The LDV nameplate may not have the most attention-grabbing cachet, but its T60 double cab is a compelling local introduction to the brand…
Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag!
LDV T60 Maxe Luxe Fast Facts
- Price: R750 000
- 0 to 100 km/h: 10.39 seconds
- Top speed: 200 km/h
- Power: 160 kW @ 4 000 r/min
- Torque: 500 N.m @ 1 500-2 400 r/min
- CAR fuel index: 11.16 L/100km
- CO2: 244 g/km
In the automotive sphere, legacy is a powerful thing. For a marque to have a storied past or links to motorsport is a massive fillip for building brand equity and attracting new customers. It’s a similar story in the bakkie segment; think of the reputations that the likes of the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, and Isuzu D-Max have built on the back of their durability and go-anywhere capabilities. It’s something that Chinese car companies simply don’t have, in our market at least. They’ve travelled different paths to gain traction in new markets, either by introducing value packed (if initially somewhat flawed) products and then honing them into vehicles that are quickly gaining parity with more established rivals (GWM/Haval and offerings from the Chery stable are particularly good examples of this), or they’ve bought brands that already have that sought-after heritage that appeals to many buyers; think of MG, Saab, Volvo, and the like.
This is why LDV (Leyland DAF Vehicles) is something of an anomaly in this regard. Formerly an amalgam of UK’s Leyland Motors and Dutch commercial vehicle builder DAF, LDV was eventually bought by SAIC Motor Corp, China’s largest state-owned car manufacturer, in 2010. While LDV’s previous portfolio didn’t make for particularly exciting reading – a host of lorries, vans and buses being the backbone of its business – its wares had a reputation for being practical and tough. While the new company continued to produce such vehicles under its Maxus subsidiary, the likes of single- and double-cab bakkies began to filter into its line-up, bringing us to the T60 Max Plus we’re testing here. On paper it looks like it has the goods to make an impact on the local bakkie scene – an impressive turbodiesel engine, eye-catching styling and plenty of kit among them – so, are we looking at a serious contender in this hotly contested segment?
Related: Review: LDV T60 Max Luxe
Externally, the T60 certainly delivers in the design and packaging departments. Along with a suitably imposing nose, replete with a sizeable grille and slimline LED-equipped headlamps, this range-topping Luxe model features a sailplane sports roll bar, roof rails and side steps and 19-inch rims, all finished in black. Size-wise, the T60 is a mite smaller than the Ford Ranger double-cab in most regards. Being 77 mm narrower, 12 mm lower, and 81 mm shorter overall, it’s perhaps a little easier to thread into parking spaces, but it’s nonetheless practically packaged. Drop the pneumatic strut-assisted tailgate and you’re presented with a lined load bed that’s 1 485 mm long and 1 510 mm wide, with 1 131 mm between the rear wheel arches. Combined with a 750 kg payload capacity, it’s more than capable of shouldering most work and leisure-related loads thrown its way.
Things are generally good inside, too. Although its wheelbase is 65 mm shorter than the Ranger’s, there’s plenty of space in the back, with plenty of knee- and headroom for six-footers. Rear occupants also get a 12V power outlet, dual air vents and door bins capable of accommodating a small bottle and other oddments. Up front, the facia is clean and modern, and the combination of materials such as brushed-chrome-effect trim, red contrast stitching on the upholstery and hard but durable-feeling plastics is pleasing. HVAC controls are haptic, but they’re clearly marked, easy to use on the move and thankfully don’t require delving into the infotainment system. While the 10.25-inch touchscreen is function-rich, it does fall short in a couple of areas. The 360-degree camera is a boon for urban and off-road manoeuvring but the feed is a bit blurry and lenses have a distinct fish-eye effect, and are prone to water rivulet obscuration when it’s raining. Similarly, the inclusion of Apple CarPlay is impressive and welcome, but the omission of Android Auto (a fiddly screen-mirroring app is the only interface) is a strange oversight. We also took issue with the T60’s driver ergonomics. The driver’s seat is flat and have little give, feeling as though you’re sitting on it rather than in it, and even in its lowest setting the position is rather perched. This isn’t helped by the limited rake adjustment for the steering column, which will see the wheel positioned at belly level for taller folks, but this elevated position does afford a good view of your surroundings.
Related: LDV D90 SUV Units Arrive in South Africa
The 2.0-litre turbodiesel is the latest version of SAIC’s proven D20 engine, and its outputs are impressive. With 160 kW at 4 000 r/min, it’s the most powerful four-cylinder diesel in the local double-cab segment, barring Toyota’s 48V hybrid-assisted 2.8-litre units, and its 500 N.m of torque between 1 500 and 2 400 r/min matches the 2.0-litre biturbo Ranger’s output. While it is a bit agricultural when cold, once warm and up to motorway speeds it’s mechanically as refined as its more established rivals, with no noticeable diesel throb evident through the steering wheel or pedals. Gelling well with ZF’s proven eight-speed automatic transmission, it impressed during performance testing with a 0-100 km/h sprint of 10.39 seconds – besting the Ranger Wildtrak X we tested in February by almost half a second, and narrowly edging it in each in-gear acceleration increment. In addition to being a strong performer, this engine also proved reasonably frugal; the 9.7 L/100 km it returned under testing proving respectable in this segment and close to the manufacturer’s 9.3 claim.
The Luxe model runs on comfort suspension comprising double wishbones up front and a live-axle rear with softer dampers than the commercial-user-oriented Pro models. The upshot is a settled ride that doesn’t easily submit to rebound, even on rough surfaces. Factor in hydraulic power steering that, although a bit heavier than expected and with a touch of slack around dead-centre, is fairly responsive and the T60 proves a pleasingly wieldy double cab that’s both assured and composed. Fitted with disc brakes all round, the T60 impressed during 100-0 km/h testing: its 2.74-second and 38.36-metre average stopping results garnering it an ‘excellent’ rating. Although the opportunity to undertake proper off-roading didn’t present itself, it’s worth knowing that the T60’s ground clearance, approach and departure angles, stand it in good stead. The AWD system is a Borg Warner-sourced unit with an ‘Auto’ setting that monitors grip levels and apportions traction as required and can be manually overridden by the 4L, 4H and 2H drive presets. An on-demand rear diff-lock also features, engaging at speeds under 30 km/h to improve traction in more demanding conditions.
As a value proposition, this range-topping model’s R750 000 price includes a generous standard specification that includes; keyless entry and ignition, heated electric seats, camera-aided parking sensors and a wealth of active safety features, to name but a few. This is backed up by a 100 000 km service plan and 200 000 km mechanical warranty, both spanning five years.
While it may lack some of its more established rivals’ polish in the execution of such features as ergonomics and connectivity, the T60’s powerful engine, attention-grabbing looks, solid road manners and plenty of standard kit nonetheless make it a compelling addition to the local double cab segment. Its brand legacy may not be the strongest, but if it can gain a foothold on our market and become subject to the improvements we’ve seen in other Chinese cars, it may just make a name for itself.
Find the full feature in the August issue of CAR Magazine.
