2027 LDV T60: Big upgrade, big price cuts for budget Chinese ute

LDV Australia has announced a significantly upgraded 2027 LDV T60 ute lineup, which brings a new front-end design, a new dashboard with a larger infotainment touchscreen, a bigger and more powerful engine, and lower prices.

On sale now priced from $39,989 drive-away – $5264 less than its previous base price of $45,253 drive-away before it entered run-out – and just $37,990 drive-away for ABN holders, the model year 2027 (MY27) T60 Max is known as the Maxus T70 in China but effectively marks the third facelift for the decade-old T60 sold in Australia.

However, this upgrade is more significant than the first two, showing the Chinese brand doesn’t plan on letting its T60 wither on the vine alongside the larger, newer and pricier Terron 9 dual-cab, which continues to be priced from $53,674 drive-away, offering LDV buyers the choice of ute price points, sizes, and capabilities.

Indeed, the headline act of the MY27 lineup, which arrives in showrooms in October and now comprises just two variants following the discontinuation of the electric eT60 and (at least for now) the extended-tray Megatub version, is the same 2.5-litre turbo-diesel engine as seen in the Terron 9.

The larger-capacity single-turbo oil-burner produces identical outputs in this application – 163kW of power at 3800rpm and 520Nm of torque over 1500-2500rpm – which is up 3kW and 20Nm on the 2.0-litre four-cylinder that powers the outgoing T60.

However, it’s worth noting the T60 is significantly lighter than the Terron 9, so the upgraded dual-cab should be quicker than both the model it replaces and its newer stablemate.

Among four-cylinder diesel utes in Australia, only the GWM Cannon Alpha with its new 3.0-litre mill is more powerful, producing 170kW and 620Nm.

The third new engine for the T60 since its Australian release is accompanied by an upgraded eight-speed automatic transmission, resulting in combined fuel consumption of 8.0L/100km (Pro) and 8.2L/100km (Luxe).

The T60 upgrade doesn’t end there though, with new bodywork from the windscreen forward, including a fresh front fascia that adopts the new LDV design theme that first appeared on the Terron 9.

Inside, a redesigned dashboard houses a new 12.8-inch multimedia touchscreen and a new 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster, while the gear selector is now located on the redesigned centre console rather than a steering column-mounted stalk (and the indicator stalk is now mounted on the right side of the steering wheel rather than the left).

First launched in Australia in late 2017, when it became the first Chinese-branded ute to receive a five-star ANCAP safety rating (which has now expired), the T60 continues to be available only in dual-cab 4×4 pickup auto form, and for MY27 just two trim levels will be available – Pro and Luxe.

The latter is priced $5000 higher at $42,990 drive-away for ABN holders, and $45,253 drive-away for private buyers, and just four exterior paint colours will be available – Blanc White, Metal Black, Concrete Grey, and Vivid Red. White is the only standard colour, with the other paints adding $500 to the price.

Both variants come with a ‘Black Pack’ as standard, comprising a black grille, bumpers, door handles, roof rails, side steps, and side mirror scalps.

The LDV T60 Pro comes with LED headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, tyre pressure monitoring, leaf-spring rear suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, a spray-in bed liner, damped tailgate, foot recesses in the rear bumper, a rear-view camera, and rear parking sensors.

Inside, there’s a heated steering wheel, cloth seat trim, gearshift paddles on the steering wheel, illuminated steering wheel buttons, rear air-conditioning vents, and the ability to stow the rear seat base to carry larger items inside the cabin when the back seat is not in use.

The LDV T60 Luxe upgrades to artificial-leather seat trim, heated front seats with power adjustment, a 360-degree camera, front parking sensors, 18-inch alloy wheels providing a wider track, front and rear differential locks, fender flares, multi-link rear suspension, a rear sports bar, lockable tailgate, and tow bar kit.

There are no changes to the tub, allowing the same accessories to be fitted, and service intervals remain 12 months or 20,000km (whichever occurs first).

LDV Australia says it’s sold more than 46,000 T60s, and it continues to offer a seven-year, 200,000km warranty (whichever occurs first).

MY27 LDV T60 specifications:

Engine: Single-turbo 2.5-litre four-cylinder diesel
Power: 163kW @ 3800rpm
Torque: 520Nm @ 1500-2500rpm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic, 2WD, 4H, 4L
Fuel tank capacity: 73 litres
Combined fuel consumption: 8.0L/100km (Pro), 8.2L/100km (Luxe)
Brakes: Four-wheel discs
Length: 5378mm (Pro), 5548mm (Luxe with tow bar)
Width (body): 1905mm (Pro), 1950mm (Luxe)
Height: 1855mm (Pro), 1870mm (Luxe)
Ground clearance: 185mm (Pro), 220mm (Luxe)
Approach angle: 25 degrees (Pro), 29 degrees (Luxe)
Departure angle: 25 degrees (Pro), 16 degrees (Luxe with tow bar)
Rampover angle: 20 degrees (Pro), 22 degrees (Luxe)
Wheelbase: 3165mm
Wading depth: 550mm
Turning circle: 12.6m (Pro), 12.7m (Luxe)
Kerb weight: 2110kg (Pro), 2170kg (Luxe with tow bar)
Payload: 1040kg (Pro), 980kg (Luxe with tow bar)
Gross Vehicle Mass: 3150kg
Gross Combination Mass: 6250kg
Towing capacity: Up to 3500kg (braked), up to 750kg (unbraked)
Tow ball down weight: Up to 350kg

MY27 LDV T60 safety highlights:

Autonomous emergency braking
Lane departure warning
Lane-keep assist
Adaptive cruise control
Driver fatigue monitor
Tyre pressure monitoring
Anti-lock brakes
Stability control
Hill descent control (4WD mode)
Six airbags
2 x child seat anchor points
2 x child seat top-tether points
Rear parking sensors
Front parking sensors (Luxe)
Rear-view camera
360-degree view camera (Luxe)

MY27 LDV T60 Pro standard equipment:

Push-button start
LED headlights
Rear fog lights
Black Pack (grille, bumpers, door handles, roof rails, side steps, side mirror caps)
Spray-in bed-liner
Damped tailgate
Foot recesses in rear bumper
Cloth seat trim
8.0-inch digital instrument cluster
12.8-inch infotainment screen
AM/FM/DAB+ radio
Wireless and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Transmission paddle shifters on steering wheel
Height- and reach-adjustable steering wheel
4 x power windows (one-touch auto up and down for driver)
1 x USB-A charge port (front)
1 x USB-C charge port (front)
1 x 12V power socket in the centre console
1 x USB-A charge port (rear)
1 x USB-C charge port (rear)
Single-zone air-conditioning
Rear air vents
17-inch alloy wheels (245/65R17 H/T tyres)
Leaf-spring rear suspension
Rear differential lock