2024 LDV T60 ute gets big safety, interior upgrade for $4500 price rise
The LDV T60 ute has finally gained autonomous emergency braking – the second-last ute in Australia without the feature – plus a new interior, restyled front fascia and coil-spring rear suspension in a new Plus model.
Key crash-avoidance safety technology has been added to the 2024 LDV T60 ute, alongside an all-new interior with two BMW-style screens, revised styling, and new coil-sprung rear suspension replacing leaf springs.
However, the safety systems are limited to the automatic version of a new T60 Max Plus variant, added just 10 months before one of the features – autonomous emergency braking (AEB) – becomes mandatory for new vehicles sold in Australia.
The Plus – starting from $45,990 drive-away for buyers with an ABN, or $48,411 drive-away for those without – is $2500 more expensive than the Luxe variant, or $4500 dearer when compared to the drive-away deals currently available on 2023-plate examples.
AEB will need to become mandatory across the LDV T60 range by March 2025 – including the manual Plus – if the other model variants are to remain on sale.
The Chinese-built LDV T60 leaves the Mahindra Pik-Up as the last new ute on sale in Australia without the availability of AEB, which is standard on $20,000 city hatchbacks, and has been fitted to every new Ford Ranger for five years.
The Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series – which dates back to 1984, a decade before the LDV nameplate appeared under British ownership – gained the technology 18 months ago.
Other new safety features for automatic variants of the T60 Max Plus include adaptive cruise control, which works between 8 and 130km/h, and lane-keep assist above 60km/h.
Blind-spot monitoring has not returned since it was deleted for the previous facelift in 2021.
The manual variant of the T60 Max Plus misses out on lane-keep assist, but it also loses a lane departure warning – which is standard on the cheaper Luxe manual model.
Significant upgrades for the Plus are offered inside, where there is an all-new dashboard with twin 12.3-inch screens – reminiscent of the displays in new BMWs, Hyundais and Kias.
The screens run new software, with Apple CarPlay now available wirelessly, as well as through a wired connection – and the inclusion of Android Auto for the first time, either wireless or wired.
The gear selector has moved to a stalk on the steering column, creating space in the centre console for a wireless smartphone charging pad. The parking brake is now electrically operated.
Other new features include front parking sensors, as well as an extra USB port, for a total of three.
The Plus variant wears the restyled front fascia offered on the T60 in China, where it is sold as the Interstellar H.
There is a new front bumper with a larger gloss black grille, a black finish for the door handles, side trim and rear bumper, as well as new black side mirrors with auto folding and heating.
The tailgate is now lockable, with a spray-in tub liner, and payloads of 840kg for the manual, 830kg for the regular automatic, and 800kg for the Mega Tub auto.
These figures are higher than the 750kg quoted by the Luxe manual and auto, and 730kg of the Luxe Mega Tub auto, but down on the 925-935kg of the base Pro. The Plus model is 60kg to 80kg heavier than the Luxe.
LDV has replaced the regular model's rear leaf springs with multi-link rear suspension that uses coil springs, which is claimed to deliver an "increase in payload capability" – as shown in the numbers – and "a better ride over a range of surfaces".
This layout still uses a commercial-focused solid rear axle, but coil springs are relatively rare among utes.
The braked towing capacity remains 3000kg, where 3500kg is more common among light-commercial utes. Electric power steering has been fitted.
The 2.0-litre twin-turbo four-cylinder diesel engine retains its outputs of 160kW/500Nm, but LDV says it gains "remapped engine software" for "a more linear delivery of that power."
It is matched with a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. Claimed fuel consumption in mixed driving has increased by 0.1L/100km for the manual, to 9.3L/100km, but decreased by 0.4L/100km for the automatic, to 8.9L/100km.
The new multi-link rear suspension is said to increase ground clearance by 5mm – from 215mm to 220mm – while an on-demand four-wheel-drive system remains.
LDV also says there is now additional soundproofing material between the engine and bulkhead.
The 2024 LDV T60 Max Plus is available now. The prices listed below for the Luxe apply to Model Year 2023 examples – before a $2000 discount currently in place for the Pro and Luxe – as prices for MY24 versions are yet to be published.
2024 LDV T60 Max drive-away price in Australia
- T60 Max Pro manual – $38,990 ABN, $41,042 private
- T60 Max Pro auto – $40,990 ABN, $43,148 private
- T60 Max Luxe manual – $43,490 ABN, $45,779 private
- T60 Max Luxe auto – $45,490 ABN, $47,884 private
- T60 Max Luxe Mega Tub auto – $46,990 ABN, $49,463 private
- T60 Max Plus manual – $45,990 ABN, $48,411 private (new)
- T60 Max Plus auto – $47,990 ABN, $50,516 private (new)
- T60 Max Plus Mega Tub auto – $49,490 ABN, $52,095 private (new)
Note: All prices are drive-away. The prices on the LDV website currently include a $2000 discount on Pro and Luxe models until the end of May 2024.
