LDV T60 gains safety and towing upgrades

THE LDV T60 ute gains a suite of safety tech for 2025 plus braked towing capacity that increases to 3500kg across a line-up that has been trimmed from nine variants to just three and arrives in showrooms imminently priced from $42,990 drive-away for ABN holders or $45,253 drive-away for retail buyers.

Manual and Luxe variants have been dropped, with pricing remaining fairly static compared with the equivalent predecessors to the remaining Max Pro (previously $43,148 d/a for the automatic), Max Plus (now $49,490 d/a ABN or $52,095 d/a retail, previously $50,516 d/a) and Max Plus Mega Tub (now $50,990 d/a ABN or $53,674 d/a retail, previously $52,095 d/a).

The competitive landscape among budget 4x4 dual-cab utes includes the GWM Cannon ($40,490-$49,990 d/a), JAC T9 ($42,662-$45,630 excluding on-road costs) and SsangYong Musso ($40,000-$49,500 d/a).

Key to the survival of the LDV T60 since the introduction of Australian Design Rule 99/00 from March 1 this year is the standard inclusion of advanced driver assistance and safety (ADAS) technology across the range.

Among the upgrades are autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and a high-definition rear-view camera, as well as increased braked towing capacity of 3500kg, up from 3000kg previously.

The entry level T60 Max Pro gains the safety suite – enabled by the change to electric power steering – and towing capacity upgrades plus DAB+ digital radio reception, higher-resolution reversing camera microfibre steering wheel trim. and black roof rails.

Max Plus trim, introduced to the Australian market last year with a new front-end styling and an upgraded interior, remains available in both standard and long-wheelbase ‘Mega Tub’ configurations but gains a high-definition 360-degree camera and DAB+ digital radio for the 2025 model year.

Carried over from MY24 are Max Plus standard features including the ADAS suite, dual 12.3-inch displays for media and instrumentation, bridge-style centre console and microfibre steering wheel trim.

Under the bonnet, all MY25 LDV T60 variants continue to be powered by a 2.0-litre twin-turbocharged diesel four-cylinder engine producing 160kW and 500Nm, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive system.

Outputs remain a benchmark among rivals; the GWM Cannon developing 135kW/480Nm, JAC T9 (125kW/410Nm) and SsangYong Musso (133kW/400Nm) while outgunning mainstream models including the four-cylinder Ford Ranger (154kW/500Nm), Isuzu D-Max (140kW/450Nm), Mitsubishi Triton (150kW/470Nm) Nissan Navara (140kW/450Nm) and Toyota HiLux (150kW/500Nm).

Unlike many utes, four-wheel disc brakes are also standard and LDV backs the T60 with a seven-year/200,000km warranty.

“The ute market is highly competitive in Australia, and we remain committed to offering customers a range of vehicles at the value end of the segment,” said LDV Australia general manager Dinesh Chinnappa.

“These upgrades bring advanced safety and other technology to the LDV T60 while still maintaining a price that people can afford, delivering a level of grunt that few rival utes can match for the money.”

LDV nabbed a 3.1 per cent of the Australian four-wheel drive ute market in 2024 with 6302 sales of the T60, down 30.2 per cent on the year prior when 9027 were sold.

To the end of January this year, 533 T60s were sold here, owning 3.8 per cent of the segment but way down on the 950 delivered the same time in 2024.

2025 LDV T60 pricing*:

*National drive-away price.