The latest dual-cab ute to land Down Under is sure to excite tradies with its sharp price and tough guy looks.
There was a time when utes were no-frills workhorses that tradies could hose out at the end of a long day. These days they are fully loaded work-and-play things that usually cost an arm and a leg.
Thousands of Australians happily pay $60,000 or more for a ute, while many dig even deeper, ponying up $85,000 or more for a Ford Ranger Raptor or high-end Volkswagen Amarok.
But Chinese maker LDV reckons there are plenty of folk who would rather pay half that for a broadly similar machine and pocket the difference.
Built in China by SAIC – the parent company to reborn MG – LDV machines are imported by the ATECO outfit that also manages Maserati, Ram and Renault in Australia.
Upgraded for the 2022 model year, the LDV T60 benefits from new looks inside and out, as well as a powerful new engine that evens the score with key rivals.
Aggressive front-end styling combines a huge grille with squinting headlamps, along with a fresh tailgate stamped with the “T60 Max” motif.
The interior has a reworked 10.25-inch wide-screen with smartphone mirroring, along with a basic black-and-white driver display offering a digital speedo, tyre pressure sensors and trip computer.
Priced from $33,990 drive-away for ABN holders (and about $2000 more for the general public), the entry-level LDV T60 Max Pro has 17-inch alloys, a reversing camera, rear parking sensors, cruise control and the big touchscreen linked to a six-speaker stereo.
An eight-speed auto adds $2000 and you can spend an extra $4500 on a Luxe model adding niceties such as leather seats and smart keys. There’s also a 360-degree camera, lane-keeping assistance, and a locking rear differential. However, it misses out on increasingly common safety gear such as auto emergency braking. It’s also missing more sophisticated active safety aids such as active cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
That helps explain the $20,000-plus price gap to Ford’s best-selling Ranger.
The same goes for a basic dash and flat seats that leave room for improvement.
Steering adjustable for height but not reach represents another annoyance, but we reckon owners will be prepared to forgive the odd foible given the car’s affordable asking price.
LDV is betting that blokes are more likely to brag about power figures than safety alerts and has focused its attention on a new twin-turbocharged 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine offering 160kW and 500Nm maximums.
Those numbers outgun the 140kW/450Nm Isuzu D-Max, 147kW/500Nm Ranger or 150kW/500Nm Toyota HiLux.
The T60 feels punchy on the road, helped by closely-stacked gear ratios that make sure the engine is always ready to deliver its best.
But it isn’t as refined as more recognised rivals.
Grumpy at idle and vocal on the road, the motor feels more agricultural than most alternatives.
Locally tuned suspension works well when unladen in the Luxe version, avoiding the billy-cart bounciness that can afflict working vehicles.
The ute exhibits decent body control at speed on a country road, helped by slower steering that makes for relaxed changes of direction. It’s nowhere near as jiggly as some big-name alternatives, suggesting LDV has done its homework tuning the latest T60 for local conditions.
But official fuel consumption of 9.3L/100km ranks toward the back of the class.
As do elements of its working potential.
Peak payload of 750 kilos is below par, as is a 3000-kilogram tow capacity that falls half a tonne short of class benchmarks.
Our brief loan of the car didn’t allow for a chance to evaluate its off-road performance, though the ingredients are in place to go exploring from time to time.
Four-wheel-drive enthusiasts should be careful, though, as an official wading depth 15 centimetres shy of the best in class suggests water crossings might not be its forte.
VERDICT 3/5
Sharp prices, a powerful motor and decent roadholding ability work in the T60’s favour, but safety omissions and a sub-par payload compromise its appeal
LDV T60 MAX LUXE VITALS
Price: About $42,490 drive-away
Engine: 2.0-litre, 4-cyl twin-turbo diesel, 160kW/500Nm
Warranty/servicing: 5-year/130,000km, no capped service plan
Safety: Six airbags, stability control, lane departure warning, surround view camera
Thirst: 9.3L/100km
Payload: 750kg/3000kg towing
Spare: Full size
For all the latest Technology News Click Here
