Brands such as Haval and Chery have lit up SA passenger car sales with keen pricing and high-end features, but Chinese bakkies have so far failed to make a similar dent in the bakkie market.
GWM has come closest with its P-Series line up but, despite its appealing bang for buck it still sells at a trickle compared to stalwarts Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger and Isuzu D-Max.
The latest Chinese marque that has arrived to test SA’s bakkie brand loyalty is LDV, part of automotive giant SAIC Motor, which is China’s largest vehicle manufacturer.
LDV SA is an importer based in Sandton from where it will serve a national network of 30 dealers that will sell bakkies and SUVs, starting with the T60 range of double cabs launched in May. The T60 is available in two engine variants, 4x2 and 4x4 guises and four spec levels. On test is the LDV T60 Max Luxe 4WD automatic priced at R790,000, flagship of the 10-model range.
It is well stocked with luxuries such as artificial leather upholstery, 360º view camera, wireless phone charging, and electrically adjustable and heated front seats. Further gizmos include rain-sensing wipers, keyless operation, reversing camera and a soft-open tailgate. Along with a 923l payload, it has a 3,000kg braked towing capacity if you buy a tow hitch, which doesn’t come standard.
The cabin is very spacious and suited to family travels, but I was unable to find a perfect driving position as the steering wheel is adjustable only for reach, not height — a strange omission in a vehicle that’s otherwise so well equipped.
The seats are comfortable and soft armrests make for a more pleasant long-distance experience. The interior is neatly trimmed in seemingly decent-quality materials, though the synthetic leather on the seats of the low-mileage vehicle was already wrinkled.
The 10.25-inchtouchscreen infotainment system has most of the required connectivity including Apple CarPlay, but the small touchscreen icons are finicky to select especially while driving. There is no Android Auto, though Android phone users can mirror their screens via a QDLink app.
The LDV T60 has a five-star Australian NCAP crash rating and has good safety without going overboard with nannying, unlike many modern Chinese vehicles. It has an unobtrusive lane warning function that can be switched off.
The LDV is a good-looking bakkie with the regulation slim LED headlamps of modern norms, and the Max Luxe is jazzed up with a moulded polyurethane sports bar and 19-inch dark alloy wheels. It also has dark fender mouldings and door protection strips, and a rubberised load bin.
Cheaper LDV models are powered by a 2.0l diesel engine with a single turbo, with outputs of 120kW and 375Nm of torque. The higher-end T60 Max variants have a 2.0l bi-turbo engine with 160kW and 500Nm, making it one of the most powerful bakkies in the class.
Apart from the typical lag which afflicts most turbo diesel vehicles at Gauteng altitude in initial pull off, the bi-turbo bakkie feels eager and responsive. It has effortless open-road cruising pace, good overtaking punch and an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission with smooth and swift changes. It has Eco, Normal and Power driving modes, and in a town and freeway mix the large bakkie averaged a respectably frugal 10.3l/100km.
The LDV does not have the most refined engine however, which makes a noisy agricultural drone that seems more suited to a farm than cruising the suburbs.
The Chinese bakkie also has one of the more bouncy rides we’ve experienced in a double cab, particularly at the rear axle, which jars noticeably over bumps when unladen.
If you can handle the bumpy ride, rough adventure trails are in the LDV’s remit with its high 215mm ground clearance, selectable 4x4 mode, low range transfer case and a rear diff lock. Switching from two- to four-wheel drive is conveniently done on the fly, and there is downhill assist control to help tackle steep descents.
As with most modern Chinese vehicles the perceived build quality earns plaudits and the LDV feels solid. The caveat, as usual, is the unknown factor of its resale value and its reliability a few years down the line.
The LDV bakkie has plenty of comforts, good power and decent fuel economy but is rough around the edges with its noisy engine and bouncy ride. Workhorse origins poking through its sophisticated veneer are perhaps not good enough at the price.
We’re used to seeing Chinese brands undercutting the establishment but the LDV competes in price directly against legacy rivals such as the Nissan Navara and Mitsubishi Triton, and nudges close to segment kingpins Toyota Hilux, Isuzu D-Max and Ford Ranger. As an unknown brand, that makes it a tough sell.
Tech specs
ENGINE
Type: Four-cylinder diesel turbo
Capacity: 2.0l
Power: 160kW
Torque: 500Nm
TRANSMISSION
Type: Eight-speed auto
DRIVETRAIN
Type: Selectable all-wheel drive, low range transfer case
PERFORMANCE
Top speed: n/a
0-100km/h: n/a
Fuel consumption: 9.3l/100km (claimed), 10.3l/100km (as tested)
Emissions: 244g/km
STANDARD FEATURES
Six airbags, ABS brakes, stability control, rain sensor wipers, tyre pressure sensor, lane departure warning, auto on/off headlights, daytime running lights, cruise control, heated front seats, Bluetooth, multifunction steering wheel, daytime driving running lights, climate control, 360° camera, keyless access, artificial leather upholstery, driving mode switch, touchscreen infotainment system, soft-open tailgate
COST OF OWNERSHIP
Warranty: Five years/ 200,000km
Service plan: Five years/100,000km
Price: R790,000
Lease*: R17,569 per month
* at 11.75% interest over 60 months no deposit
LDV T60 2.0D Bi-Turbo double cab Max Luxe 4x4 auto
WE LIKE: Performance, fuel economy, space
WE DISLIKE: Refinement, driving position, price
VERDICT: Not the usual Chinese bargain
Motor News star rating
**** Design
**** Performance
**** Economy
*** Ride
*** Handling
***** Safety
*** Value For Money
*** Overall
Competition
- Foton Tunland G7 2.0TD double cab Limited 4x4, 120kW/390Nm — R599,900
- JAC T9 2.0CTi double cab 4WD Super Lux, 125kW/410Nm — R659,900
- GWM P-Series 2.0 TD double cab LTD 4x4, 120kW/400Nm — R694,950
- Peugeot Landtrek 1.9 TD double cab 4Action 4x4 — 110kW/350Nm — R712,900
- Mitsubishi Triton 2.4 DI-D double cab 4x4, 133kW430Nm — R739,900
- Nissan Navara DDTi double cab LE 4x4, 140kW/450Nm — R774,100
- Volkswagen Amarok 2.0 TDI double cab Life 4Motion, 154kW/500Nm — R851,900
- Ford Ranger 2.0 BiTurbo double cab XLT 4x4, 154kW/500Nm — R854,500
- Toyota Hilux 2.8 GD-6 double cab 4x4 Raider, 150kW/500Nm — R858,600
- Isuzu D-Max 3.0TD double cab LSE 4x4, 140kW/450Nm — R869,500
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