatively limited number of models. A short wheelbase (3100 mm) with a standard roof height and a long wheelbase (3850 mm) with either a mid-level roof or a high roof.Future imports will include everything from cab-chassis to which various bodies can be attached, to people movers. Pricing is important to buyer perception of Chinese vehicles at this early stage of their establishment in this country.On the face of it the LDVs look to be about two to three thousand dollars under their competitors, but the LDV’s importers calculate that they are about 20 to 25 per cent cheaper when you take the high level of standard features into consideration.Over and above what you would expect in a vehicle in this class, the LDV van comes with air conditioning, alloy wheels, foglights, cruise control, power windows and mirrors, and reversing sensors. Interestingly, a senior member of the Chinese embassy in Australia, Qui De Ya, attended the media launch of the LDV. Amongst other matters he stressed the importance of social responsibility to the Chinese people. The Australian importer, WMC announced that in line with this it has donated an LDV van to the Starlight Children’s Foundation, the charity that helps brighten the lives of seriously ill Aussie children.The load area on every model imported to Australia is accessed through sliding doors on both side and full-height barn doors. The latter open to a maximum of 180 degrees, making it possible to get a forklift right up to the rear.However, they don’t open 270 degrees to make reversing into a really tight area possible. The latter is probably less important in Australia than in cramped cities in Europe and Asia, but would nevertheless be useful at times.Two standard Australian specification pallets can be carried in tandem in the big load area. The width between the wheelarches is 1380 mm and the arches are pleasingly small in the volume they occupy.Build quality is generally good, though the interior isn’t to the same standard as commercials built in other countries. One of the LDVs we tested had a door that needed a hefty slam before it would close, the others were fine.Power for the LDV vans comes from a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine designed by the Italian VM Motori company and built in China. It produces up to 100 kW of power and 330 Nm of torque.During the 300+ kilometre drive program organised by WMC, the Australian importer of LDVs, we found the engine to be strong and willing in its actions. It wasn’t as happy to pull at low revs as we anticipated in a commercial vehicle, but once it got up to 1500 revs it gets on song and is happy to hold high gears on fairly steep hills.At this stage only a five-speed manual gearbox is being fitted, automatic transmissions are under development and are likely to be on offer by the time the LDV moves to people mover status. The manual gearbox is light and easy in its actions, not something that’s simple to engineer in a vehicle with a transverse engine and front wheel drive so the engineers deserve a real compliment on this.LDV vans have more styling flair than is the norm in this market segment and although it’s not the quietest engine around it has a truck like sound that’s certainly not out of place.

The biggest automaker in China, SAIC, has just put a toe in the water here with a selection of LDV vans. SAIC sells 4.5 million vehicles a year and is in cahoots with GM and VW as wells as a swag of well know component manufacturers. LDV is handled here by WMC motor group, a privately owned company that already has Chinese brands Higer buses and JAC light trucks under its wing. LDV (Light Duty Van) is the product of a bold move by the Chinese more than a decade ago when they purchased the LDV plant in Europe and transplanted it to a location near Shanghai. They upgraded both the line and the vehicle bringing them into the 21st century. Up to 75 per cent of components in LDV vans are globally sourced.Prices for the first three models are $32,990, $37,990 and $39,990 in ascending order. There is one spec' only with generous equipment levels that includes aircon' with multiple vents, 16-inch alloys, ABS, dual front air bags, reverse sensors, cruise control, remote keyless entry, power windows and mirrors.The vans are well set up for work with a low centre of gravity, low floor clearance, passenger vehicle comfort levels, plenty of cargo space, good axle load allocation and crash benefits. The interior is well endowed with storage options and has three seats.It will target tradies, rental fleets and freight organisations. WMC hopes to win conquest sales over the likes of Hyundai iLoad, Iveco, Benz Sprinter, VW Transporter, Fiat Ducato and Renault among others.Comparing apples with apples (i.e. similarly specced vehicles), the LDV offers a value proposition despite being pitched higher than expected. It's a couple of grand under the most likely competitor, well entrenched iLoad, and is the lowest price van on the market today.Called the V80, the new front drive vans feature a four cylinder, 2.5-litre, turbo diesel engine from VM Motori, manufactured under licence in China. The initial batch of vehicles is five-speed manual with a six-speed automated manual (semi-auto) due later this year along with a drop side, tray back cab/chassis, people mover and other variants.Three variants are available initially; a short wheel base low roof, long wheelbase mid roof and long wheelbase high roof. They have load capacities of between 9-12 cubic metres, or two pallets and payloads between 1.3 and 1.8 tonnes.No crash rating was available but four stars seems attainable with stability control and a couple of more airbags.It's pretty good to drive too - a lot better than expected particularly in terms of ride and performance. The gas filled dampers give a smooth ride even over rough roads and the engine has plenty of performance once underway. It's good for 100kW/330Nm output.The manual change mechanism is similar to other offerings in the segment and the interior could also be from any of LDV's competitors - not flash but utilitarian and hard wearing. They need to reposition the instruments onto the left side of the dash instead of the middle.WMC is also offering the V80 as a wheelchair accessible vehicle available, ready to roll from the dealers. Currently, this type of vehicle is fitted-out by third party manufacturers at high cost and with long delays.It's a tempting workhorse from LDV that benefits from a solid European influence and competitive pricing.

A British van has started its second life as an affordable Chinese load hauler. It’s called the LDV V80 and has just gone on sale in Australia.LDV has a convoluted history, with more twists and turns than a Tom Clancy blockbuster. Owners included companies from England, America and Russia, before it was mothballed in 2009. Chinese company Shanghai Automotive Industrial Corporation (SAIC) bought up LDV and the rights to its only product, the V80 van.SAIC is huge - building 4.5 million cars last year and has joint ventures with both Volkswagen and General Motors in its home market.The V80 van is now made in China. It is largely the same as the model that was introduced in Europe in 2005 and was originally developed in conjunction with Daewoo, before it went belly up back in 2000, so it is not new by any means.There are two models available: a short wheelbase version aimed at the Hyundai iLoad and Toyota HiAce and a long wheelbase version, available with a regular roof and a high-roof body, which lines up against the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Ford Transit and Fiat Ducato.It is cheaper than all its rivals, but not by a lot in the case of the short wheelbase version. Pricing for that model is $32,990, which is around $2000 less than a Hyundai iLoad and $4000 less than a Toyota HiAce. The long wheelbase model is $37,990, with the high roof variant adding another $2000.SAIC and its importer Australian importer WMC isn’t relying on dirt-cheap prices, unlike Chinese rival Great Wall. It is hoping a high level of standard gear will encourage customers to switch to a Chinese brand.It has fitted a lot of gear as standard, including 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, airconditioning and LED daytime running lights as well as dual sliding doors and rear barn doors.  The cruise control is not like normal systems though, in that it is not adjustable. If you want to slow slightly or speed up a little, you have to turn it off, change your speed manually and turn it on again.The interior is basic and the quality is good, better than some rivals but not quite to the standard of others. The centrally-mounted instrument cluster, with a speedo on the left, is awful and it is almost impossible to tell how fast you are going from the driver’s seat. The V80’s rear doors feel extremely flimsy and the metal door skin surface was not even.Anti-skid brakes (with front and rear discs) are standard, along with driver and passenger front airbags. There are no side airbags or electronic stability control, although SAIC is reportedly working on them. It has not been tested by Euro NCAP or ANCAP yet and while SAIC’s own testing suggests a four star result, many customers will want to wait for an official rating.The V80 is a much better drive than this writer was expecting. It tackled some tough roads on the launch and coped well, much like rival vans. The ride is much the same as other vans and cargo space and access through the doors is excellent – load capacity runs from nine to 12 cubic metres and payload ranges from 1300kg to 1800kg.The Chinese-made VM Motori 2.5-litre common rail turbo diesel (with 100kW and 330Nm) is not bad on the whole, but is sluggish below 2000revs. It has a Hyundai-sourced five-speed manual (there is not auto option yet), which shifts smoothly and features a light clutch. It is a front-wheel drive.Overall, the V80 gives a good impression but it needs to be a lot cheaper for customers to walk away from proven vans such as the iLoad and HiAce and take a punt on an unproven Chinese brand.