LDV has launched 3 models this December; one is an addition to the T60 ute range, while the other two are new vans. Today, we’d get to spend time behind the wheel of the T60 Max Plus ute, and the Deliver 7 van, one that LDV says “drives like a car”.
2024 LDV T60 Max Plus
With the addition of this model, that brings the T60 range to 5:
- T60 Elite
- T60 Lux
- T60 Traverse
- T60 Max Plus
- eT60
The Traverse is only available to order, while the eT60 is a full EV model. The non-EV T60s use a 2.0-litre, bi-turbo diesel engine putting out 160kW of power and 500Nm of torque, while the transmission is an 8-speed automatic. Tow rating on the diesel model is up to 3-tonne (braked).
The tray measures 1,485 long, by 1,510 wide, by 530mm high, with the payload rated at 830kg. The other variants of the T60 have a 5-star ANCAP rating, and with the additional safety features of the Max Plus, LDV certainly expects the ute to achieve a 5-star rating, although it has yet to be tested.
The new four-wheel drive Max Plus is the first T60 to include a 7-year, 200,000km warranty and that includes 7 years of Roadside Assistance and 7 years of WoF checks.
You can consider the Max Plus to be the high-end luxury model, perhaps to compete with the recently released JAC T9.
Priced at: $55,990, the T60 MAX Plus comes with extra over the other T60 models, such as:
- Lane Keep Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control and Autonomous Emergency Braking
- Dual 12.3” Infotainment and Driver Displays with Bluetooth, AM/FM Stereo Radio, Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto
- 360° Panoramic Camera
- Wireless Mobile Charging Pad
- Black side mirrors (auto folding with heating), rear bumper, door handles and tray handle
- Unique 18” black alloy wheels
- Leather trimmed seats with heating, 6-way electronic adjustment and heated front seats
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Smart key with keyless entry and push button star
There’s also a spray-in tub liner, integrated tie-down points and tailgate assist for easier opening. Multi-link rear suspension should mean a smooth ride – empty or loaded – and the front suspension is double wishbone, the same as other T60s.
2025 LDV Deliver 7
It’s a van that LDV says is “pretty”, and their aim is to “shake up New Zealand’s mid-size van market”.
Admittedly, it looks better than some of the other van offerings out there, where design has been seemingly ignored. Perhaps some manufacturers think tradies and courier drivers don’t care about how their van looks.
Like the new T60 Max Plus, the Delivery 7 comes with a 7-year, 200,000km warranty, something that is certainly unusual in the commercial van segment. The van also comes with 7 years of unlimited km Roadside Assistance and 7 years of WoF checks.
Two variants make up the Deliver 7 range: a short-wheelbase low roof and a long-wheelbase low roof, measuring 4,998mm long for the SWB (5,364mm for the LWB). The vans are 2,323mm wide and 1,998mm high. Inside, there are six (SWB) or eight (LWB) tie-down points.
At the rear, there are LED taillights and barn doors that open out to 236 degrees, with a two-stage opening hinge. There are single or double-sliding options for the side doors.
The new Deliver 7 is powered by LDV’s 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine, delivering 123.5kW and 390Nm through the front wheels utilising a 9-speed automatic gearbox. To save time at the gas station, there is an 80-litre fuel tank, and the braked towing capacity is rated at 2,000kg.
Standard safety and driver assistance highlights include Autonomous Emergency Braking; Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go; Front Collision Warning; Emergency Lane Keeping and Lane Change Assist; Blind Spot Detection; Front & Rear Parking Sensors; and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
Inside, there is a 12.3” centre touchscreen with digital radio, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability.
The Deliver 7 is available from January 2025.
2025 LDV Deliver 9
Like the T60 Max Plus and Deliver 7, the Deliver 9 comes with a 7 year, 200,000km warranty, 7 years of Roadside Assistance, and 7 years of WoF checks. Pricing for this model starts at $55,990.
Visually distinguished by their new gloss black radiator grille up front, the new 2024 Deliver 9 van now includes Euro 6-compliant engines. This engine also yields an appreciable rise in power and torque at 128kW and 420Nm, it marks an increase of 20kW in power and 45Nm in torque compared to the previous Deliver 9. The Deliver 9 is rear-wheel drive.
The new 2024 Deliver 9 van has also been boosted with standard safety features including Blind-Spot Detection, Lane Change Assist, Door Opening Warning, Emergency Lane Keeping, Electronic Park Brake, and front parking sensors, allowing it to achieve a Gold rating for Collision Avoidance via ANCAP. The Gold rating performance of the van is 74%.
Inside, a multifunction steering wheel feeds into a new electric power steering system, making tight turns and parking a breeze, says LDV. On the move, there is adaptive cruise control as standard.
A new upgraded 12.3-inch infotainment system (up from 10.1-inch on 2023 vehicles) comes complete with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, digital radio and a wide rearview overhead camera (not available in the cab/chassis variant).
Long wheelbase high roof vans also feature 236-degree opening cargo doors as standard, delivering easier access to the rear loading area.
2025 LDV T60 MAX PLUS – DRIVE IMPRESSIONS
On getting inside, it feels the T60 Max Plus is a luxurious ute, maybe bordering on being wasted as a tradie’s Daily Driver. The red stitching on the seats, the leather, flat-bottom steering wheel, the colours and fabrics all say ‘luxury’ and not workhorse. But for those who might treat their T60 Max Plus as intended, hard plastics are used on the lower doors and lower console – both places that are going to potentially get muddy.
I started off as a passenger in the ute, with the engine being a subtle hum when on the move. This was a bit of a difference from the JAC T9 ute we went to the launch for a few weeks ago; that ute’s diesel engine was pretty good and civilised, but on this short drive, the T60 Max Plus has a slight edge, in engine noise at least.
The big centre screen has excellent clarity, and speed between screens is more than acceptable. Our ute’s screen had a reset button right in the centre, so being a guy, I had to hit it. This seemed to reset all the car’s systems and killed the aircon while we were driving (and it was so hot) so I learned quickly, do not hit that button.
There’s plenty of room in the back seat, slightly more than the JAC T9, and visibility is very good.
If there was one negative so far, it would be the ride quality; even with multi-link rear suspension, the ride is fairly firm. No doubt this would improve with some weight in the tray, but the competition does seem ahead of the T60 Max Plus in this respect. In saying that, we have yet to drive the JAC T9 over any sort of distance, so perhaps they are comparable – time (and a review of both utes) will tell, but we expect that this is more the T60 showing its age.
It was time to get behind the wheel of the T60 Max Plus. The 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel engine seems quite responsive when on the move, but a little slow to react initially. We’ll wait until we get a T60 Max Plus to review before passing too much judgement on this front. Midrange acceleration is good; it would be interesting to actually load this ute up and see what the performance is like. The steering is nice, with decent feel to it, which was surprising.
The column shifter for the gearbox is simple to use, far simpler than some other brands are doing with a column shifter. There is no twisting or turning it, just a simple up or down, the same as any modern Mercedes-Benz.
We were driving on some windy roads out Riverhead way, and the T60 did just fine. Perhaps not quite in line with some of the higher-end utes, but for its price point, more than acceptable on this short drive.
2025 LDV DELIVER 7 – DRIVE IMPRESSIONS
The return trip to Auckland would see me driving the all-new LDV Deliver 7, with the same 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine as the T60 Max Plus. Getting into the Deliver 7 feels familiar to any van driver: it’s a climb up to climb in approach. Visibility out the front is excellent, as it is with most vans, but not having been in a van for a while, it was a pleasure to drive. The engine sounds even quieter in the Deliver 7 compared to the T60 Max Plus, and the ride quality is brilliant for a van, bordering on outstanding. The whole driving experience of the Deliver 7 is excellent, going from windy roads, to motorway, to suburban, to city. It’s a pleasure to punt about city streets, and things like the large centre screen and digital dash make it feel a lot more upmarket than many other vans.
There is easy loading and unloading, rear barn doors that can open out almost perpendicular to the van, and a full Euro pallet will fit between the wheel arches – an important factor for some van drivers.
2025 LDV T60 MAX PLUS/DELIVER 7 SUMMARY
While there is a huge competition in the double cab, AWD ute segment, the LDV T60 Max Plus feels like a direct competitor for the JAC T9, that was recently launched. Both have 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engines, both are AWD, both double cab, both have long warranties, both highly specced for their price – and both are made in China.
Which is better? We’ve only driven each for short distances, so will reserve judgement for a full reviews. However, on the face it, there should be some other brands a bit worried about market share.
We don’t usually review vans, but I must admit the Delivery 7 is an enjoyable drive – somewhat better than the T60 Max Plus, because of its better ride quality. Another well-priced, Chinese-built van that should do well in the commercial sector.
