LDV Reviews

First it was the Koreans and now the Chinese are ramping up a workhorse presence in Australia. A sharply-priced entry into the light-commercial van market by Chinese giant SAIC - badged as an LDV - is now on sale in Australia.VALUEIn a way it’s similar to Hyundai's iLoad commercial van and its $5000 dearer iMax peoplemover set-up, LDV importer/distributor will offer a peoplemover variant of its van range. The Chinese brand is starting its commercial model at prices $1500 below the Hyundai's entry-level turbodiesel iLoad.The LDV V80 commercial range will have pricing starting from $32,990 for the SWB model, or an extra $5000 for the mid-roof long-wheelbase model; the tallest high-roof LWB model starts at $39,990. The LDV SWB model is around $4000 below the Toyota HiAce turbodiesel.DESIGNThe van range comes in short and long-wheelbase models with a choice of roof height and is aimed squarely at tradespeople and those in the business of moving people but the brand has plans for a peoplemover to join the fray.DISTRIBUTIONWMC - AKA the White Motor Corporation, is already the Australasian distributor of Higer buses and JAC trucks and has finally added LDV (Leyland Daf Vans) to its stable after several months of delays. The long-running British commercial vehicle brand was bought lock, stock and barrel by SAIC in 2009 and from that - as well as joint ventures with GM and Volkswagen - was born the new LDV V80 van range now on the market in Australia.AVAILABILITYThe upcoming Shanghai motor show is expected to reveal more about the SAIC peoplemover plans, but WMC CEO Neil Bamford says there should be an LDV V80 peoplemover in Australia by the end of the year. "There are a few ADR issues we need to get through - R&D are indicating the issues are not insurmountable so we should be in a position later in the year to bring a passenger version out," he says.The company is putting together larger-capacity bus and wheelchair transport models with Byron Industries but is planning a seven or eight-seater peoplemover before 2014 arrives. "We'll have a lower-roof 7 or 8 seater, they are releasing one of those at the Shanghai motor show in April, I'm heading up there to see that," he says.Mr Bamford says SAIC is moving on hurdles for a peoplemover model going on sale here - including the availability of stability control (by the end of 2013) and the installation of an auto, believed to be a six-speed automated manual gearbox from Magneti Marelli. "We'd love the automatic here tomorrow, this market likes the auto, it's in R&D at the moment and we're expecting a prototype in the third quarter and then production will follow, I think it will be end of this year or early 2014," he says.The brand is claiming to be in the Australian market for the "long term" and a slow start is not unexpected - estimates of 50 vans a month (compared to Hyundai and Toyota tallies of 500 a month) from a dealer network that currently numbers 34, although Mr Bamford would like to see that number rise to 40. But don't expect to see WMC bringing fellow SAIC stablemate MG into Australia from its Chinese home - it's an empahtic no from the CEO. "No, not at all - the brands we have at the moment will be our bread and butter for some time to come," he says. 

Chinese vehicles are now well established in this country thanks to Great Wall. Other players are arriving including LDV, a 21st century version of the Leyland/DAF Van (LDV) company that was popular in Europe a while back.It went broke due to competitive forces but the entire manufacturing plant was purchased by China's biggest automaker, SAIC, and re-established in the city of Wuxi where it is once again cranking out commercial vehicles including vans, tray back utilities and small passenger buses.More than that, the new LDV V80s are quite possibly a much better mouse trap than the originals due to a number of reasons, not the least being SAIC's deep pockets which allowed new machinery and upgrades, new designs and quality components used on its vehicles.LDV hits the market in this country early next year with a 40 strong dealer network selling a seven model range of 1.3 tonne vans including short and long wheelbase in a variety of roof heights.VALUEThey all share the same powertrain and similar styling inside and out and the word is, the LDVs will undercut other players in the van market by as much as $5000 comparing apples with apples. Better yet is the fact that LDV vans will be well equipped right from the entry model and all will have side sliders both sides capable of allowing forklift pallet loading as well as twin rear barn doors that open to 180 degrees.All will get LED driving lights and alloy wheels, cargo mats, full size spare, half height load protection panels, six heavy duty tie-down lugs, aircon, power windows and mirrors, cargo barrier and reverse sensors. LDV is being distributed by WMC the same outfit that distributes Chinese made Higer buses here.TECHNOLOGYThe LDV's engine is a 100kW/330Nm 2.5-litre VM Motori turbodiesel four out of Italy -- the same manufacturer used by umpteen other carmakers. The manual transmission is a ZF unit and so will the five or six-speed auto when it arrives later on.DESIGNAll doors including the two for passengers are large and the load doors give full pallet access for two pallets in the short wheelbase, three in the long. But WMC is still in the process of sorting out the audio system that currently isn't available with a CD player. They use USBs everywhere else. Presumably a replacement unit will also feature phone and audio Bluetooth. Storage in the cabin area is adequate, better in the larger vans.DRIVINGWe got Australia's first drive of the short wheelbase entry level model and the long wheelbase high roof variant last week in Sydney. Neither was registered and both were here for evaluation purposes but are representative of what we'll be getting. Both were just like driving an equivalent size European van, better in some respects. It is like any other van in terms of comfort, ride quality and drive feel. Some local calibration to steering and suspension has taken place.The VM Motori engine offers excellent performance and pulling power with both vehicles hardly noticing the 500kg ballast that had been loaded for the test drive. The five-speed manual change feel is as good as any in the class, possibly better than the others. It has a tight turning circle, well weighted steering and easy to use controls.Drive goes to the front wheels with the rear axle boasting triple leaf springs for heavy loads. And it looks good - a bit like a Benz Vito or an Iveco. WMC has plans in quarter two next year for a cab/chassis version with a tray back as well as a number of passenger vans offering seats for between 8-15 people depending on the size.Presumably, all will have the same powertrain. Wheelchair access vehicles and motorhomes are also under consideration.