We wrote about the new LDV range of bakkies and soon-to-arrive SUVs recently and now we’ve had a chance to have a look at them in the flesh and, in the case of the T60 bakkie, take it for a short drive.
The reveal took place at the combined Maserati/LDV (I know, I’ve not worked that one out yet, either) showroom in Bryanston. First impressions of the D90 SUV were favourable. It’s not breaking any new ground in terms of styling, being large and chunky if not exactly beautiful but it is no better or worse than any other SUV in this price bracket. Let’s say it is following the current trend.
It is well-equipped and appears nicely put together inside, with some neat touches. There are three rows of seats, at least in this, the Flagship model, which fold away commendably flat to give a decent load space which is severely restricted when the seats are in use; again, no different to such a configuration in any rival vehicle.
We weren’t able to drive the D90 as it hasn’t been homologated for SA as yet and nor were prices revealed. The D90 won’t be on sale until the fourth quarter of the year.
Of more immediate concern was the T60 bakkie which is on sale right now. Again, from the outside, remove the badges and you’d be hard-pressed to distinguish it from any other bakkie on the market, LDV having refrained from taking the design in a different direction. Is it derivative? Yes, but no worse than any other car manufacturer.
There are several versions available, from the R480,000 T60 Elite through the R610,000 T60 Pro, the R670,000 T60 Max Pro and topping out with the R750,000 T60 Max Lux. All have a 2.0-litre diesel engine, the Elite and Pro models getting a single turbocharger and the Max Pro and Max Luxe getting twin turbochargers.
The single turbo engine produces 120kW and 375Nm, driving through a six-speed automatic gearbox, while the twin-turbo unit pushes out 160kW and 500Nm, driving through an eight-speed auto. Only the T60 Elite has the option of two-wheel drive as well as four-wheel drive.
Similarly, the interiors get better-equipped and finished the higher up the range you go but there is nothing to fault unduly in any model.
On the road in the T60 Pro, the ride tended to be a bit hard and jiggly which many would consider a drawback but, the important thing to remember is that this is a bakkie, not an SUV; it is a workhorse and the hard rear suspension set up is necessary if the T60 is to be at all useful.
The engine and gearbox were both smooth and unintrusive, acceleration was not bad, even when flattening the throttle at highway speeds. Seats comfortable, rear leg room acceptable.
In short, nothing startling but, by the same token, nothing to stop this from being a serious consideration if you’re in the market for a mid-range – cost-wise – bakkie. All models come with a 5-year/200,000km warranty and a 5-year/100,000km service plan.
Further to the news about the new range of LDV T60 bakkies and the D90 SUV, comes the announcement that LDV South Africa has partnered with WesBank, South Africa’s leading provider of vehicle and asset solutions, to launch a bespoke vehicle finance offering.
The newly formed LDV Finance, a product of WesBank, empowers LDV dealers to seamlessly provide clients with a complete suite of vehicle financing products. Additionally, it encompasses comprehensive floorplan finance, facilitating the wholesale acquisition of new and used vehicle stock by LDV dealers.
“We are delighted at the opportunity to partner with LDV South Africa, as well as the prospect of ushering in a new automotive brand to the local market. The launch of the LDV brand supports the need to accelerate the growth of the local retail automotive sector with the introduction of more vehicle options to suit the changing mobility needs of car buyers in the country. In addition to leveraging our rich heritage, we endeavour to complement LDV South Africa’s position as a maverick brand with our own suite of products and services that remain at the cutting edge of advancements in the vehicle and asset finance space,” says WesBank CEO Ghana Msibi.
“Our new alliance with WesBank is far more than a simple commercial agreement between two companies,” says Bevan Nel, CEO of LDV South Africa. “The alliance is the culmination of a comprehensive due diligence process by both companies and demonstrates WesBank’s confidence in LDV South Africa’s current and upcoming range of products, the quality of these vehicles and the company’s financial resources to establish and support the LDV brand locally.”
We’ll have the chance to perform a more in-depth test in the coming months. For now, visit www.ldvauto.co.za for more info and full specs.
